HAYLEY REARDON “America The Beautiful”

August 16, 2018 by 1888media

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Hayley Reardon recently released her updated version of America’s patriotic anthem, “America The Beautiful.”

Learning the song from her grandfather when she was young, she wanted to include some of the original phrasing but wanted to update it to reflect the modern world we live in and the current truth that is America, The Beautiful.

Reardon elaborates, “This America the Beautiful is for all of the good, honorable people of every color, background, circumstance, and political affiliation who are out there every day, doing the best they can, making and keeping America beautiful.”

The original version was first published in the year 1910, with music composed in 1883 by Newark church organist and choirmaster Samuel A. Ward, and lyrics by Katharine Lee Bates,  whose poem “Pikes Peak,” was first published in the Fourth of July edition of the church periodical The Congregationalist in 1895.  The poem was retitled “America” for the publication. The two never met.

Along with the release of the digital single, Hayley collaborated with Blake Larsen, who directed and photographed the poignant music video with scenes of everyday Americans from Massachusetts to New York City. Watching the video leaves a profound effect, inspiration.

“This song came to me out of the blue and proved to be a much needed reminder of the immense heart and beauty that is alive and well in this country despite all that feels broken. I hope it gives you hope.”

Oh beautiful for spacious skies
For amber waves of grain
For country stores and dive bars
Where everybody knows your name

For purple mountains majesties
Above the fruited plain
For the woman reading to a child
On a crowded city subway

For the black lives that matter
More than they’ll ever know
And for the grown man who’s crying
Where oh where did my life go

Oh America the beautiful
America the heartbreak
America the prideful
Still yearning despite her mistakes

Oh beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife
‘Cause it should be enough to tell the truth
And kiss your kids goodnight

Oh America the beautiful
America the hungry
America the city kids
And the immigrants
And the hurt
And the lost
And the free
From sea to shining sea

America the beautiful
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good
With brotherhood
From sea to shining sea