(credits: Ray Charles) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZYH8v42a2w
The official video celebrating 50 years of Ray Charles' "America The Beautiful"

Ray Charles classic rendition of “America the Beautiful”, originally released on the album A Message from The People (1972), quickly became our second national anthem and has inspired countless generations since its release 50 years ago. This new video of the iconic track has been released to honor this historic release.

A Message From The People remains one of Charles’ most celebrated albums, as well as the most socially conscious work of his six-decade career. The record directly confronts societal ills of poverty and injustice while offering a universal message of brotherhood and hope for peace; topics that are as relevant today as they were 50 years ago. The album includes classic tracks like “They’ll Be No Peace on Earth Without All Men As One,” “Abraham, Martin and John,” the Gospel infused “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and “Heaven Help Us All.” The album also includes Ray’s recording of “Hey Mister,” which was played during a Congressional joint hearing in 1972 to speak on behalf of common citizens to a government that was widely seen as ignoring their needs.

A newly remastered version of A Message From The People will be available June 17 2022 on platforms for the first time in almost a decade.

To pre-order your download or pre-save for streaming: https://raycharles.lnk.to/AMessageFromThePeopleYO

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LYRICS:
[Verse 1]
Oh beautiful, for heroes proved
In liberating strife
Who more than self, our country loved
And mercy more than life

[Chorus]
America, America, may God thy gold refine
'Til all success be nobleness
And every gain devined
And you know when I was in school
We used to sing it something like this, listen here

[Verse 2]
Oh beautiful, for spacious skies
For amber waves of grain
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain
But now wait a minute, I'm talking about

[Chorus]
America, sweet America
You know, God done shed his grace on thee
He crowned thy good, yes he did, in a brotherhood
From sea to shining sea
You know, I wish I had somebody to help me sing this

[Outro]
(America, America)
America, I love you America, you see
(God shed his grace on thee)
My God, He done shed his grace on thee
And you oughta love Him for it
Because He, He, He, He, crowned thy good
He told me He would, with a brotherhood
(From sea to shining sea)
Oh Lord, oh Lord, I thank you Lord
(Shining sea)

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