Cody Crouch: America's Playlist | Centuries Collide

March 8, 2025 | S2:E16

In this episode, America’s Top 40 becomes America’s Top 4! This is a countdown of our nation’s greatest patriotic hits. We’re uncovering the stories behind the iconic All American tunes you most likely know, even if you don’t every word.

Closed captions

Show Timecode
Centuries Collide | Cody Crouch: America's Playlist | Centuries Collide | March 8, 2025
  • - i'm cody crouch.
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  • On my new show, "centuries collide: american history,"
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  • I'm traveling across the united states,
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  • Uncovering the incredibly true history
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  • Of what makes our nation so great.
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  • We're recreating some of american history's
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  • Greatest moments, exactly how they happened.
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  • - didn't you think the rock would be bigger?
  • 00:00:18.207 --> 00:00:20.442
  • - welcome to the craziest, strangest,
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  • Most whatever-est crash course on american history.
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  • Buckle up, it's time for "centuries collide."
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  • (horse neighing) (plane whooshing)
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  • You know those songs that like, really take you back?
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  • Whether it's to like, christmas as a kid
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  • Or a high school dance or your first crush,
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  • Or that one time your mom found your ipod,
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  • And like, freaked out over the music
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  • You actually listened to?
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  • (dramatic music)
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  • As americans, we have songs that really take us back.
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  • These songs are incredibly important.
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  • They remind us who we are as a nation,
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  • And they express thanks for all of the sacrifices
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  • That made our freedoms possible.
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  • You know the songs,
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  • But do you know the stories behind the songs?
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  • This is america's top four.
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  • That's right, just four,
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  • In which we count down some of america's
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  • Most memorable and iconic tunes.
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  • ♪ america's top four
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  • ♪ tee - cut, cut, cut!
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  • Ben, it's just four, just four.
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  • - so not 40. - four.
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  • We don't have the budget for 40.
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  • - our first song is "the defense of fort mchenry."
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  • Definitely not a catchy title,
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  • But it is what they called this hit song back in the day.
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  • Long story short,
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  • An american lawyer was held captive
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  • By the british in a boat offshore.
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  • From the boat, he watched the battle of fort mchenry.
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  • But the next morning, instead of the british flag flying,
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  • He saw old glory still waving.
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  • So all of that i remember, but here's what i didn't.
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  • That song wasn't written during the revolutionary war.
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  • It was written during the war of 1812,
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  • And america was officially the new kids on the block.
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  • (upbeat music)
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  • ♪ to party
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  • ♪ it was 1812, and we were fightin' a war ♪
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  • ♪ we had to restate our case to old king george ♪
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  • ♪ ya know he's crazy
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  • America is a brand new nation,
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  • Relatively untested in the world.
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  • Britain was at it again, interfering with american trade.
  • 00:02:28.003 --> 00:02:32.374
  • The royal navy blockaded our coasts,
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  • Occupied washington, torched the capitol
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  • And the president's mansion.
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  • Aka, you know, the white house,
  • 00:02:40.983 --> 00:02:42.684
  • ♪ white house
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  • - wait guys, it's burnt, so.
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  • ♪ black house
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  • ♪ the british are
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  • ♪ burnin' the white house
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  • - yeah. - we weren't,
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  • How do i put this to a nation of overachieving
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  • Pioneers bent on freedom?
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  • We were losing, but don't lose hope.
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  • The american navy defeats the british in new york.
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  • (leaders chattering)
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  • - we sent those commies packin', baby!
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  • - we were winning!
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  • And then we started losing.
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  • Two days later, here in maryland, just
  • 00:03:13.682 --> 00:03:16.018
  • Outside of baltimore,
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  • One of america's most strategic forts, fort mchenry,
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  • Took an absolute thrashing.
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  • - no, no, no! not today, we're, we're losing!
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  • - what this country needs
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  • Is a picker-upper. - you.
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  • - u-s-a.
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  • - [chanters] u-s-a, u-s-a.
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  • - no, no. - u-s-a!
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  • - guys, guys, guys, that's not a song,
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  • That's just a chant.
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  • (chanters groan)
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  • - what we need is someone to write a song.
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  • (bell rings) (gentle music)
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  • (dramatic music)
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  • (light gentle music)
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  • - this low point in the story that we pick up the trail
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  • For our very first song.
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  • The attorney, francis scott key,
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  • Was taken prisoner by the british,
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  • And he watched the absolute bombardment
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  • Of fort mchenry from a ship out here in the chesapeake bay,
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  • Kind of near where that bridge is.
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  • But in the early light of dawn,
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  • He was so inspired by the sight of his flag,
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  • The american flag still flying over the fort,
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  • That he began to compose a poem.
