announcer: "America in Song: A Concordia Celebration" is brought to you by the Lutheran Church Extension Fund with additional support from Charlie and Ling Zhang.

[music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] announcer: Ours is a nation woven with song, shaped by faith, lifted by hope, striving toward harmony.

From the first hymns sung on the frontier to the anthems that echo in great halls, music carries our stories of courage and loss, of wonder and grace, of promise and struggle.

[music] announcer: From the first hymns sung on the frontier to the anthems that echo in great halls, music carries our stories of courage and loss, of wonder and grace, of promise and struggle.

[music] speaker: Through every generation, we have found our voice in melody and prayer, in rhythm and resolve.

[music] speaker: And as America marks 250 years, we remember one of our greatest strengths has always been our song and the hearts that continue to sing it.

[music] [music] speaker: In every generation, music has been the voice of hope.

Through struggle and renewal, through heartbreak and healing, songs have lifted weary hearts and turned sorrow into strength.

They remind us that even in our darkest hours, we are not alone, for where voices rise in hope, light is never far behind.

♪ In constant sorrow all through his days ♪ [music] ♪ I am a man of constant sorrow ♪ ♪ I've seen trouble all my days ♪ ♪ I bid farewell to old Kentucky ♪ ♪ The place where I was borned and raised ♪ ♪ The place where he was borned and raised ♪ ♪ For six long years I've been in trouble ♪ ♪ No pleasure here on earth I find ♪ ♪ For in this world I'm bound to ramble ♪ ♪ I have no friends to help me now ♪ ♪ He has no friends to help him now ♪ [music] ♪ It's fare thee well my own true lover ♪ ♪ I never expect to see you again ♪ ♪ For I'm bound to ride that northern railroad ♪ ♪ Perhaps I'll die upon this train ♪ ♪ Perhaps he'll die upon this train ♪ [music] [music] [music] [music] ♪ You can bury me in some deep valley ♪ ♪ For many years where I may lay ♪ ♪ Then you may learn to love another ♪ ♪ While I am sleeping in my grave ♪ ♪ While he is sleeping in his grave ♪ ♪ Maybe your friends think I'm just a stranger ♪ ♪ My face you'll never will see no more ♪ ♪ But there is one promise that is given ♪ ♪ I'll meet you on God's golden shore ♪ ♪ He'll meet you on God's golden shore ♪♪ [music] [music] [music] [music] ♪ Great is thy faithfulness ♪ ♪ O God, my Father; ♪ ♪ There is no shadow of turning with thee ♪ ♪ Thou changest not ♪ ♪ thy compassions, they fail not; ♪ ♪ As thou hast been ♪ ♪ thou forever wilt be ♪ ♪ Great is thy faithfulness ♪ ♪ Great is thy faithfulness ♪ ♪ Morning by morning new mercies I see ♪ ♪ All I have needed thy hand hast provided; ♪ ♪ Great is thy faithfulness ♪ ♪ Lord unto me ♪ [music] [music] ♪ Summer and winter and springtime and harvest ♪ ♪ Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above ♪ ♪ Join with all nature in manifold witness ♪ ♪ To thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love ♪ ♪ Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth ♪ ♪ Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide; ♪ ♪ Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow ♪ ♪ Blessings all mine and ten thousand beside ♪ ♪ Ten thousand beside ♪ ♪ Blessings all mine and ten thousand beside ♪ ♪ Great is thy faithfulness ♪ ♪ Great is thy faithfulness ♪ ♪ Morning by morning new mercies I see ♪ ♪ All I have needed thy hand hast provided; ♪ ♪ Great is thy faithfulness ♪ ♪ Lord unto me ♪ ♪ Lord unto me ♪ ♪ Lord unto me ♪ ♪ Amen!

♪♪ [applauding] [music] speaker: Before there was a nation, there was a song.

Around campfires, in chapels, across the open plains, people sang their prayers into the wind.

These hymns carried the faith of a people who believed that grace could hold a fragile world together.

Their songs became our first harmonies of hope and the foundation of the American soul.

[music] [music] [music] ♪ 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 hath loosed the fateful lightning ♪ ♪ of this terrible swift sword; ♪ ♪ His truth is marching on ♪ ♪ Glory!

Glory!

Hallelujah!

♪ ♪ Glory!

Glory!

Hallelujah!

♪ ♪ Glory!

Glory!

