American Exceptionalism

This Memorial Day week-end I happened across this video (from last years World Cup tournament when the USA team was playing in the first round of the play-off games).  The song OVER THERE was done as a re-mix in the video by Vandon Arms.

Ok - so what does all this have to do with Memorial Day you ask?  I was just reminded of how many people today are attacking our country (from within) and really hacking at the fiber of what made this country great - American Exceptionalism!  What is American Exceptionalism?  It is what this song was stating back then of the overall personal view that Americans had regarding our country and our standards.  It was written from the heart of that exceptionalism to support the young men/women heading out to war and to bring comfort to the worried loved ones waiting at home as the first World War was launched.  People KNEW that America was great, it was where the entire world wanted to run to to escape the tyrannies of their homelands and they even were so bold that they sang about it!

The headlines across American newspapers declared on April 6, 1917, that the United States had declared war on Germany and upon hearing that, one actor, singer, dancer, songwriter, playwright and Broadway producer stared humming.  Yes, that's right, humming!  George Cohan had already written many famous songs such as "You're a Grand Old Flag," "Give My Regards to Broadway" and "I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy."  He continued humming all morning and soon began to think of some lyrics.  By the time he arrived at work in the morning he had versus, chorus, tune and title already laid out.  It sold over 2 million copies by the end of the war and is still a recognized song today.  In 1936, Cohan was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for writing this song!  There was a sense of honor about what America was, who we were as a people and what we represented.  We were NOT ashamed of our endeavors, our victories or accomplishments.  We certainly did not bring apologies to the world stage about our exceptionalism back then or speak down about our successes.  We were PROUD Americans.  We put our trust in God and even declared it on our money.  As we have strayed from God we have strayed from our exceptionalism.  I pray that as we remember this Memorial Day we remember all that gave the highest price to pay for our freedom to live in such a great country!  God Bless America!

Here are the complete lyrics to the song in case you don't know them:


Complete Lyrics to "Over There" by George M. Cohan
Johnnie get your gun, get your gun, get your gun
Take it on the run, on the run, on the run
Hear them calling you and me
Every son of liberty

Hurry right away, no delay, go today
Make your daddy glad to have had such a lad
Tell your sweetheart not to pine
To be proud her boy's in line.

CHORUS (repeated twice):
Over there, over there
Send the word, send the word over there
That the Yanks are coming, the Yanks are coming
The drums are rum-tumming everywhere

So prepare, say a prayer
Send the word, send the word to beware
We'll be over there, we're coming over
And we won't come back till it's over over there.
Over there.
Johnnie get your gun, get your gun, get your gun
Johnnie show the Hun you're a son of a gun
Hoist the flag and let her fly
Yankee Doodle do or die

Pack your little kit, show your grit, do your bit
Yankees to the ranks from the towns and the tanks
Make your mother proud of you
And the old Red White and Blue.

CHORUS (repeated twice):
Over there, over there
Send the word, send the word over there
That the Yanks are coming, the Yanks are coming
The drums are rum-tumming everywhere

So prepare, say a prayer
Send the word, send the word to beware
We'll be over there, we're coming over
And we won't come back till it's over over there.
Over there.