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  • - whose flag is over there.
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  • Get my binoculars and stare, put your hands in the air.
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  • - hey, no rhyming.
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  • - surely you can't be serious.
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  • - i am serious.
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  • My name is jose.
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  • - jose, can you see by the dawn's early light?
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  • (comical brass music)
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  • That's good.
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  • - he named this poem "the defense of fort mchenry"
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  • For very literal and obvious reasons.
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  • - it's not bad, but the titles is rubbish, old boy.
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  • - yes, you should probably rename it.
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  • - oh, writing is hard!
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  • Stars, spangled, banner.
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  • - you can't do anything with those words.
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  • - no, not at all.
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  • (comical music continues)
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  • - "the star-spangled banner," now that's a title,
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  • And a catchy one too.
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  • And to add salt to the british wound,
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  • It was set to the tune
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  • Of an old english drinking song. (chuckles)
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  • (british soldiers humming) (bright patriotic music)
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  • - don't you dare steal this
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  • For that stupid little poem of yours.
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  • (british soldiers humming) (bright patriotic music)
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  • - fun fact, we only sing one stanza
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  • Of francis scott key's original poem.
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  • It has four, and patriot points to anyone
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  • Who can sing more than one
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  • And does it at the next sporting event they attend.
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  • Which brings up an important question,
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  • Why do we sing the national anthem at sporting events?
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  • (dramatic music)
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  • (dramatic music)
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  • (dramatic music)
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  • (funky upbeat music)
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  • In 1916, president woodrow wilson decided
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  • That the national anthem should be played
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  • At all official events, but still, only occasionally
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  • Was the national anthem played at sporting events,
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  • Like maybe on 4th of july or memorial day.
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  • - come on red sox! let's go boston, come on!
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  • (audience cheering) (light comical music)
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  • - excuse me, excuse me, excuse me.
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  • Sorry, sorry, excuse me.
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  • - oh, i bet you didn't even get my coke.
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  • - the 1918 "work or fight" rule required men of draft age
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  • To either join the military
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  • Or work any military related job.
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  • The only problem was it was time for the world series.
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  • It was america's war effort
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  • Versus america's favorite pastime.
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  • (electronic arcade music)
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  • So an exception was made
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  • For game one of the world series.
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  • (baseball bat thwacks) (audience cheering)
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  • 19,000 sports fans showed up
  • 00:06:51.730 --> 00:06:54.766
  • For the red sox versus the chicago cubs,
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  • But the crowd was kind of down and rightfully so.
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  • World war i had taken a major toll on american morale.
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  • And then out of nowhere, in the seventh inning stretch,
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  • The military band launched into a newly arranged version
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  • Of a song already familiar to everyone,
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  • "the star-spangled banner."
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  • ♪ and the home of the brave
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  • - woo! yeah! (fans applauding)
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  • - yeah! - i love that.
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  • - [world series fan] yeah!
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  • - and by the end, it was a full blown celebration.
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  • The red sox may have taken the series that year,
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  • But the real winner was "the star-spangled banner."
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  • (funky upbeat music)
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  • It took a few more years, but by 1931,
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  • "the star-spangled banner" officially became
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  • The national anthem of the united states of america.
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  • But did you know that "the star-spangled banner"
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  • Isn't our original national anthem?
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  • - you want to know the original one?
  • 00:07:56.161 --> 00:07:57.396
  • Well, either way, i'm gonna tell you.
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  • ♪ america's top four
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  • ♪ number three
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  • - america, "my country, 'tis of thee."
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  • - hey, great line, man. that was awesome.
  • 00:08:10.642 --> 00:08:12.010
  • - hey, thanks.
  • 00:08:12.010 --> 00:08:13.178
  • - that was pretty good. - i felt that.
  • 00:08:13.178 --> 00:08:13.712
  • - yeah.
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  • (funky upbeat music)
  • 00:08:14.713 --> 00:08:16.982
  • - in 1831, a 22-year-old harvard graduate
  • 00:08:16.982 --> 00:08:20.719
  • Was sitting in seminary school
  • 00:08:20.719 --> 00:08:22.588
  • Completely minding his own business,
  • 00:08:22.588 --> 00:08:24.590
  • Never intending to write a national hymn.
  • 00:08:24.590 --> 00:08:27.759
  • But when inspiration struck,
  • 00:08:27.759 --> 00:08:30.362
  • He wrote the song in, like 30 minutes.
  • 00:08:30.362 --> 00:08:33.999
  • Samuel francis smith did a ton of cool things in his life.
  • 00:08:33.999 --> 00:08:37.669
  • He was a professor, he was a clergyman, a magazine editor.
