Abe Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Proclamation

 AMERICA the BEAUTIFUL

Text: Katharine Lee Bates, 1859-1929

Music: Samuel A. Ward, 1847-1903

Tune: MATERNA, Meter: CMD

1.	O beautiful for spacious skies, 
	for amber waves of grain; 
	for purple mountain majesties 
	above the fruited plain! 
	America! America! God shed his grace on thee, 
	and crown thy good with brotherhood 
	from sea to shining sea. 

2.	O beautiful for heroes proved 
	in liberating strife, 
	who more than self their country loved, 
	and mercy more than life! 
	America! America! May God thy gold refine, 
	till all success be nobleness, 
	and every gain divine. 

3.	O beautiful for patriot dream 
	that sees beyond the years 
	thine alabaster cities gleam,
	undimmed by human tears! 
	America! America! God mend thine every flaw, 
	confirm thy soul in self-control, 
	thy liberty in law.