My Country 'Tis of Thee -- Samuel Francis Smith

Samuel Francis Smith knew a lot of languages, not the least of which was the language of music. So when a music publisher/educator/composer (Lowell Mason) had a gap in his own knowledge while in possession of some German-language songs, he sought out Samuel. The year was 1831 or early 1832, and Samuel was at Andover Theological Seminary (see seal of the town here; the seminary later merged with and relocated to another seminary in Newton) in Massachusetts. The eyes of this young (early 20’s) student soon fell upon a patriotic song extolling the German (Saxon) nation that captured his imagination. Of course, the words did not fit what was in his heart about his own country, but the tune and the nature of the original words sparked his creativity. In just 30 minutes time, “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” was thus written.

Samuel F. Smith’s patriotism was obviously tied to his faith, and the use of ‘My Country…’ in the few months and the nearly two centuries since its inception have underscored Samuel’s musical/patriotic sense. The Independence Day after Samuel first wrote his four or five original verses was the public premier of this patriotic hymn, sung by Sunday school children at a celebration of the day’s significance in Boston. Smith, evidently with encouragement from Lowell Mason, who conducted the children’s choir that day, saw the freedom of the nation as a holy gift, worth rejoicing and emphasizing as something He gave them. ‘Freedom’ or forms of the word or its synonyms is the focal point of every verse Samuel penned. But, independence was not merely a circumstance of a past generation’s sacrifices or just a fortunate coalescence of world events, as Smith saw it. Samuel’s final verse attributes American freedom to the God above – He is the ‘author’. It’s notable that the first few verses Samuel wrote contain no reference to this ‘author of liberty’, the One ‘to Thee we sing’. That makes it therefore possible that a crowd could mouth an abbreviated version of Smith’s words and not arrive at the same conclusion he did – that God is the One at work in American liberty. Yet, examine closely what Samuel implies in those verses, and it appears that the freedom he celebrates doesn’t just exist as a concept. It inhabits the people and the land, somewhat as a Spirit might. It comes from ‘every mountainside’ (v.1), filling him (Smith) with a ‘rapture’ (v.2), as music ‘swell(s) the breeze’ (v.3/4). Smith even indicates ‘rocks (would) their silence break’ (v. 3/4), perhaps not unlike what Jesus suggested (Luke 19:40) would happen if people failed to acknowledge God’s presence. Smith calls out to Him as ‘Great God our King’ (last verse) with his concluding words.

Am I therefore missing something minus Samuel Smith’s last verse? Without intending it perhaps, Smith’s construction of the song allows a secular use of ‘My Country…’ that could ensue if the last verse is excluded, perhaps in some sense therefore making it more broadly popular. Freedom in America is great, no doubt about it; just ask those elsewhere who don’t have it. It’s really what we all want – freedom from oppression, sickness, poverty – though no physical space or governing body on this planet does it perfectly. It’s a matter of perspective and recent experience, for I might highly value the freedom I now have because it’s better than what I had somewhere else. Yet, I always run into something that’s un-free, no matter how good the place and time is. Samuel Smith has pointed to someone who knows all about freedom, and where it’ll never disappoint. Found such a person yet?  

   

See more information on the song story in these sources: The Complete Book of Hymns – Inspiring Stories About 600 Hymns and Praise Songs by William J. Petersen and Ardythe Petersen, Tyndale House Publishers, 2006; Amazing Grace: 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions by Kenneth W. Osbeck, Kregel Publications, 1990; 101 Hymn Stories, by Kenneth W. Osbeck, Kregel Publications, 1982; Then Sings My Soul – 150 of the World’s Greatest Hymn Stories, Robert J. Morgan, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2003; and A Treasury of Hymn Stories – Brief Biographies of 120 Hymnwriters with Their Best Hymns, by Amos R. Wells, Baker Book House Company, 1945.

Also see this link, showing all five original verses: http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/m/c/t/mctisoft.htm

Also see this link for author’s biography: http://www.hymntime.com/tch/bio/s/m/i/t/h/s/smith_sf.htm

Also see this site for song information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America_(My_Country,_%27Tis_of_Thee)