Original subtitles

You can be free, and you can sing.

Let freedom ring.

Let freedom echo through the lonely streets

where prisons have no key.

You can be free, and you can sing.

Let freedom ring.

Hi, l'm Bill Gaither.

Over the years, we've been thrilled to bring together great gospel artists

in wonderful venues from all over the world

for something that we call Homecoming Concerts.

For this series, ''Gaither Homecoming Classics,''

we've combined the best of the best performances

into a remarkable hour of music.

l could go on and on about these delightful songs and wonderful artists,

but it's more powerful to let these songs speak for themselves.

God bless America.

You know, it takes a powerful voice to take on Kate Smith's signature song,

''God Bless America,'' and as you are about to hear,

Vestal Goodman was certainly up to the challenge.

Through the night with the light from above.

From the mountains to the prairies

to the oceans white with foam,

God bless America, my home sweet home.

God bless America, my home sweet home.

God bless America, land that l love.

Stand beside her

and guide her through the night with the light from above.

From the mountains to the prairies

to the oceans white with foam,

God bless America, my home sweet home.

God bless America,

my home sweet home.

You know, l'm not sure if there's a song

that has a more stirring opening line than

''Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.''

Performing ''The Battle Hymn of the Republic''

at the Kennedy Center, here is the entire cast,

with Squire Parsons and David Phelps leading the way.

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.

He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored.

He has loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible, swift sword.

His truth is marching on.

Glory, glory hallelujah.

Glory, glory hallelujah.

Glory, glory hallelujah.

His truth is marching on.

He has sounded forth the trumpets that shall never sound retreat.

He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat.

Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer and be jubilant, my feet.

His truth is marching on.

Glory, glory hallelujah.

Glory, glory hallelujah.

Glory, glory hallelujah.

His truth is marching on.

ln the beauty of the lilies, Christ was born across the sea

with a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me.

As He died to make men holy, let us live to make men free

while God is marching on.

Glory, glory hallelujah.

Glory, glory hallelujah.

Glory, glory hallelujah.

His truth is marching on.

His truth is marching on.

You know, it's difficult to explain

the dynamics at work in ''The Star-Spangled Banner.''

Of course, there's the spirit of patriotism,

but the song itself, especially those last two lines,

demand a lot from a vocalist.

l sang with three great singers,

and l am really proud of the way

that they delivered the a cappella version

of ''The Star-Spangled Banner'' at the Kennedy Center.

Listen.

Whose broad stripes and bright stars

through the perilous fight o'er the ramparts we watched

were so gallantly streaming?

And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave

o'er the land of the free

and the home of the brave?

O beautiful for spacious skies,

for amber waves of grain,

for purple mountains' majesties

above the fruited plain.

America, America,

God shed His grace on thee.

And crown Thy good with brotherhood

from sea to shining sea.

O beautiful for patriot dreams

that sees beyond the years.

Thine alabaster cities gleam

undimmed by human tears.

America, America,

God shed His grace on thee.

And crown Thy good with brotherhood

from sea to shining sea.

And crown Thy good with brotherhood

from sea to shining sea.

Yeah!

l was thinking:

in all of our Homecoming Concerts,

we've done just one song by folk legend Woody Guthrie,

and it's a dandy.

Performing ''This Land ls Your Land'' at Carnegie Hall

are Sue Dodge, Ernie Haase, Terry Blackwood,

and The Talley Trio.

This land is your land.

This land is my land,

from California to the New York island.

From the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters,

this land was made for you and me.

As l was walking that ribbon of highway,

l saw above me that endless skyway.

l saw below me that golden valley.

This land was made for you and me.

This land is your land.

This land is my land,

from California to the New York island.

From the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters,

this land was made for you and me.

l've roamed and rambled,

and my footsteps led me to the sparkling sands

of her diamond deserts.

And all around me, a voice was sounding,

''This land was made for you and me.''

This land is your land.

This land is my land,

from California to the New York island.

From the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters,

this land was made for you and me.

When the sun comes shining,

and l was strolling, and the wheat fields waving,

and the dust clouds rolling, as the fog was lifting,

a voice was chanting,

''This land was made for you and me.''

This land is your land.

This land is my land,

from California to the New York island.

From the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters,

this land was made for you and me.

This land is your land.

This land is my land,

from California to the New York island.

From the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters,

this land was made for you and me.

Oh, this land was made for you and me.

This land was made for you and me.

This land is your land.

This land is my land,

from California to the New York island.

From the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters,

this land was made for you and me.

This land is your land.

This land is my land,

from California to the New York island.

From the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters,

this land was made for you and me.

This land was made for you and me.

This land was made for you and me.

We had the honor of performing at Carnegie Hall just after 9/1 1 .

Emotions were running high, patriotism was soaring,

and the atmosphere was just electric.

When David Phelps took hold of this song, ''Let Freedom Ring,''

it was one of those special moments l will never forget.

Deep within, the heart has always known

that there is freedom somehow breathed

into the very soul of life.

The prisoner, the powerless, the slave have always known it.

There's something that keeps reaching for the sky.

And even life begins because a baby fights for freedom.

And songs we love to sing have freedom's theme.

Some have walked through fire and flood

to find a place of freedom.

And some faced Hell itself for freedom's dream.

Let freedom ring

wherever minds know what it means to be in chains.

Let freedom ring wherever hearts know pain.

Let freedom echo through the lowly streets

where prisons have no key.

You can be free, and you can sing.

Let freedom ring.

God built freedom into every fiber of creation.

And he meant for us to all be free and whole.

