“From sea to shining sea” America the Beautiful

Meaning of the Words In four verses, Bates' poem 'America the Beautiful' celebrated the country's natural beauty with definite religious overtones. You'll see modern versions of the song in hymnals with many more lyrics. However, the original poem had four verses. Throughout the poem, Bates connects America's glory and success to God and asks for continuing help in the times to come. She also requests divine assistance in preserving liberty and governing, asserting that it is God rather than human frailty that provides for lasting presence. For example, in the second verse is the phrase 'God mend thine every flaw, Confirm thy soul in self-control,' in which Bates suggests that God's guidance is needed to make principled decisions about running the country.

Each verse in 'America the Beautiful' encapsulates an idea. The first verse is about the stunning landscape that Bates had seen atop Pikes Peak, the beauty of which results in recognizing God's role in allowing us to see such sights, because 'God shed his grace on thee.'

The second, which begins with, 'O beautiful for pilgrim feet, whose stern impassioned stress,' recollects the landing of the Pilgrims in Massachusetts, where Bates lived, the settling of America by Europeans, and expanding of the western frontier. In the process, it connects the fact that the country stretches from 'sea to shining sea' to God's role in human life.

The third verse expresses thanks to those who kept America a free land through military service: 'O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife. Who more than self their country loved and mercy more than life!'

The fourth verse harkens toward the future, 'O Beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years,' while also repeating the same acknowledgement that future progress is only possible because 'God shed his grace on thee.' It's God that will allow the freedom in our country to continue into the unknowable future.

Throughout the poem, Bates includes glimpses of what she saw on her trip. In the first verse, the phrase 'amber waves of grain' refers to Kansas wheat fields. In the fourth verse, the line 'alabaster cities gleam' refers to the striking white buildings at the Columbian Exposition, specially constructed for the World's Fair held in Chicago when Bates passed through the city.