God Bless America God Bless America "God Bless America" is an American patriotic song written by Irving Berlin during World War I in 1918 and revised by him in the run up to World War II in 1938. The later version has notably been recorded by Kate Smith, becoming her signature song. "God Bless America" takes the form of a prayer (intro lyrics "as we raise our voices, in a solemn prayer") for God's blessing and peace for the nation ("...stand beside her and guide her through the night..."). Irving Berlin wrote the song in 1918 while serving in the U.S. Army at
God Bless America (charity album) at a time when a number of similarly themed albums were being released, and many patriotic and inspirational American songs were showing up on the pop charts. The latter included "God Bless the USA" as well as different recordings of "The Star Spangled Banner" and "America the Beautiful". Music writer Robert Hilburn of the "Los Angeles Times" termed the compilation an "unlikely combination" while writing that "patriotism makes strange bedfellows." "Rolling Stone" said it was a "can't miss collection" with an artist array that "seems to have a little something for everyone." Allmusic states that, "Touching the worlds of pop,