Hallelujah!

♪ ♪ His truth is marching on ♪ [music] ♪ I have seen Him in the watch-fires ♪ ♪ of a hundred circling camps; ♪ ♪ They have builded Him an altar ♪ ♪ in the evening dews and damps; ♪ ♪ I can read the righteous sentence ♪ ♪ by the dim and flaring lamps; ♪ ♪ His day is marching on ♪ ♪ Glory!

Glory!

Hallelujah!

♪ ♪ Glory!

Glory!

Hallelujah!

♪ ♪ Glory!

Glory!

Hallelujah!

♪ ♪ His truth is marching on ♪ [music] [music] [music] ♪ In 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 ♪ ♪ Glory!

Glory!

Hallelujah!

♪ ♪ Glory!

Glory!

Hallelujah!

♪ ♪ Glory!

Glory!

Hallelujah!

♪ ♪ His truth is marching on ♪ ♪ Amen!

Amen!

♪♪ [applauding] [music] speaker: America's song has never been just one melody, it is a harmony of voices, some joyful, some crying out for change.

Music has spoken what words alone could not, our longing for justice, our ache for belonging, our hope for renewal.

Harmony is not the absence of struggle but the courage to face our failures honestly and keep singing together until freedom rings true.

[music] [music] ♪ Come, thou Fount of every blessing; ♪ ♪ tune my heart to sing thy grace; ♪ ♪ streams of mercy, never ceasing ♪ ♪ call for songs of loudest praise ♪ ♪ Teach me some melodious sonnet ♪ ♪ sung by flaming tongues above; ♪ ♪ praise the mount!

♪ ♪ I'm fixed upon it ♪ ♪ mount of thy redeeming love!

♪ ♪ Here I raise my Ebenezer; ♪ ♪ hither by thy help I'm come; ♪ ♪ and I hope, by thy good pleasure ♪ ♪ safely to arrive at home ♪ ♪ Jesus sought me when a stranger ♪ ♪ wandering from the fold of God; ♪ ♪ he, to rescue me from danger ♪ ♪ interposed his precious blood ♪ [music] [music] ♪ O to grace how great a debtor ♪ ♪ daily I'm constrained to be!

♪ ♪ Let thy goodness, like a fetter ♪ ♪ bind my wandering heart to thee ♪ ♪ Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it ♪ ♪ prone to leave the God I love; ♪ ♪ here's my heart; O take and seal it; ♪ ♪ seal it for thy courts above ♪ [music] [music] [music] ♪ O that day when freed from sinning ♪ ♪ I shall see Thy lovely face; ♪ ♪ Clothed then in blood washed linen ♪ ♪ How I'll sing Thy sovereign grace; ♪ ♪ Come, my Lord, no longer tarry ♪ ♪ Bring thy promises to pass ♪ ♪ For I know that thou wilt keep me ♪ ♪ till I'm home with thee at last ♪ [music] ♪ O to grace how great a debtor ♪ ♪ daily I'm constrained to be!

♪ ♪ Let thy grace now, like a fetter ♪ ♪ bind my wandering heart to thee ♪ ♪ Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it ♪ ♪ prone to leave the God I love; ♪ ♪ here's my heart; O take and seal it; ♪ ♪ seal it for thy courts above ♪ ♪ here's my heart; O take and seal it; ♪ ♪ seal it for thy courts above ♪♪ [music] [music] ♪ Now if you feel that you can't go on ♪ ♪ Because all of your hope is gone ♪ ♪ And your life is filled with much confusion ♪ ♪ Until happiness is just an illusion ♪ ♪ And your world around is crumblin' down ♪ ♪ Darling ♪ ♪ Come on, baby, reach out for me ♪ ♪ I'll be there with a love that will shelter you ♪ ♪ I'll be there with a love that will see you through ♪ ♪ When you're alone and about to give up ♪ ♪ 'Cause your best just ain't good enough ♪ ♪ And you feel the world has grown cold ♪ ♪ And you're drifting out all on your own ♪ ♪ And you need a hand to hold ♪ ♪ Darling ♪ ♪ Reach out for me ♪ ♪ I'll be there with a love that will shelter you ♪ ♪ I'll be there with a love that will see you through ♪ ♪ I'll be there with a love that will shelter you ♪ ♪ I'll be there with a love that will see you through ♪ ♪ I can tell the way you hang your head ♪ ♪ You're without love now, now you're afraid ♪ ♪ And through your tears you look around ♪ ♪ But there's no peace of mind to be found ♪ ♪ I know what you're thinkin' ♪ ♪ You're alone now, no love of your own ♪ ♪ Come on, baby ♪ ♪ reach out for me ♪ ♪ I'll be there with a love that will shelter you ♪ ♪ I'll be there with a love that will comfort you ♪ ♪ I'll be there with a love that will shelter you ♪ ♪ I'll be there with a love that will comfort you ♪ ♪ I'll be there with a love that will shelter you ♪ ♪ I'll be there with a love that will comfort you ♪ ♪ Ooh-oh ♪♪ [music] speaker: Even as we dreamed of new worlds and stories, American song became a bridge between imagination and hope, between our past and our possibilities.