  • 00:08:37.669 --> 00:08:41.506
  • He wrote hymns, poems, essays, and even books.
  • 00:08:41.506 --> 00:08:45.444
  • But it was this one song, lyrics he wrote as a 20-something,
  • 00:08:45.444 --> 00:08:49.615
  • That echo throughout the years and years of america.
  • 00:08:49.615 --> 00:08:54.152
  • One of the early versions
  • 00:08:54.152 --> 00:08:55.587
  • Was used to welcome george washington to new york city.
  • 00:08:55.587 --> 00:08:58.924
  • Another sung by members of the lewis and clark expedition.
  • 00:08:58.924 --> 00:09:02.494
  • It was just the it tune of the early 1800s.
  • 00:09:02.494 --> 00:09:06.064
  • Samuel francis smith found a willing collaborator
  • 00:09:06.064 --> 00:09:08.900
  • In lowell mason, a friend and music educator.
  • 00:09:08.900 --> 00:09:12.504
  • - hey, lowell, i'm laying down some sick lyrics,
  • 00:09:12.504 --> 00:09:17.142
  • Want to collab?
  • 00:09:17.142 --> 00:09:19.011
  • - their collaboration, cemented those iconic lyrics
  • 00:09:19.011 --> 00:09:22.414
  • With that infamous tune.
  • 00:09:22.414 --> 00:09:23.982
  • The song, "america," as it was originally titled,
  • 00:09:23.982 --> 00:09:27.085
  • Debuted in 1832 at a children's concert
  • 00:09:27.085 --> 00:09:30.689
  • At a church right here in boston.
  • 00:09:30.689 --> 00:09:32.124
  • (children cheering)
  • 00:09:32.124 --> 00:09:33.392
  • - okay, kids, i'd like to introduce you
  • 00:09:33.392 --> 00:09:35.727
  • To the founding fathers of america.
  • 00:09:35.727 --> 00:09:39.297
  • (children cheering)
  • 00:09:39.297 --> 00:09:43.368
  • ♪ my country, 'tis of thee
  • 00:09:43.969 --> 00:09:47.606
  • ♪ sweet land of liberty
  • 00:09:47.606 --> 00:09:51.209
  • ♪ of thee i sing
  • 00:09:51.209 --> 00:09:54.579
  • (funky electronic guitar music)
  • 00:09:54.579 --> 00:09:55.947
  • - let's do this!
  • 00:09:55.947 --> 00:09:57.182
  • ♪ my native country, thee
  • 00:09:57.182 --> 00:09:59.651
  • ♪ land of the noble free
  • 00:09:59.651 --> 00:10:01.687
  • ♪ thy name i love
  • 00:10:01.687 --> 00:10:03.055
  • (singer scatting)
  • 00:10:03.055 --> 00:10:04.089
  • - great song and great message.
  • 00:10:04.089 --> 00:10:06.124
  • Unfortunately, freedom did not ring so loud
  • 00:10:06.124 --> 00:10:09.127
  • For everyone back then.
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  • A true land of promise and opportunity
  • 00:10:10.729 --> 00:10:13.198
  • Is where all men and women are recognized
  • 00:10:13.198 --> 00:10:15.667
  • As created equal, and where all men and women are free.
  • 00:10:15.667 --> 00:10:20.305
  • (dramatic music)
  • 00:10:20.305 --> 00:10:22.998
  • (dramatic music)
  • 00:10:22.998 --> 00:10:23.305
  • (dramatic music)
  • 00:10:23.672 --> 00:10:27.376
  • Just like activists today, abolitionists
  • 00:10:28.243 --> 00:10:31.113
  • Also took advantage
  • 00:10:31.113 --> 00:10:32.347
  • Of the media, and this is way before tweets and hashtags.
  • 00:10:32.347 --> 00:10:35.718
  • So what they did is they took a song
  • 00:10:35.718 --> 00:10:38.320
  • That was familiar to everyone
  • 00:10:38.320 --> 00:10:39.988
  • And they wrote and published new lyrics,
  • 00:10:39.988 --> 00:10:42.491
  • Kind of like a remix.
  • 00:10:42.491 --> 00:10:44.259
  • But when i say new lyrics,
  • 00:10:44.259 --> 00:10:46.128
  • I'm talking scathing attacks on slavery
  • 00:10:46.128 --> 00:10:49.732
  • And anyone who defended it.
  • 00:10:49.732 --> 00:10:51.433
  • - all right, gentlemen, we have some new lyrics here.
  • 00:10:51.433 --> 00:10:53.836
  • (paper rustling)
  • 00:10:53.836 --> 00:10:55.504
  • - you want us to sing this?
