Artist: Kate Smith
Author: Irving Berlin
Label: Victor
Year: 1938

Introduced in her November 11 radio show, exactly 20 years after WW I came to an end. The song also was 20 years old, written by Berlin for his 1918 soldier revue Yip Yip Haphank. But he dropped it when everybody else was pouring out patriotic songs. When a second WW seemed unavoidable he picked it up again and adapted the lyrics. He didn't bring it to Kate, she came to him, in need for a patriotic themesong and did she use it. Her first recording was made on March 21 1939. She kept singing it throughout WW II and became synomymous with the song like no other.

Much easier to sing than The Star-Spangled Banner. Berlin donated all of his royalties to the Boy & Girl Scouts of America. See also: This Land Is Your Land.