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.
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Closed captions
Show Timecode
Centuries Collide | Cody Crouch: America's Playlist | Centuries Collide | March 8, 2025
- - i'm cody crouch.
- 00:00:01.657 --> 00:00:03.158
- On my new show, "centuries collide: american history,"
- 00:00:03.158 --> 00:00:05.727
- I'm traveling across the united states,
- 00:00:05.727 --> 00:00:08.464
- Uncovering the incredibly true history
- 00:00:08.464 --> 00:00:10.933
- Of what makes our nation so great.
- 00:00:10.933 --> 00:00:13.702
- We're recreating some of american history's
- 00:00:13.702 --> 00:00:15.604
- Greatest moments, exactly how they happened.
- 00:00:15.604 --> 00:00:18.207
- - didn't you think the rock would be bigger?
- 00:00:18.207 --> 00:00:20.442
- - welcome to the craziest, strangest,
- 00:00:20.442 --> 00:00:23.045
- Most whatever-est crash course on american history.
- 00:00:23.045 --> 00:00:26.181
- Buckle up, it's time for "centuries collide."
- 00:00:26.181 --> 00:00:28.851
- (horse neighing) (plane whooshing)
- 00:00:28.851 --> 00:00:30.686
- You know those songs that like, really take you back?
- 00:00:30.686 --> 00:00:33.422
- Whether it's to like, christmas as a kid
- 00:00:33.422 --> 00:00:35.557
- Or a high school dance or your first crush,
- 00:00:35.557 --> 00:00:38.460
- Or that one time your mom found your ipod,
- 00:00:38.460 --> 00:00:40.929
- And like, freaked out over the music
- 00:00:40.929 --> 00:00:42.431
- You actually listened to?
- 00:00:42.431 --> 00:00:44.633
- (dramatic music)
- 00:00:44.633 --> 00:00:47.903
- As americans, we have songs that really take us back.
- 00:00:47.903 --> 00:00:51.740
- These songs are incredibly important.
- 00:00:51.740 --> 00:00:54.243
- They remind us who we are as a nation,
- 00:00:54.243 --> 00:00:56.845
- And they express thanks for all of the sacrifices
- 00:00:56.845 --> 00:01:00.249
- That made our freedoms possible.
- 00:01:00.249 --> 00:01:02.584
- You know the songs,
- 00:01:02.584 --> 00:01:04.119
- But do you know the stories behind the songs?
- 00:01:04.119 --> 00:01:07.322
- This is america's top four.
- 00:01:07.322 --> 00:01:09.391
- That's right, just four,
- 00:01:09.391 --> 00:01:10.926
- In which we count down some of america's
- 00:01:10.926 --> 00:01:12.928
- Most memorable and iconic tunes.
- 00:01:12.928 --> 00:01:16.665
- ♪ america's top four
- 00:01:17.166 --> 00:01:19.868
- ♪ tee - cut, cut, cut!
- 00:01:19.868 --> 00:01:22.771
- Ben, it's just four, just four.
- 00:01:22.771 --> 00:01:26.408
- - so not 40. - four.
- 00:01:26.408 --> 00:01:28.210
- We don't have the budget for 40.
- 00:01:28.210 --> 00:01:30.245
- - our first song is "the defense of fort mchenry."
- 00:01:30.245 --> 00:01:33.982
- Definitely not a catchy title,
- 00:01:33.982 --> 00:01:36.118
- But it is what they called this hit song back in the day.
- 00:01:36.118 --> 00:01:38.754
- Long story short,
- 00:01:38.754 --> 00:01:39.855
- An american lawyer was held captive
- 00:01:39.855 --> 00:01:41.757
- By the british in a boat offshore.
- 00:01:41.757 --> 00:01:44.660
- From the boat, he watched the battle of fort mchenry.
- 00:01:44.660 --> 00:01:48.363
- But the next morning, instead of the british flag flying,
- 00:01:48.363 --> 00:01:51.533
- He saw old glory still waving.
- 00:01:51.533 --> 00:01:54.236
- So all of that i remember, but here's what i didn't.
- 00:01:54.236 --> 00:01:57.873
- That song wasn't written during the revolutionary war.
