The House I Live In (That's America to Me)

Mahalia JacksonMahalia Jackson 

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Mahalia Jackson

Mahalia Jackson ( /məˈheɪljə/ mə-HAYL-yə; October 26, 1911 – January 27, 1972) was an American gospel singer. Possessing a powerful contralto voice, she was referred to as "The Queen of Gospel". Jackson became one of the most influential gospel singers in the world and was heralded internationally as a singer and civil rights activist. She was described by entertainer Harry Belafonte as "the single most powerful black woman in the United States". She recorded about 30 albums (mostly for Columbia Records) during her career, and her 45 rpm records included a dozen "golds"—million-sellers. more »

Year:

2004

4:43

251 Views

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What is America to me
A name, a map, the flag I see
A certain word, 'democracy'?
What is America to me?

The house I live in
A plot of earth, a street
The grocer and the butcher
And the people that I meet
The children in the playground
The faces that I see
All races, all religions
That's America to me

The place I work in
The workers at my side
The little town, a city
Where my people live and die
The howdy and the handshake
The air of feeling free
And the right to speak my mind out
That's America to me

The things I see about me
The big things and the small
The little corner newsstand
And the house a mile tall
The wedding in the church yard
The laughter and the tears
The dream that's been a-growing
For one hundred and fifty years

The town I live in
The street, the house, the room
The pavement of a city
Of a garden all in bloom
The church, the school, the clubhouse
The million lights I see
But especially the people
That's America to me

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