# Can anyone ID this song? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 29, 2003, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-id-this-song/198492 "2003-08-29T19:10:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-id-this-song/198492/1 "2003-08-29T19:10:05Z")
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.’” ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-id-this-song/198492/2 "2012-12-02T02:54:43Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-id-this-song/198492/3 "2012-12-02T03:08:13Z")
That’s quite a bump! ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-id-this-song/198492/4 "2012-12-02T03:41:05Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > And to make it easy, I’ll even give the title: “Born to be Free” > … > Anyway, I’d like to see the whole lyrics. It’s been a few decades…'" Not so few anymore! ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-id-this-song/198492/5 "2012-12-02T07:44:33Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > I haven’t been able to find any references to it other than my own memory. You’re not crazy. It seems the song exists. A little searching turned up a few extra fragments of the lyrics > **[Yahoo Search - Web Search](https://search.yahoo.com/)** > > The search engine that helps you find exactly what you're looking for. Find the most relevant information, video, images, and answers from all across the Web. _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](http://www.topix.com/forum/topstories/TCI00VNS5HH6SCTKF/p214#c4681) “Flowing waters, hills and plains our Home. Calm the daybreak, peaceful our abode…” ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-id-this-song/198492/6 "2012-12-02T12:35:13Z")
Well, thanks. At least it’s a start. Wonder if Mrs. Sprott still has the music??? ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-id-this-song/198492/7 "2012-12-02T13:22:21Z")
Wow, did Lee Greenwood write this, too? ---
**Author:** ![luv24x4fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e4f/32.png) [@luv24x4fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/luv24x4fish)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-id-this-song/198492/8 "2017-02-07T03:42:24Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-id-this-song/198492/9 "2017-02-08T15:41:28Z")
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.” ---
**Author:** ![AlbertLam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9f8e36/32.png) [@AlbertLam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlbertLam)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-id-this-song/198492/10 "2017-02-18T06:21:17Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-id-this-song/198492/11 "2017-02-18T06:53:04Z")
I think it may have been [this Ralph Edwin Williams](http://www.pedersenfh.com/obituary/Ralph-Edwin-Williams/Morris-MN/1171579) who wrote it; he passed away in 2013. Kudos to new Doper **AlbertLam** for showing up with the correct title and more! [Cite](http://www.worldcat.org/title/born-to-be-free-hymn-to-america/oclc/488660013) ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-id-this-song/198492/12 "2017-02-19T05:04:01Z")
Well, golly, thanks, Mr. Lam. Maybe not a record, but 13 years 173 days, for a factual correct response to a question. Wow. . . . ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-id-this-song/198492/13 "2017-02-19T13:56:15Z")
Ya know, that might be a record for us. It certainly eclipses the 11 years it took to resolve [this short film question](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=564386).