Unlike many of the other songs in this site, there is no controversy over when and by whom America was written. The author's name is Reverend Samuel Smith. He wrote the song in February, 1832. He wrote it in one sitting on an afternoon. It was not performed publicly until July 4 of that year.
Rev. Smith used the tune God Save the King, which was already the national anthem of Great Britain. This was a problem when it was considered as a candidate for the American national anthem. On the one hand, God Save the King long predates the American Revolution. It therefore belongs to the common heritage of Anglo-American culture. This is a convincing argument for most tunes that were written before the American Revolution. After all, Anacreon is an English tune. God Save the King is not just any song, however. It is the tune for the British national anthem. When dignitaries make an official visit, it is common as a courtesy to play the national anthem of the visiting country. If the prime minister of Britain were to visit the United States, it would be somewhat rude to play a tune that could be interpreted as the American anthem. Of course, this problem goes away if the words are sung. Nevertheless, this issue counted against America when it was time to select an anthem for the United States.
Reverend Smith wrote one more verse in his first draft, which he then crossed out. America is the only song candidate for the national anthem of the 4 proposed in 1908 which is not warlike. Rev Smith decided to leave out the only warlike verse.
No more shall tyrants here
With haughty steps appear
And soldier bands.
No more shall tyrants tread
Above the patriot dead
No more our blood be shed
By alien hands.
America
America is named for Amerigo Vespucci. Although Columbus discovered America, he thought it was the eastern reaches of Asia. Amerigo is traditionally credited with recognizing that it was, in fact, a continent of its own. So which is more important, discovering a thing or recognizing it for what it is? Is it more important to recognize a thing for what it is, or be thought to recognize it?
