My beef -- She changed the words.

Verse 1 she said "land where my my father died" rather than "where my fathers died". Is she trying to make some kind of statement?

Verse 4 She butchered. The song states "Our father's God to Thee, Author of liberty, To Thee we sing." She slurred it and most likely sang "Our father God to Thee" and then she changed "Author of liberty" to "Father of Liberty" -- Why the change?

She left out "our" in the line 'long may our light be bright'.

She then dropped the final line altogether "Great God our King" and put in "Let freedom ring."

What statement was she trying to make? I hope many in the news world pick up on this and ask her.

calm down Phil, damn! some changes were probably mistakes or she wasn't singig the words clearly enough. yes perhaps some changes were intentional but I hardly doubt she was tryin to make some kind of statement. Relax man, jeez!

I tend to agree, to some extent: If you're gonna sing a song, sing it RIGHT. Don't go changing the words or just muffing along. "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" was used as the United States National Anthem through much of the 1800's - It holds a special place in both history and as a song defining the United States. It deserves some respect, just like the "Star Spangled Banner", or even similar songs, like "America The Beautiful", "God Bless America", or the more recent "This Land Is Your Land". Just my two cents worth....

I agree with those above that would rather hear the original versions of our traditional National songs.

I really find it disrespectful when singers try to put their own spin on a song that is older than many living Americans.

Delaying words, repeating words or omiting words just to make it sound different really disgraces the honor of those that dug the wells from which we drink.

I think she did change the words. If verse 1 was just a slip (land where my father died), why the same mistake in verse 4? It surely seems that she, like so many today, refuses to identify with our Founding Fathers. She has the freedom to disassociate with them. This is America. But, she doesn't have the right to change the words and sing them at the inauguration of the President of the United States. I found it very sad.

Yesterday, we watched the Inauguration ceremonies with friends visiting from London . They immediately noted that the music / tune of Aretha Franklin's song "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" was the English National Anthem (God Save the Queen) with different words.

The biggest mistake was when the song was introduced.
The name of the song is "America."

When I heard Aretha sing "land where my father died," my mind and heart flashed to my own father who so loved--and died in--this land. Other people listening along also said it made them feel the presence of their own dead fathers/grandfathers, who would be so proud, and so moved to tears, to hear Aretha sing (pray) this beautiful national hymn on so beautiful an inauguration day.

As much as I have loved this song all my life, I have never heard/seen any rendition more beautiful than hearing and watching Aretha sing on Tuesday.

The lyrics are from the American anthem 'My Country Tis of Thee' but the music is from the British anthem 'God Save the Queen'. It's been mentioned a fair bit in the British media.

Is it possible to find the instrumental version somewhere? The arrangement was beutiful. The music was recorded in advance, so it must be out there somewhere :p

Aretha,she is older now and maybe just maybe not as clear as she once was.to all who thought she was changeing america the beautiful,so damn what.the dried up song needed to be Change because a change has came to Washington DC.that what you do not like admit it.

Aretha,she is older now and maybe just maybe not as clear as she once was.to all who thought she was changeing america the beautiful,so damn what.the dried up song needed to be Change because a change has came to Washington DC.that what you do not like admit it.