Sweet Freedom’s Song: My Country ’Tis of Thee and Democracy in America

Although it isn’t the official national anthem, America may be the most important and interesting patriotic song in our national repertoire. Sweet Freedom’s Song: ＂My Country ’Tis of Thee＂ and Democracy in America is a celebration and critical exploration of the complicated musical, cultural and political roles played by the song America over the past 250 years. Popularly known as My Country ’Tis of Thee and as God Save the King/Queen before that this tune has a history as rich as the country it extols.

In Sweet Freedom’s Song, Robert Branham and Stephen Hartnett chronicle this song’s many incarnations over the centuries. Colonial Americans, Southern slaveowners, abolitionists, temperance campaigners and labor leaders, among others, appropriated and adapted the tune to create anthems for their own struggles. Because the song has been invoked by nearly every grassroots movement in American history, the story of America offers important insights on the story of democracy in the United States.

An examination of America as a historical artifact and cultural text, Sweet Freedoms Song is a reflection of the rebellious spirit of Americans throughout our nations history. The late Robert James Branham and his collaborator, Stephen Hartnett, have produced a thoroughly-researched, delightfully written book that will appeal to scholars and patriots of all stripes.

Stephen J. Hartnett is Assistant Professor of Speech Communication at the University of Illinois, Urbana. As a musician and poet, he has released numerous recordings.

Robert James Branham was Professor of Rhetoric at Bates College.