- 00:01:57.873 --> 00:02:01.043
- It was written during the war of 1812,
- 00:02:01.043 --> 00:02:03.612
- And america was officially the new kids on the block.
- 00:02:03.612 --> 00:02:07.316
- (upbeat music)
- 00:02:07.316 --> 00:02:10.185
- ♪ to party
- 00:02:10.185 --> 00:02:13.822
- ♪ it was 1812, and we were fightin' a war ♪
- 00:02:13.822 --> 00:02:17.259
- ♪ we had to restate our case to old king george ♪
- 00:02:17.259 --> 00:02:20.462
- ♪ ya know he's crazy
- 00:02:20.462 --> 00:02:23.565
- America is a brand new nation,
- 00:02:23.565 --> 00:02:25.701
- Relatively untested in the world.
- 00:02:25.701 --> 00:02:28.003
- Britain was at it again, interfering with american trade.
- 00:02:28.003 --> 00:02:32.374
- The royal navy blockaded our coasts,
- 00:02:32.374 --> 00:02:35.210
- Occupied washington, torched the capitol
- 00:02:35.210 --> 00:02:38.981
- And the president's mansion.
- 00:02:38.981 --> 00:02:40.983
- Aka, you know, the white house,
- 00:02:40.983 --> 00:02:42.684
- ♪ white house
- 00:02:42.684 --> 00:02:43.819
- - wait guys, it's burnt, so.
- 00:02:43.819 --> 00:02:46.655
- ♪ black house
- 00:02:47.055 --> 00:02:48.757
- ♪ the british are
- 00:02:48.757 --> 00:02:50.993
- ♪ burnin' the white house
- 00:02:50.993 --> 00:02:54.329
- - yeah. - we weren't,
- 00:02:54.329 --> 00:02:56.198
- How do i put this to a nation of overachieving
- 00:02:56.198 --> 00:02:58.133
- Pioneers bent on freedom?
- 00:02:58.133 --> 00:03:00.269
- We were losing, but don't lose hope.
- 00:03:00.269 --> 00:03:02.638
- The american navy defeats the british in new york.
- 00:03:02.638 --> 00:03:06.208
- (leaders chattering)
- 00:03:06.208 --> 00:03:08.443
- - we sent those commies packin', baby!
- 00:03:08.443 --> 00:03:10.545
- - we were winning!
- 00:03:10.545 --> 00:03:11.880
- And then we started losing.
- 00:03:11.880 --> 00:03:13.682
- Two days later, here in maryland, just
- 00:03:13.682 --> 00:03:16.018
- Outside of baltimore,
- 00:03:16.018 --> 00:03:17.152
- One of america's most strategic forts, fort mchenry,
- 00:03:17.152 --> 00:03:20.389
- Took an absolute thrashing.
- 00:03:20.389 --> 00:03:22.391
- - no, no, no! not today, we're, we're losing!
- 00:03:22.391 --> 00:03:26.695
- - what this country needs
- 00:03:26.695 --> 00:03:28.263
- Is a picker-upper. - you.
- 00:03:28.263 --> 00:03:30.465
- - u-s-a.
- 00:03:30.732 --> 00:03:31.633
- - [chanters] u-s-a, u-s-a.
- 00:03:31.633 --> 00:03:34.403
- - no, no. - u-s-a!
- 00:03:34.403 --> 00:03:35.937
- - guys, guys, guys, that's not a song,
- 00:03:35.937 --> 00:03:39.341
- That's just a chant.
- 00:03:39.341 --> 00:03:41.176
- (chanters groan)
- 00:03:41.176 --> 00:03:43.211
- - what we need is someone to write a song.
- 00:03:43.211 --> 00:03:45.981
- (bell rings) (gentle music)
- 00:03:45.981 --> 00:03:47.149
- (dramatic music)
- 00:03:47.149 --> 00:03:49.985
- (light gentle music)
- 00:03:49.985 --> 00:03:53.422
- - this low point in the story that we pick up the trail
- 00:03:54.556 --> 00:03:57.626
- For our very first song.
