You’re a Grand Old Flag

I don’t know why I didn’t remember this one till now. As a young kid, this was always a fun song to sing because we could belt it out. And I think there was marching and swinging your arms. This version of the song is from NIH.

You’re a grand old flag,
You’re a high flying flag
And forever in peace may you wave.
You’re the emblem of
The land I love.
The home of the free and the brave.

Ev’ry heart beats true
‘neath the Red, White and Blue,
Where there’s never a boast or brag.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Keep your eye on the grand old flag.

Turns out, in looking at Wikipedia, I see that the song I know (see above) is just part of a much longer song written by George M. Cohan in 1906. Here is the longer version.

Verse 1

There’s a feeling comes a-stealing,
And it sets my brain a-reeling,
When I’m listening to the music of a military band.
Any tune like “Yankee Doodle”
Simply sets me off my noodle,
It’s that patriotic something that no one can understand.

“Way down south, in the land of cotton,”
Melody untiring,
Ain’t that inspiring?

Hurrah! Hurrah! We’ll join the jubilee!
And that’s going some, for the Yankees, by gum! [1]
Red, white and blue, I am for you!
Honest, you’re a grand old flag!

Verse 2

I’m no cranky hanky panky,
I’m a dead square, honest Yankee,
And I’m mighty proud of that old flag
That flies for Uncle Sam.
Though I don’t believe in raving
Ev’ry time I see it waving,
There’s a chill runs up my back that makes me glad I’m what I am.

Here’s a land with a million soldiers,
That’s if we should need ’em,
We’ll fight for freedom!

Hurrah! Hurrah! For every Yankee tar[2]
And old G.A.R.
Ev’ry stripe, ev’ry star.
Red, white and blue,
Hats off to you
Honest, you’re a grand old flag!

Chorus

You’re a grand old flag,
You’re a high flying flag
And forever in peace may you wave.

You’re the emblem of
The land I love.
The home of the free and the brave.

Ev’ry heart beats true
‘neath the Red, White and Blue,[3]
Where there’s never a boast or brag.

But should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Keep your eye on the grand old flag.