Listen to the album on Spotify, Apple Music and most other streaming services. To listen to the title song, “American Troubadour”, click the “Play” button, or click the blue and yellow icon. To read the story behind the title song, see this article on Alan’s blog or read his Substack. Lyrics below.
American Troubadour
Music and lyrics © Alan AtKisson 2011, from the album American Troubadour (released 2014 on Rain City Records)
1.
These are times of trouble
These are times of toil and tears
You were once a beacon
Now you’re torn by doubts and fears
I believe you believe that the world has used you
And abused you
And left you feeling unsure
I believe you’re in danger of losin’ direction
I believe you have an infection
That only you can cure
Chorus:
My country ‘tis of thee I sing
What’s happened to you?
Sweet land of liberty, I think
You know what to do
Rise for freedom
Stand for justice
Hold the lantern of truth up high
From the mountains
To the prairies
To the ocean of people of every kind
Let freedom ring!
Let freedom ring!
Oh, let freedom ring!
All over this world …
2.
I am just a singer
An American troubadour
And I have left your borders
But I love you all the more
There are things I’ve been longing for the chance to tell you
Just want to get through
To the depths of your soul
Certain truths I hold to be self-evident about you
I don’t want to doubt you
I need your truths to hold
Chorus:
My country ‘tis of thee I sing …
Bridge (spoken, many voices):
We hold these truths to be self-evident,
that all men — and women — are created equal,
that they are endowed by their Creator
with certain unalienable Rights,
that among these rights
are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
3.
There are those among you
Sowing seeds of hate and fear
We must all resist them
We must make our vision clear
Shout it out, there’s vision that we all will stand for
And make demands for
We’ll sing and clap our hands
Human rights, equal chance, rule of law, and freedom
O, Blessed Freedom
In every land
Chorus:
My country ‘tis of thee I sing
What’s happened to you?
Sweet land of liberty, I think
You know what to do
Rise for freedom
Stand for justice
Hold the lantern of truth up high
From the mountains
To the prairies
To the ocean of people of every kind
Let freedom ring!
Let freedom ring!
Oh, let freedom ring!
All over this world …
Notes on the chorus:
“My Country, ‘Tis of Thee” is an American patriotic song that served as the national anthem until the Star Spangled Banner formally replaced it in 1931. The melody is identical to “God Save the King,” the de facto British national anthem. Several lines in the chorus of “American Troubadour” are borrowed from this song, which I grew up singing in my elementary school (K-6), every day, right after we pledged allegiance to the American flag. American Troubadour also takes a little inspiration from “America the Beautiful”, which I personally consider the most beautiful of all American patriotic songs.
Alan AtKisson 