- 00:03:57.626 --> 00:03:59.161
- The attorney, francis scott key,
- 00:03:59.161 --> 00:04:01.196
- Was taken prisoner by the british,
- 00:04:01.196 --> 00:04:03.198
- And he watched the absolute bombardment
- 00:04:03.198 --> 00:04:06.368
- Of fort mchenry from a ship out here in the chesapeake bay,
- 00:04:06.368 --> 00:04:10.539
- Kind of near where that bridge is.
- 00:04:10.539 --> 00:04:13.008
- But in the early light of dawn,
- 00:04:13.008 --> 00:04:15.844
- He was so inspired by the sight of his flag,
- 00:04:15.844 --> 00:04:18.547
- The american flag still flying over the fort,
- 00:04:18.547 --> 00:04:21.483
- That he began to compose a poem.
- 00:04:21.483 --> 00:04:24.353
- - whose flag is over there.
- 00:04:24.953 --> 00:04:27.522
- Get my binoculars and stare, put your hands in the air.
- 00:04:27.522 --> 00:04:32.794
- - hey, no rhyming.
- 00:04:33.228 --> 00:04:34.963
- - surely you can't be serious.
- 00:04:34.963 --> 00:04:36.765
- - i am serious.
- 00:04:36.765 --> 00:04:38.033
- My name is jose.
- 00:04:38.033 --> 00:04:39.935
- - jose, can you see by the dawn's early light?
- 00:04:39.935 --> 00:04:44.206
- (comical brass music)
- 00:04:44.206 --> 00:04:45.774
- That's good.
- 00:04:45.774 --> 00:04:47.309
- - he named this poem "the defense of fort mchenry"
- 00:04:47.309 --> 00:04:50.579
- For very literal and obvious reasons.
- 00:04:50.579 --> 00:04:53.482
- - it's not bad, but the titles is rubbish, old boy.
- 00:04:53.482 --> 00:04:55.917
- - yes, you should probably rename it.
- 00:04:55.917 --> 00:04:58.120
- - oh, writing is hard!
- 00:04:58.120 --> 00:05:00.589
- Stars, spangled, banner.
- 00:05:00.589 --> 00:05:04.659
- - you can't do anything with those words.
- 00:05:05.494 --> 00:05:07.529
- - no, not at all.
- 00:05:07.529 --> 00:05:08.463
- (comical music continues)
- 00:05:08.463 --> 00:05:09.798
- - "the star-spangled banner," now that's a title,
- 00:05:09.798 --> 00:05:12.834
- And a catchy one too.
- 00:05:12.834 --> 00:05:14.469
- And to add salt to the british wound,
- 00:05:14.469 --> 00:05:16.438
- It was set to the tune
- 00:05:16.438 --> 00:05:17.773
- Of an old english drinking song. (chuckles)
- 00:05:17.773 --> 00:05:20.509
- (british soldiers humming) (bright patriotic music)
- 00:05:20.509 --> 00:05:26.782
- - don't you dare steal this
- 00:05:27.382 --> 00:05:28.984
- For that stupid little poem of yours.
- 00:05:28.984 --> 00:05:31.787
- (british soldiers humming) (bright patriotic music)
- 00:05:31.787 --> 00:05:35.891
- - fun fact, we only sing one stanza
- 00:05:35.891 --> 00:05:38.794
- Of francis scott key's original poem.
- 00:05:38.794 --> 00:05:41.196
- It has four, and patriot points to anyone
- 00:05:41.196 --> 00:05:44.065
- Who can sing more than one
- 00:05:44.065 --> 00:05:45.534
- And does it at the next sporting event they attend.
- 00:05:45.534 --> 00:05:48.637
- Which brings up an important question,
- 00:05:48.637 --> 00:05:50.372
- Why do we sing the national anthem at sporting events?
- 00:05:50.372 --> 00:05:54.309
- (dramatic music)
- 00:05:54.309 --> 00:05:57.000
- (dramatic music)
- 00:05:57.000 --> 00:05:57.142
- (dramatic music)
- 00:05:57.509 --> 00:06:01.480
- (funky upbeat music)
- 00:06:01.947 --> 00:06:05.584
- In 1916, president woodrow wilson decided
- 00:06:06.452 --> 00:06:09.455
- That the national anthem should be played
- 00:06:09.455 --> 00:06:11.557
- At all official events, but still, only occasionally
- 00:06:11.557 --> 00:06:16.161
- Was the national anthem played at sporting events,
- 00:06:16.161 --> 00:06:18.397
- Like maybe on 4th of july or memorial day.