  • 00:10:55.504 --> 00:10:57.206
  • - yep.
  • 00:10:57.206 --> 00:10:58.440
  • ♪ my country, 'tis of thee
  • 00:10:59.041 --> 00:11:02.611
  • ♪ stronghold of slavery
  • 00:11:02.611 --> 00:11:06.515
  • ♪ of thee i see
  • 00:11:06.515 --> 00:11:09.418
  • (funky upbeat music)
  • 00:11:09.418 --> 00:11:10.886
  • - this song's ability to speak truth to those in power
  • 00:11:10.886 --> 00:11:14.156
  • Continued well into the 20th century.
  • 00:11:14.156 --> 00:11:16.959
  • In fact, in the original "west side story" film,
  • 00:11:16.959 --> 00:11:19.895
  • The sharks gang whistled a tune as commentary
  • 00:11:19.895 --> 00:11:23.198
  • To their unfair treatment as immigrants.
  • 00:11:23.198 --> 00:11:25.334
  • Even martin luther king jr. included it
  • 00:11:25.334 --> 00:11:28.003
  • As part of his "i have a dream" speech in 1963.
  • 00:11:28.003 --> 00:11:32.207
  • As we all know, hits don't stay on the hot list forever.
  • 00:11:32.207 --> 00:11:35.310
  • A few years into the 20th century,
  • 00:11:35.310 --> 00:11:37.312
  • And "the star-spangled banner" officially clenched
  • 00:11:37.312 --> 00:11:40.115
  • The national anthem spot.
  • 00:11:40.115 --> 00:11:42.484
  • But "my country, 'tis of thee" will always remain
  • 00:11:42.484 --> 00:11:45.521
  • A certifiable american banger.
  • 00:11:45.521 --> 00:11:49.091
  • ♪ america's top four
  • 00:11:49.091 --> 00:11:53.095
  • - number two.
  • 00:11:53.462 --> 00:11:54.530
  • (upbeat music)
  • 00:11:54.530 --> 00:11:56.231
  • - mystery song.
  • 00:11:56.231 --> 00:11:58.100
  • (bright upbeat music)
  • 00:11:58.100 --> 00:12:00.235
  • - now, the origin story of this song
  • 00:12:00.235 --> 00:12:02.638
  • Begins at west point academy.
  • 00:12:02.638 --> 00:12:05.007
  • A patriotic american start for sure,
  • 00:12:05.007 --> 00:12:07.943
  • But it gets better.
  • 00:12:07.943 --> 00:12:09.344
  • In the 1830s, the west point chaplain had two nieces
  • 00:12:09.344 --> 00:12:12.514
  • Who lived on constitution island
  • 00:12:12.514 --> 00:12:14.950
  • Just across the hudson river from west point.
  • 00:12:14.950 --> 00:12:17.853
  • They'd moved there when the family fell on hard times
  • 00:12:17.853 --> 00:12:20.689
  • In the financial depression known as the panic of 1837.
  • 00:12:20.689 --> 00:12:24.326
  • (electronic arcade music)
  • 00:12:24.326 --> 00:12:25.627
  • So how do you help your family make ends meet
  • 00:12:25.627 --> 00:12:28.597
  • If you're two young women in the early 1830s?
  • 00:12:28.597 --> 00:12:32.835
  • Well, if you're anna and susan horner, you write novels.
  • 00:12:32.835 --> 00:12:36.839
  • Susan's first novel was a smash success.
  • 00:12:36.839 --> 00:12:40.142
  • - [narrator] the first book in america
  • 00:12:40.976 --> 00:12:41.944
  • To ever sell a million copies.
  • 00:12:41.944 --> 00:12:44.613
  • It's often considered america's first bestselling novel,
  • 00:12:44.613 --> 00:12:48.383
  • Which is pretty cool.
  • 00:12:48.383 --> 00:12:49.952
  • Susan cranked out the novels.
  • 00:12:49.952 --> 00:12:52.154
  • Anna published her books,
  • 00:12:52.154 --> 00:12:53.655
  • But sometimes the sisters wrote together.
  • 00:12:53.655 --> 00:12:56.925
  • While writing a children's book,
  • 00:12:56.925 --> 00:12:58.260
  • They included a particular scene with lyrics
  • 00:12:58.260 --> 00:13:00.929
  • To our number two song.
  • 00:13:00.929 --> 00:13:02.698
  • Here's a hint.
  • 00:13:02.698 --> 00:13:03.966
  • This song is still sung all around the world
  • 00:13:03.966 --> 00:13:06.735
  • In hundreds of languages.
