Posted on 07.03.2020

My Beautiful America - Independence Day 2020

This has been a CDB Independence Day tradition ever since Dad wrote this piece called, "My Beautiful America." We posted it many times, but this was the last one to include this preamble that he wrote just a few days before he went home. - CD, Jr. 2023

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This year, as we celebrate the 244th birthday of the greatest nation the world has ever known, we are beset with many problems, some of our making and some we have no control over.

 

But, be that as it is, America is still the greatest and I want to express my personal feelings about our beloved country, its magnificence, its beauty and its diverse population.

 

Wishing all Americans a happy and reflective Independence Day.

 

Charlie Daniels 2020

 

 

My Beautiful America

Have you ever spent the late afternoon,

Watching the purple shadows deepen in the Arizona desert?

Or seen a herd of Elk plow their way

Through waist-deep snow on a cold Colorado dawn?

Did you ever see the sun go down in Hawaii

Or seen the stormy waves break over the rockbound coast of Maine

Or have you ever see an eagle fly up out of the mists of Alaska

Or a big October moon hanging full over the still Dakota badlands?

 

Have you ever tasted the gumbo in New Orleans, barbecue in Carolina

Or the chicken wings in Buffalo?

Have you ever had Brunswick stew in Macon, or cornbread in Birmingham?

Or briskets slow cook over hill country mesquite wood?

 

Did you ever drink the water from a gurgling branch in Utah,

Or stand on the mountain above El Paso Del Norte

And see the lights twinkling clear over into Mexico

Did you ever jingle horses in the pre-dawn stillness of a perfect Texas day

And watch their shod hooves kicking up sparks on the volcanic rock?

 

Or tended a trotline on a foggy Carolina morning,

Or heard the distant love song of a lovesick whippoorwill

On a pristine Tennessee late night?

Have you seen the faces on Mount Rushmore or stood at the Vietnam monument?

 

Have you ever crossed the mighty Mississippi,

Or been to the Daddy of ‘Em All in Cheyenne, Wyoming

Or seen the mighty Vols run out on the football field on a chilly autumn afternoon?

 

Did you ever see the Chicago skyline from Lakeshore Drive at night

Or the New England foliage in the fall,

Or the summer beauty of the Shenandoah Valley,

Or Indiana covered with new snow?

 

Did you ever seen a herd of wild horses running free

Across the empty spaces of Nevada?

Or caught a walleyed pike out of a cold Wisconsin stream,

Or marveled at the tall ships docked in the harbor at Baltimore?

 

Did you ever see the early morning dew sparkling on the bluegrass,

Or the wind stir the wheat fields on a hot Kansas afternoon

Or driven the lonely stretches of old Route 66

Have you ever heard the church bells peal their call to worship

On an early Sunday, in some small town in the Deep South?

 

Or passed through the Redwood Forest just as the sun was going down

Have you ever been to Boise or Baxley or Beaufort or Billings?

Have you ever passed through Sanford or Suffolk or San Angelo

Have you ever seen the falls at Niagara

The Ice Palace in Saint Paul

Or the Gateway to the West?

 

This then is America!

The land God blesses with everything

And no Eiffel Tower: no Taj Mahal,

No Alps, No Andes

No native hut, nor Royal Palace -

Can rival her awesome beauty,

Her diverse population, her monolithic majesty.

America the Free

America the mighty

America the beautiful

 

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America

And to the republic for which it stands

One nation under God, indivisible

with liberty and justice for all.

 

What do you think?

 

Pray for our troops, and for the peace of Jerusalem.

 

God Bless America

 

— Charlie Daniels

PLEASE READ BEFORE YOU POST

Feel free to comment on soapboxes, but please refrain from profanity and anonymous posts are not allowed, we need a name and you MUST provide a valid email address. If you provide an email address, but leave the name as "Anonymous" we will pick a name for you based on your email address. No one other than website administrators will see your email address, not other posters. If you post without a valid email address, your comment (whether positive or negative) will be deleted. — TeamCDB

 

 

 

 

Check Out The Charlie Daniels Podcast!

Check out "Geechi Geechi Ya Ya Blues" from Beau Weevils - 'Songs in the Key of E'

 

 

