America The Beautiful - Ray Charles (Greatest Hits). "America the Beautiful" is a patriotic song. Oh beautiful, for heroes proved, In liberating strife, Who more than self, our country loved, And mercy more than life, Some of the chords may be more appropriately named in a different manner but the ones used make the most sense to me. Comments: 20. Lyrics to 'America The Beautiful' by Ray Charles. This is how one could play the Ray Charles Version on piano. Free mp3 download Commentary Ray Charles’ ‘America the Beautiful’ is our best hope for bringing us together. The lyrics were written by Katharine Lee Bates, and the music was composed by church organist and choirmaster Samuel A. John D'eugene from Eugene Ray Charles (Robinson) adapted, arranged and recorded his version of "America, the Beautiful" @ RPM International Studios in Los Angeles to celebrate the Bicentennial of the United States of America's Declaration of Independence from Great Britain (1776 – 1976). If a patriotic song can divide us, this song can heal that divide The two never met. The recording was released on Crossover Records (CR 985) in April of 1976. The slash chords with out a chord in front of the / indicate a walking bass line using the same chord you were already playing. Ward at Grace Episcopal Church in Newark, New Jersey. Bates originally wrote the words as a poem, "Pikes Peak", first published in the Fourth of July edition of the church periodical The Congregationalist in 1895. Play this seemingly ridiculously slow in 12/8 time.