  • 00:13:06.735 --> 00:13:08.570
  • This soon to be worldwide phenomena
  • 00:13:08.570 --> 00:13:10.806
  • Worked its way through america's north and south
  • 00:13:10.806 --> 00:13:13.242
  • On the lips of soldiers during the civil war.
  • 00:13:13.242 --> 00:13:16.411
  • This simple child song
  • 00:13:16.411 --> 00:13:18.013
  • Brought comfort to grown men facing the horrors of war
  • 00:13:18.013 --> 00:13:21.683
  • In one of our nation's darkest hours.
  • 00:13:21.683 --> 00:13:24.486
  • ♪ jesus loves me this i know
  • 00:13:24.486 --> 00:13:29.057
  • ♪ for the bible tell me so
  • 00:13:29.057 --> 00:13:33.595
  • ♪ little ones to him belong
  • 00:13:33.595 --> 00:13:38.267
  • ♪ they are weak but he is strong ♪
  • 00:13:38.267 --> 00:13:42.170
  • - wow! what a song and what a story.
  • 00:13:42.170 --> 00:13:44.940
  • But you better buckle up now
  • 00:13:44.940 --> 00:13:46.241
  • Because we're gonna fast forward 80 years
  • 00:13:46.241 --> 00:13:48.610
  • From the civil war,
  • 00:13:48.610 --> 00:13:50.178
  • And this part of the story plays out like an action movie.
  • 00:13:50.178 --> 00:13:53.415
  • It's world war ii,
  • 00:13:53.415 --> 00:13:55.417
  • A small group of shipwrecked marines
  • 00:13:55.417 --> 00:13:57.386
  • Make a harrowing swim to a remote island
  • 00:13:57.386 --> 00:13:59.988
  • In the south pacific.
  • 00:13:59.988 --> 00:14:01.590
  • The leader of these survivors?
  • 00:14:01.590 --> 00:14:03.191
  • A 26-year-old john f. kennedy.
  • 00:14:03.191 --> 00:14:06.194
  • - look over there, men.
  • 00:14:06.194 --> 00:14:07.963
  • - i don't think i can make it.
  • 00:14:08.597 --> 00:14:10.432
  • - i will pull you by my teeth if i have to.
  • 00:14:11.333 --> 00:14:14.403
  • - okay.
  • 00:14:14.636 --> 00:14:16.138
  • (kennedy growls)
  • 00:14:16.505 --> 00:14:20.142
  • - hey, i, i don't think i can make it either.
  • 00:14:21.076 --> 00:14:24.513
  • - [narrator] they swim hours back and forth
  • 00:14:25.414 --> 00:14:27.382
  • To remote islands, avoiding the japanese,
  • 00:14:27.382 --> 00:14:30.419
  • Constant brushes with death.
  • 00:14:30.419 --> 00:14:31.987
  • And i'm not even gonna think
  • 00:14:31.987 --> 00:14:33.322
  • About how many sharks there were.
  • 00:14:33.322 --> 00:14:34.923
  • Miraculously, they were found by friendly local fishermen,
  • 00:14:34.923 --> 00:14:38.026
  • But they aren't safe yet.
  • 00:14:38.026 --> 00:14:39.528
  • Messages are passed through these fishermen
  • 00:14:39.528 --> 00:14:41.763
  • Who are now for all practical purposes,
  • 00:14:41.763 --> 00:14:44.166
  • Spies for the united states in a dugout canoe.
  • 00:14:44.166 --> 00:14:48.437
  • - i'm gonna put this secret message
  • 00:14:48.437 --> 00:14:52.107
  • Into this coconut
  • 00:14:52.107 --> 00:14:54.910
  • And you are gonna give it to the good guys.
  • 00:14:54.910 --> 00:14:58.547
  • The good guys.
  • 00:14:58.547 --> 00:14:59.982
  • N-no, no, no.
  • 00:14:59.982 --> 00:15:01.984
  • In, in the coconut to the good guys, not the japanese.
  • 00:15:01.984 --> 00:15:07.222
  • Can you help me?
  • 00:15:07.589 --> 00:15:08.623
  • They're not getting it. - oh.
  • 00:15:08.623 --> 00:15:10.058
  • - [narrator] while the marines waited for a rescue,
  • 00:15:10.058 --> 00:15:11.093
  • Dog fights raged overhead.
  • 00:15:11.093 --> 00:15:13.195
  • And this wasn't a resort island, by the way.
  • 00:15:13.195 --> 00:15:15.464
  • It's a, if you want to eat climb a coconut tree
  • 00:15:15.464 --> 00:15:18.166
  • Even though you're wounded, starving,
  • 00:15:18.166 --> 00:15:19.534
  • And hallucinating kind of vibe.
