Elementary School Wanted To Take ‘God’ Out Of ‘God Bless the USA’

April 9, 2012 by Bryan Nash


Singer-songwriter Lee Greenwood says he would not grant permission to a Massachusetts elementary school to remove "God" from his song, "God Bless the USA."

During the organization of an upcoming school function, students at Stall Brook Elementary School in Bellingham, Mass., were told to sing, “We Love the USA,” instead of, “God Bless the USA.” When the news reached parents, it caused quite a ruckus.

“It’s [God] on our currency,” said Patrick Grudier.

But some parents agreed with the decision. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with changing the song. It’s a public school. If you want to have the word ‘God’ in the song, go to a private school,” said father Matthew Cote.

Lee Greenwood, the man who wrote and sang the hit released in 1984, responded to the incident:
Maybe the school should have asked the parents their thoughts before changing the lyrics to the song. They could have even asked the writer of the song, which I of course would have said you can’t change the lyrics at all or any part of the song. The most important word in the whole piece of music is the word God, which is also in the title “God Bless The USA.” We can’t take God out of the song; we can’t take God out of The Pledge of Allegiance; we can’t take God off of the American currency. Let us also remember, the phrase “God bless the USA” has a very important meaning for those in the military and their families, as well as new citizens coming to our country. The song is played at every naturalization ceremony behind the national anthem. If the song is good enough to played and performed in its original setting under those circumstances, it surely should be good enough for our children.
The school initially decided it would be best to remove the song from the program, but has reversed its decision.

Elementary School Wanted To Take=