Can anyone ID this song?

Cafe Society
1

And to make it easy, I’ll even give the title: “Born to be Free”

It was a song we learned in 5th grade. I even remember some of the lyrics (though not necessarily in this order):

This is my-y homeland, strong shore to shore.
Hail to our country, our home evermore.
The valleys, mountains, hills and plains.
Tranquil nightfall. . .
Calm (come?) the daybreak, peaceful our abode.
Lord, hear our plea: Sustain our liberty!
(and ending with a forceful)
Bo-orn to be FREEEEEEEEEEEEE!
Anyway, I’d like to see the whole lyrics. It’s been a few decades, and it wasn’t the sort of thing that I just burst out and sing spontaneously (as is the case with me with the “Theme from ‘Ice Castles.’”

2

I did not get a very satisfactory level of response from this question, so I’m bumping it. I think the title might have been “Born to Be Free,” but I haven’t been able to find any references to it other than my own memory.

3

That’s quite a bump!

4

Not so few anymore!

5

You’re not crazy. It seems the song exists.
A little searching turned up a few extra fragments of the lyrics

This is our homeland strong sea to sea.
Hail to the land I love, born to be free
Stalwart our homeland strong shore to shore
Hail to our country our home ever more
Lord heed our plea sustain our liberty
Lord heed our plea sustain our liberty
The valleys, mountains, hills and plains our home

It’s called A Soldier’s Son, if you believe Yahoo answers.
(Should that be A soldier’s Song? Or maybe it’s supposed to be a joke, it has a smiley.)

http://www.topix.com/forum/topstories/TCI00VNS5HH6SCTKF/p214#c4681

“Flowing waters, hills and plains our Home. Calm the daybreak, peaceful our abode…”

6

Well, thanks. At least it’s a start. Wonder if Mrs. Sprott still has the music???

7

Wow, did Lee Greenwood write this, too?

8

Funny, I have been looking for the name of this song or any info on it for years now too. We sang it in Choir in grade school in 1969.

Lord of all mankind, Thy will our command
Humbly we offer a hymn of this land

This is my home land strong sea to sea
Hail to the land I love, born to be free
Stalwart our homeland, strong shore to shore
Hail to our country our home ever more

Lord hear our plea, sustain our liberty

The valleys, mountains, hills and plains our home
Flowing waters, forests abounding
Tranquil night fall, shadows in repose
Calm the daybreak, peaceful our abode

This is my home land, strong sea to sea
hail to the land I love, born to be free
Stalwart our home land, strong shore to shore
Hail to our country, our home ever more
Hear all ye people, born to be free!

I live in British Columbia, Canada and our school sang this song in a choir competition and we won. I do not know the name of it either.

9

Well, thank you. So apparently it wasn’t just a local ditty. Still no clue on the authorship, though, although I’m still reasonably certain the title we had was “Born to Be Free.”

10

Hi.
I had the exact same question. My fifth grade class in Illinois sang this song in the Spring of 1966. A friend from my community orchestra led me to the pertinent information about this song.
The composer was Ralph Edwin Williams (not the same as Ralph Vaughan Williams).
The song was published in 1951 by Kjos.
It was written for SATB. I had kept my mimeograph paper that had the lyrics printed on it. I will post pictures of the lyrics in another post.
Hope this helps.

Albert Lam
February 18, 2017

11

I think it may have been this Ralph Edwin Williams who wrote it; he passed away in 2013. Kudos to new Doper AlbertLam for showing up with the correct title and more! Cite

12

Well, golly, thanks, Mr. Lam. Maybe not a record, but 13 years 173 days, for a factual correct response to a question. Wow. . . .

13

Ya know, that might be a record for us. It certainly eclipses the 11 years it took to resolve this short film question.