  • 00:15:19.534 --> 00:15:21.737
  • - sir, i have a message
  • 00:15:21.737 --> 00:15:23.705
  • From some local fishermen.
  • 00:15:23.705 --> 00:15:26.341
  • - that's a coconut.
  • 00:15:26.808 --> 00:15:27.843
  • - no, it's a secret message.
  • 00:15:27.843 --> 00:15:34.616
  • They're alive.
  • 00:15:34.983 --> 00:15:35.817
  • (messenger gasps)
  • 00:15:35.817 --> 00:15:37.686
  • - and yes, john f. kennedy
  • 00:15:37.686 --> 00:15:39.254
  • Really did send a secret sos message written on a coconut
  • 00:15:39.254 --> 00:15:44.292
  • And fun fact,
  • 00:15:44.659 --> 00:15:45.627
  • He actually used that coconut
  • 00:15:45.627 --> 00:15:47.362
  • As a paperweight in the oval office,
  • 00:15:47.362 --> 00:15:49.831
  • When he became president.
  • 00:15:49.831 --> 00:15:51.099
  • Under the dark of night,
  • 00:15:51.099 --> 00:15:52.667
  • The rescue plan was executed with the help of the locals
  • 00:15:52.667 --> 00:15:56.505
  • And though language was a barrier, music was not.
  • 00:15:56.505 --> 00:16:00.475
  • Together they sang, "jesus loves me."
  • 00:16:00.475 --> 00:16:03.278
  • - language is a barrier, but music is not.
  • 00:16:03.278 --> 00:16:08.083
  • We could sing, "jesus loves me," as a unifying song.
  • 00:16:08.083 --> 00:16:12.854
  • ♪ jesus loves me, this is know
  • 00:16:13.488 --> 00:16:18.060
  • - good guy!
  • 00:16:18.393 --> 00:16:20.162
  • ♪ for the bible tells me so
  • 00:16:20.796 --> 00:16:26.034
  • - they know it.
  • 00:16:26.401 --> 00:16:27.903
  • (fast upbeat music)
  • 00:16:27.903 --> 00:16:29.996
  • (fast upbeat music)
  • 00:16:29.996 --> 00:16:30.469
  • (fast upbeat music)
  • 00:16:30.936 --> 00:16:35.174
  • (gentle upbeat music)
  • 00:16:35.674 --> 00:16:39.278
  • - it's the final song in our america's top four
  • 00:16:40.212 --> 00:16:43.248
  • And the story behind this one
  • 00:16:43.248 --> 00:16:44.650
  • Is a classic american dream.
  • 00:16:44.650 --> 00:16:47.219
  • ♪ america's top four.
  • 00:16:47.219 --> 00:16:50.889
  • - [together] number one!
  • 00:16:50.889 --> 00:16:52.691
  • - lemme set the stage.
  • 00:16:52.691 --> 00:16:54.026
  • A siberian family fleeing jewish persecution
  • 00:16:54.026 --> 00:16:57.196
  • Land on the shores of america in 1893.
  • 00:16:57.196 --> 00:17:00.365
  • Israel baline was the youngest of eight children.
  • 00:17:00.365 --> 00:17:04.203
  • When he was just a kid, his dad gave him singing lessons
  • 00:17:04.203 --> 00:17:07.473
  • And by the time he was a young teenager,
  • 00:17:07.473 --> 00:17:09.541
  • He was singing on the streets and in bars
  • 00:17:09.541 --> 00:17:11.777
  • Right here in new york city.
  • 00:17:11.777 --> 00:17:13.645
  • ♪ 2, 3, 4
  • 00:17:13.645 --> 00:17:15.380
  • ♪ hello my baby
  • 00:17:15.380 --> 00:17:16.482
  • ♪ hello my honey
  • 00:17:16.482 --> 00:17:17.616
  • ♪ hello my ragtime gal
  • 00:17:17.616 --> 00:17:20.018
  • - after hours at the bar he worked at,
  • 00:17:20.018 --> 00:17:21.820
  • He taught himself to play the piano.
  • 00:17:21.820 --> 00:17:24.957
  • - original song brought him a whopping 33 cents
  • 00:17:25.891 --> 00:17:29.094
  • And a brush with destiny.
  • 00:17:29.094 --> 00:17:32.131
  • - sonny, you've got mail.
  • 00:17:32.131 --> 00:17:33.966
  • Looks important.
  • 00:17:33.966 --> 00:17:35.200
  • - they misspelled my name.
  • 00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:37.369
  • Irving berlin?
