(Where the Flag is Full of Stars)
A patriotic song from 1909
Words by Dr. Henry Van Dyke
Music by C. Austin Miles
The sheet music:
Lyrics
1. ‘Tis fine to see the Old World
And travel up and down
Among the famous palaces
And cities of renown
To admire the crumbly castles
And the statues of the Kings
But now I think I’ve had enough
Of antiquated things
REFRAIN
So, it’s home again, and home again
America for me
My heart is turning home again
And there I long to be
In the land of youth and freedom
Beyond the ocean bars
Where the air is full of sunlight
And the flag is full of stars
2. Oh, London is a man’s town
There’s power in the air
And Paris is a woman’s town
With flowers in her hair
And it’s sweet to dream in Venice
And it’s great to study Rome
But when it comes to living
There is no place like home
3. I like the German firwoods
In green battalions drilled
I like the gardens of Versailles
With flashing fountains filled
But, oh, to take your hand, my dear
And ramble for a day
In the friendly Western woodland
Where Nature has her way
4. I know that Europe’s wonderful
Yet something seems to lack
The Past is too much with her
And the people looking back
But the glory of the Present
Is to make the Future free
We love our land for what she is
And what she is to be
REFRAIN
Oh, it’s home again, and home again
America for me
I want a ship that’s westward bound
To plow the rolling sea
To the blessed Land of Room enough
Beyond the ocean bars
Where the air is full of sunlight
And the flag is full of stars