Oh, but when my Lord bought freedom through the Blood of His redemption,

His Cross stamped ''pardon'' on my very soul.

l'll sing it out with every breath.

l'll let the whole world hear it,

this hallelujah anthem of the free.

But iron bars and heavy chains can never hold us captive.

The Son has made us free and free indeed.

Let freedom ring down through the ages

from a hill called Calvary.

Let freedom ring wherever hearts know pain.

Let freedom echo through the lonely streets

where prisons have no key.

You can be free, and you can sing.

Let freedom ring.

Let freedom echo through the lonely streets

where prisons have no key.

You can be free, and you can sing.

Let freedom ring.

You can be free, and you can sing.

Let freedom ring.

Let freedom ring.

My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty,

of thee l sing--

land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrims' pride.

From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

Not for this land alone,

but be God's mercies shown from shore to shore.

And may the nations see that men should brothers be

and form one family the wide world o'er.

Our fathers' God, to thee, author of liberty,

to thee we sing.

Long may our land be bright with freedom's holy light.

Protect us by Thy might,

great God, our King.

Very few patriotic songs have captured the imagination

of the American people,

but when Lee Greenwood penned ''God Bless the U.S.A.,''

he created an instant classic,

and it lives on in lvan Parker's performance at Carnegie Hall.

lf tomorrow all the things were gone

l'd worked for all my life,

and l had to start again with just my children and my wife,

l'd thank my God above to be living here today,

'cause the flag still stands for freedom,

and they can't take that away.

And l'm proud to be an American,

where at least l know l'm free,

and l won't forget the men who died who gave that right to me.

And l'll gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today,

'cause there ain't no doubt l love this land.

God bless the U.S.A.

From the lakes of Minnesota to the hills of Tennessee,

across the plains of Texas, from sea to shining sea,

from Detroit down to Houston, from New York to L.A.,

there's pride in every American heart, and it's time we stand and say,

''l'm proud to be an American,

''where at least l know l'm free,

''and l won't forget the men who died who gave that right to me.

''and l'll gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today,

'''cause there ain't no doubt l love this land.

God bless the U.S.A.''

Oh, l'm proud to be an American,

where at least l know l'm free,

and l won't forget the men who died who gave that right to me.

And l'll gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today,

'cause there ain't no doubt l love this land.

God bless the U.S.A.

The words of this song date back to 1 865,

when a pastor needed a marching song

for a special children's festival in Yorkshire, England.

Now, almost 1 40 years later, this song still moves people.

Going on before.

Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe.

Forward into battle.

See his banners go.

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,

with the Cross of Jesus going on before.

Like a mighty army moves the church of God.

Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.

We are not divided.

All one body we.

One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.

Onward, Christian soldiers,

marching as to war,

with the Cross of Jesus going on before.

Onward then, ye people.

Join our happy throng.

Blend with ours your voices

in the triumph song.

Glory, laud, and honor unto Christ the King.

This through countless ages men and angels sing.

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,

with the Cross of Jesus going on before.

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,

with the Cross of Jesus going on before,

before.

This song, ''A Few Good Men,'' is an apt description

for the New York Police and Firemen whom we honored

at the Carnegie Hall concert in 2002.

But it is also a description

for any man or any woman of any generation who stands for truth.

What this dying world could use is a willing man of God,

who dares to go against the grain and works without applause.

A man who'll raise that shield of faith,

protecting what is pure.

Whose love is tough and gentle; a man whose word is sure.

God doesn't need an orator who knows just what to say.

He doesn't need authorities to reason Him away.

He doesn't need an army to guarantee a win.

He just needs a few good men.

Men full of compassion, who laugh and love and cry;

men who'll face eternity and aren't afraid to die;

men who'll fight for freedom and honor once again.

He just needs a few good men.

He calls the broken derelict whose life has been renewed.

He calls the one who has the strength

to stand up for the truth.

Enlistment lines are open, and He wants you to come in.

He just needs a few good men.

Men full of compassion, who laugh and love and cry;

men who'll face eternity and aren't afraid to die;

men who'll fight for freedom and honor once again.

He just needs a few good men.

Men full of compassion, who laugh and love and cry;

men who'll face eternity and aren't afraid to die;

men who'll fight for freedom and honor once again.

He just needs a few good men.

Men full of compassion, who laugh and love and cry;

men who'll face eternity and aren't afraid to die;

men who'll fight for freedom and honor once again.

He just needs a few good men.

He just needs a few good men.

He just needs a few good men.

He just needs a few good men.

Well, we have sure not run out of great gospel classics,

but we have run out of time for now.

So thanks for joining me,

and l want to encourage you to keep the messages

of these great gospel songs in your heart.

Until next time, l'm Bill Gaither.

ln a Midwestern town, children form a parade,

with a flag bearer leading the way.

Farmers and teachers, the old and the young,

lift, together, their voices to say,

''l pledge my allegiance to the grand old flag

''and the promise of hope from sea to sea.

''Under God, one nation, undivided, we will stand,

lift the banner of liberty.''

lt's the final kickoff for the NFL,

and the stadium is packed with screaming fans.

All the banners are flying.

The color guards advance.

Like a wave, silence moves through the stands.

l pledge my allegiance to the grand old flag

and the promise of hope from sea to sea.

Under God, one nation, undivided, we will stand,

lift the banner of liberty.

Where a child is hungry, where men have no homes,

where the powerless are yearning to breathe free,

may we fight for justice till there's justice for all

and become what God meant us to be.

l pledge my allegiance to the grand old flag

and the promise of hope from sea to sea.

Under God, one nation, undivided, we will stand,

lift the banner of liberty.

Under God, one nation, undivided, we will stand,

lift the banner

of liberty.