  • 00:17:37.369 --> 00:17:39.304
  • - not gonna lie, kid,
  • 00:17:39.304 --> 00:17:40.739
  • Irving berlin's got a nice ring to it.
  • 00:17:40.739 --> 00:17:43.308
  • - and from that moment on,
  • 00:17:43.308 --> 00:17:44.643
  • He became known as the famous irving berlin.
  • 00:17:44.643 --> 00:17:49.047
  • Irving's career took off like a rocket.
  • 00:17:49.047 --> 00:17:51.583
  • We're talking broadway musicals,
  • 00:17:51.583 --> 00:17:54.286
  • Film scores, hit song after hit song.
  • 00:17:54.286 --> 00:17:57.823
  • I mean, who hasn't heard the holiday favorite,
  • 00:17:57.823 --> 00:18:00.659
  • "white christmas"?
  • 00:18:00.659 --> 00:18:02.094
  • His life just proves
  • 00:18:02.094 --> 00:18:03.896
  • That there ain't no business like show business,
  • 00:18:03.896 --> 00:18:06.398
  • Which is actually just another huge hit song he wrote.
  • 00:18:06.398 --> 00:18:09.568
  • This genius of a talent was forever grateful to the country
  • 00:18:09.568 --> 00:18:12.804
  • That welcomed him in.
  • 00:18:12.804 --> 00:18:14.273
  • He produced many patriotic songs
  • 00:18:14.273 --> 00:18:16.742
  • That reflected his life as an immigrant.
  • 00:18:16.742 --> 00:18:19.878
  • "let's all be americans now",
  • 00:18:19.878 --> 00:18:21.980
  • "for your country and my country",
  • 00:18:21.980 --> 00:18:23.982
  • The titles of his songs tell it all.
  • 00:18:23.982 --> 00:18:26.685
  • In 1917, a 30-year-old berlin was drafted.
  • 00:18:26.685 --> 00:18:30.689
  • So what did he do?
  • 00:18:30.689 --> 00:18:31.924
  • Well, he basically wrote the soundtrack
  • 00:18:31.924 --> 00:18:34.226
  • For america's war effort during the first world war.
  • 00:18:34.226 --> 00:18:37.863
  • (upbeat music)
  • 00:18:37.863 --> 00:18:40.032
  • - excuse me, mr. berlin. - uncle sam?
  • 00:18:40.032 --> 00:18:42.601
  • - thank you for serving your country,
  • 00:18:42.601 --> 00:18:44.536
  • But i'd like to trade your weapon for something else.
  • 00:18:44.536 --> 00:18:47.773
  • - what?
  • 00:18:47.773 --> 00:18:50.042
  • (gentle instrumental music)
  • 00:18:50.642 --> 00:18:52.177
  • - the army put the soldier's songwriting skills to work.
  • 00:18:52.177 --> 00:18:54.813
  • He wrote a musical about soldiers
  • 00:18:54.813 --> 00:18:56.682
  • That would be played by soldiers.
  • 00:18:56.682 --> 00:18:58.951
  • The finale song though, just didn't seem right.
  • 00:18:58.951 --> 00:19:02.654
  • Fast forward 20 years to 1938,
  • 00:19:02.654 --> 00:19:06.124
  • And a national radio show singer came calling.
  • 00:19:06.124 --> 00:19:09.027
  • She was looking for a song to honor
  • 00:19:09.027 --> 00:19:11.763
  • The 20th anniversary of the end of the great war.
  • 00:19:11.763 --> 00:19:15.200
  • Side note, they didn't call it world war i yet,
  • 00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:17.869
  • Because you know, world war ii hadn't happened.
  • 00:19:17.869 --> 00:19:20.806
  • But spoiler, it's about to.
  • 00:19:20.806 --> 00:19:24.243
  • - i want to write a song of peace,
  • 00:19:25.010 --> 00:19:27.145
  • A song that brings america together.
  • 00:19:27.145 --> 00:19:29.748
  • Wait, what about that song i cut
  • 00:19:30.382 --> 00:19:32.150
  • From the soldier musical back in my army days?
  • 00:19:32.150 --> 00:19:35.354
  • (airplane engine whirring)
  • 00:19:35.354 --> 00:19:37.189
  • I am just gonna tuck this away for later.
  • 00:19:37.189 --> 00:19:40.092
  • Eureka.
  • 00:19:40.325 --> 00:19:41.793
  • (gentle instrumental music)
  • 00:19:42.394 --> 00:19:45.530
  • ♪ right, fight, might, night
  • 00:19:45.530 --> 00:19:49.534
  • ♪ through the night with the light from above ♪
  • 00:19:49.534 --> 00:19:54.506
  • - the song, "god bless america."
