Talk:My Country, 'Tis of Thee

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Is this song also known as "America", or is there some other song sung to the tune of God Save The King/Queen by that name? I ask because Charles Ives wrote a piece of music called Variations on "America", and the theme in that is God Save the Queen/King. --Camembert

Same tune. (I love the Ive's piece!) -- Someone else 02:02 Nov 5, 2002 (UTC)

So do I, although I've never heard the original (for solo organ), only William Schuman's arrangement for orchestra - I think the flamenco bit is hilarious in that. So does "America" have the same words as "My Country, Tis of Thee", or are they different, or, indeed, does it lack words altogether? I've often wondered, never known. --Camembert

Yes, "America" is just an alternative title, the words are identical. The (non-transcribed) organ "Variation" is a real kick - I think that Ives said the variation on the pedals was more fun than a baseball game - I heard it on a tracker organ in New Haven that Ives had played. But the Schuman arrangement is very nice too, manages to get the whimsical mood (and the flamenco stuff always makes me smile!). -- Someone else

I used to play the organ (rather poorly, but well enough to get to play a couple of nice instruments) - would've been fun to tackle that piece, though I suspect I would have ended up in knots! Anyway, thanks for the info - I'll add the alternative title to the article. --Camembert

Are we sure it's not actually called "America?" I've always heard it as such, and falsely called "My Country 'Tis of Thee." Websites seem pretty split on it, referring to it as both names. can anyone find a definitive source? jfg284 ^{you were saying?} 19:03, 4 December 2005 (UTC)

Interestingly, the melody in the Episcopal hymnal is named "America" (which is kind of funny given that the same melody was a British patriotic song before ever it was about America). The Wednesday Island 16:18, 3 September 2006 (UTC)