- 00:06:18.397 --> 00:06:21.800
- - come on red sox! let's go boston, come on!
- 00:06:21.800 --> 00:06:24.403
- (audience cheering) (light comical music)
- 00:06:24.403 --> 00:06:25.571
- - excuse me, excuse me, excuse me.
- 00:06:25.571 --> 00:06:28.373
- Sorry, sorry, excuse me.
- 00:06:28.373 --> 00:06:29.641
- - oh, i bet you didn't even get my coke.
- 00:06:29.641 --> 00:06:31.176
- - the 1918 "work or fight" rule required men of draft age
- 00:06:31.176 --> 00:06:35.347
- To either join the military
- 00:06:35.347 --> 00:06:37.182
- Or work any military related job.
- 00:06:37.182 --> 00:06:39.918
- The only problem was it was time for the world series.
- 00:06:39.918 --> 00:06:43.589
- It was america's war effort
- 00:06:43.589 --> 00:06:45.190
- Versus america's favorite pastime.
- 00:06:45.190 --> 00:06:46.758
- (electronic arcade music)
- 00:06:46.758 --> 00:06:47.693
- So an exception was made
- 00:06:47.693 --> 00:06:49.161
- For game one of the world series.
- 00:06:49.161 --> 00:06:50.662
- (baseball bat thwacks) (audience cheering)
- 00:06:50.662 --> 00:06:51.730
- 19,000 sports fans showed up
- 00:06:51.730 --> 00:06:54.766
- For the red sox versus the chicago cubs,
- 00:06:54.766 --> 00:06:57.636
- But the crowd was kind of down and rightfully so.
- 00:06:57.636 --> 00:07:01.540
- World war i had taken a major toll on american morale.
- 00:07:01.540 --> 00:07:05.944
- And then out of nowhere, in the seventh inning stretch,
- 00:07:05.944 --> 00:07:08.814
- The military band launched into a newly arranged version
- 00:07:08.814 --> 00:07:12.117
- Of a song already familiar to everyone,
- 00:07:12.117 --> 00:07:15.721
- "the star-spangled banner."
- 00:07:15.721 --> 00:07:17.656
- ♪ and the home of the brave
- 00:07:17.656 --> 00:07:24.329
- - woo! yeah! (fans applauding)
- 00:07:25.030 --> 00:07:27.266
- - yeah! - i love that.
- 00:07:27.266 --> 00:07:28.567
- - [world series fan] yeah!
- 00:07:28.567 --> 00:07:29.935
- - and by the end, it was a full blown celebration.
- 00:07:29.935 --> 00:07:32.638
- The red sox may have taken the series that year,
- 00:07:32.638 --> 00:07:34.940
- But the real winner was "the star-spangled banner."
- 00:07:34.940 --> 00:07:38.410
- (funky upbeat music)
- 00:07:38.410 --> 00:07:40.846
- It took a few more years, but by 1931,
- 00:07:40.846 --> 00:07:43.949
- "the star-spangled banner" officially became
- 00:07:43.949 --> 00:07:46.685
- The national anthem of the united states of america.
- 00:07:46.685 --> 00:07:49.821
- But did you know that "the star-spangled banner"
- 00:07:49.821 --> 00:07:52.057
- Isn't our original national anthem?
- 00:07:52.057 --> 00:07:55.394
- - you want to know the original one?
- 00:07:56.161 --> 00:07:57.396
- Well, either way, i'm gonna tell you.
- 00:07:57.396 --> 00:07:59.731
- ♪ america's top four
- 00:07:59.731 --> 00:08:03.302
- ♪ number three
- 00:08:03.302 --> 00:08:06.605
- - america, "my country, 'tis of thee."
- 00:08:07.372 --> 00:08:10.642
- - 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.
- 00:08:13.712 --> 00:08:14.713
- (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.
- 00:10:09.127 --> 00:10:10.729
- 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