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Comments

My beautiful america
A wonderful powerful and majestic song mr daniels. May GOD richly bless this land and her people and may GOD calm the waters of these times!
Posted by James
Independence Day 2020
Charlie, you are as eloquent as always. You've been fortunate to see all the sights you've mentioned in our great United States of America. Our country shines like no other. Thank you for your wisdom, thoughtfulness and your unique ability to communicate your feelings. We live in a better environment with your influence and deeply heartfelt love of this country. Owen
Posted by Owen
America
God bless you Charlie! You brought tears to my eyes!
Posted by Linda
7-4-20
Great Video Charlie. I have done a lot of those things in my lifetime. I wish to thank you for giving everyone great music. Since 1975 when I first heard your music. That is 45 years of the CDB for me. I am "That drummer in Arizona" - you know who I am. I hope the USA wakes up soon. I also hope one day you give me a call to play drums for you. But, in light of everything going on, I mostly wish to say Thanks, and suggest seriously that you just sit back, enjoy all the thing life has given you and you worked for. I do hate to say this, but perhaps it is time to just retire and enjoy. I really do not think thing wil every get back to anything close to how it once was. Take care.
Posted by Dennis
God Bless America
Thank you, that was beautiful.
Posted by Don
My Beautiful America
Ever inspired and totally honest. Thanks for reminding those who may forget we live in THE GREATEST country in the world. Perfect no, but still the greatest. ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
Posted by Charlene
Charlie Daniels Tribute
Thank you for this wonderful tribute to the most wonderful place to live! You & your music are also what we are so proud of! Thank You!
Posted by Darlene
My Beautiful America
I am so blessed to see and hear your eloquent salute to our wonderful land of the free and home of the brave! God bless you, Charlie Daniels!
Posted by Carolyn
Race relations and Charlie Daniels
As an avid listener to music there comes along a song that rips you from your culture. That was the Devil went down to Georgia. As a lover of R&B I was just amazed how I could hear the wonderful mix of several genres in that song. Just incredible. And his love for America is astounding and wonderful in a time of madness and pestilence. He was and is a refreshing spirit. May God give him great rest. RIP sir, you were simply amazing.
Posted by Preston
Great final blog
It has taken several days to come to the full realization that Charlie Daniels has left our world. I saw him numerous times at the Volunteer Jam and in concert. The final blog is beautiful. Great words from a Great American. RIP
Posted by Duane
Your America
Your voice for America is why we loved you so. RIP
Posted by Ira
Thank you
This brought a tear to my eye. What an incredible man, patriot, talent, love. Thank you Charlie Daniels, for being the incredible light that you were for America, for our troops, for our patriots and being our champion. I miss you and am grateful to your son, Charlie Daniels Jr., for keeping your legacy alive and stepping in to be our light ๐Ÿ’กโค๏ธ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ God bless.
Posted by Sheri
My Beautiful America
Itโ€™s the most beautiful piece I have read in a long time
Posted by Jim
My Beautiful America
Loved to here him sing and play and he is the only person I have had the pleasure of attending a concert back in the 80's. My beautiful America has so much truth and tells everyone that they need to discover America instead of all other countries. So many people leave this country to go home without understanding all the beauty this country offers. Wish I could tour the USA.
Posted by Allan
God Bless America
Thank Charlie Daniel's for the beautiful tribute to our great lands, Amen
Posted by Mary
Love listening to our country song Such hear more often God Bless America
Thanks for sharing Marie Browder Cullman ,Alabama the Beautiful
Posted by Marie
Charlie Daniels America the Beautiful
As an Army veteran, I just wish to say thank you
Posted by John
American
Absolutely beautiful! Thank you for the incredible words!
Posted by Sandy
Love for Charlie
What a wonder Charlie was. Miss him very much. Will always listen to his music till I die.
Posted by Michael
My Beautiful America
Mr. Daniels, Even in your passing you can still generate feelings of Patriotism and Pride in being an American. You will long be remembered not only as a country singer but more so as a proud American who stood by his country and her veterans with every breath you took! You were taken from us far too soon but somehow will always be by our side. Thank you for always giving your all.
Posted by Phil
song
This was very touching song or poem. Makes you feel proud of your country that God placed us in it!
Posted by Elaine
4th of July 2023 !!
Remember the foster youth & young adults living independently in all 50 USA States & 17 USA Territories!!
Posted by Raymond
Miss Charlie Daniels
He was a great man. I loved his music. He was a true patriot.
Posted by Dee
Our magnificent America
I had never seen this before and I can tell you that I envisioned being in every place mentioned. We have the most wonderful country and zi pray it always stays free!! Thank you for sharing this. It should be shared every. Independence Day!!
Posted by Rosetta
Our Beautiful AMERICA
I totally agree. I traveled a few of these places and abroad. Be it ever so humble there isn't any place like our AMERICA. Long may she rein. with God's help and everyone here, we can. Amen.
Posted by Irma
Charlie Danniels
Charlie You will be missed! Your still are loved! I as an combat veteran has seen and been to most of the great places in our country!
Posted by Noel
America
So beautifully said. All I can say is God Bless America, this land that I love.
Posted by Margie
A great man
I had the honor of seeing the Charlie Daniel's Band at the WV State Fair and I remember watching and thinking what a great story teller he is. When I heard he'd passed away, I was happy I'd went to the concert and sad at what a great man we'd lost. RIP SIR.
Posted by Regina