  • 00:19:54.506 --> 00:19:58.310
  • ♪ god
  • 00:19:58.577 --> 00:19:59.878
  • - no, nope,
  • 00:19:59.878 --> 00:20:00.812
  • That song is still copyrighted.
  • 00:20:00.812 --> 00:20:03.548
  • - so we can't sing it?
  • 00:20:03.548 --> 00:20:05.617
  • - not on this show, we can't.
  • 00:20:05.617 --> 00:20:07.319
  • We don't have the budget for it.
  • 00:20:07.319 --> 00:20:08.887
  • - maybe just a delicate little hum? (hums)
  • 00:20:08.887 --> 00:20:12.090
  • - sorry, the melody is also copyrighted.
  • 00:20:12.090 --> 00:20:15.527
  • - how about we mouth it into the microphone
  • 00:20:15.527 --> 00:20:18.130
  • Whilst pretending that we're singing it?
  • 00:20:18.130 --> 00:20:20.565
  • - hmm, i'll allow it.
  • 00:20:20.565 --> 00:20:23.568
  • - let's hit it, boys. - count us in, count us in.
  • 00:20:24.603 --> 00:20:27.172
  • - alright, five, six, seven, eight.
  • 00:20:27.172 --> 00:20:29.441
  • (gentle instrumental music)
  • 00:20:30.042 --> 00:20:32.911
  • - "god bless america" was a gift that just kept on giving.
  • 00:20:32.911 --> 00:20:36.481
  • One month after 9/11, "god bless america"
  • 00:20:36.481 --> 00:20:39.051
  • Was released as an album for charity,
  • 00:20:39.051 --> 00:20:41.787
  • And it was the first charity album
  • 00:20:41.787 --> 00:20:43.755
  • To hit number one on the american charts
  • 00:20:43.755 --> 00:20:45.857
  • Since the 1980s hit, "we are the world".
  • 00:20:45.857 --> 00:20:49.828
  • - god bless america, indeed.
  • 00:20:49.828 --> 00:20:53.498
  • - yeah, a big god bless america ending
  • 00:20:53.498 --> 00:20:55.801
  • Is kind of what this show deserves.
  • 00:20:55.801 --> 00:20:58.203
  • But uncle sam is right,
  • 00:20:58.203 --> 00:21:00.405
  • That song actually isn't public domain,
  • 00:21:00.405 --> 00:21:03.108
  • And according to my calculations, won't
  • 00:21:03.108 --> 00:21:05.010
  • Be until like 2033.
  • 00:21:05.010 --> 00:21:07.679
  • But let's not let that rain on our parade, okay?
  • 00:21:07.679 --> 00:21:10.882
  • My fellow americans,
  • 00:21:10.882 --> 00:21:12.184
  • I give you the founding fathers united singers
  • 00:21:12.184 --> 00:21:14.386
  • And the national anthem.
  • 00:21:14.386 --> 00:21:18.657
  • ♪ oh, say, can you see
  • 00:21:19.157 --> 00:21:22.527
  • ♪ by the dawn's early light
  • 00:21:22.527 --> 00:21:25.497
  • ♪ what so proudly we hailed
  • 00:21:25.497 --> 00:21:28.700
  • ♪ at the twilight's last gleaming ♪
  • 00:21:28.700 --> 00:21:31.803
  • - watching the news and consuming social media,
  • 00:21:31.803 --> 00:21:34.306
  • It's really easy to lose sight
  • 00:21:34.306 --> 00:21:35.874
  • Of what we love most about america.
  • 00:21:35.874 --> 00:21:38.710
  • But what these stories behind the music tell us,
  • 00:21:38.710 --> 00:21:41.480
  • That we are a nation of the people, by the people,
  • 00:21:41.480 --> 00:21:44.483
  • And for the people, the first of its kind.
  • 00:21:44.483 --> 00:21:46.785
  • Are we far from perfect?
  • 00:21:46.785 --> 00:21:48.186
  • Absolutely.
  • 00:21:48.186 --> 00:21:49.321
  • But what these songs do is remind us
  • 00:21:49.321 --> 00:21:51.990
  • And inspire us of our potential,
  • 00:21:51.990 --> 00:21:54.760
  • And that is always worth singing about.
  • 00:21:54.760 --> 00:21:57.796
  • Add your voice to the final chorus.
  • 00:21:57.796 --> 00:22:00.932
  • ♪ o'er the land of the free
  • 00:22:01.566 --> 00:22:07.939
  • ♪ and the home of the brave
  • 00:22:08.573 --> 00:22:19.317
  • (gentle instrumental music)
  • 00:22:19.918 --> 00:22:19.918