From Broadway to Hollywood, the American imagination has always found its voice in song.

These melodies have carried our dreams of adventure, of wonder, of what could be even when reality fell short, and reminded us that creativity is part of our common language.

[music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] ♪ When I worked in the mill, weavin' at the loom ♪ ♪ I'd gaze absentminded at the roof ♪ ♪ And half the time the shuttle'd ♪ ♪ tangle in the threads ♪ ♪ And the warp'd get mixed with the woof.. ♪ ♪ If I loved you ♪ ♪ But somehow I can see ♪ ♪ Just exactly how I'd be.. ♪ ♪ If I loved you ♪ ♪ Time and again I would try to say ♪ ♪ All I'd want you to know ♪ ♪ If I loved you ♪ ♪ Words wouldn't come in an easy way ♪ ♪ Round in circles I'd go!

♪ ♪ Longing to tell you, but afraid and shy ♪ ♪ I'd let my golden chances pass me by ♪ ♪ Soon you'd leave me ♪ ♪ Off you would go in the mist of day ♪ ♪ Never, never to know ♪ ♪ How I loved you ♪ ♪ If I loved you ♪♪ [music] speaker: Across 2 1/2 centuries through triumph and trial, ours remains a nation woven with song.

Shaped by faith, lifted by hope, and still striving towards harmony, these melodies remind us who we are, one people, many voices, always learning to listen and always seeking a more perfect harmony.

[music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [applauding] [music] [music] ♪ Once upon a time there was a vulture and a hog ♪ ♪ Livin' in a house upon a hill ♪ ♪ Had this little boy who lived with them ♪ ♪ And they worked him like a dog ♪ ♪ With any luck, they'd have him up there still ♪ ♪ 'Long came a magic man with a magic bag ♪ ♪ Full of nasty little green things in a funky old rag ♪ ♪ He said, "Boy you may not know it but this here's ♪ ♪ salvation you see."

♪ ♪ Son, you're going down in history ♪ ♪ Good news is blowin' in your window ♪ ♪ Good news is knockin' on your door ♪ ♪ Good news is comin' round the corner ♪ ♪ Good news is rollin' 'round your floor ♪ ♪ Where can all my troubles be?

♪ ♪ Must be good news chasin' me ♪ ♪ Good enough to set everybody free ♪ ♪ Good news, good news, good news ♪ ♪ There were bugs in the garden ♪ ♪ Didn't have a clue ♪ ♪ That every day their life was on the line ♪ ♪ They wanted to get outta there ♪ ♪ But they didn't know what to do ♪ ♪ Their little brains is workin' overtime ♪ ♪ That all changed one sunny day ♪ ♪ That little boy dropped by to say ♪ ♪ If we all work together, we make out okay ♪ ♪ Good news, good news, good news ♪ ♪ Gotta roll down a mountain ♪ ♪ Flew over the sea ♪ ♪ Facin' death and danger on their way ♪ ♪ But together they had made it ♪ ♪ And they're where they wanna be ♪ ♪ They love each other more and more each day ♪ ♪ They care about each other ♪ ♪ Good news is sweepin' 'cross the country ♪ ♪ Good news is spreadin' all around ♪ ♪ Good news is hittin' in the city ♪ ♪ Good news has sprung up in the town ♪ ♪ The things that used to hurt before ♪ ♪ They don't hurt 'em anymore ♪ ♪ 'Cause they know there's somethin' good in store ♪ ♪ Good news, good news, good news ♪ ♪ Good news, good news, good news ♪ [music] ♪ Good news Comin' down the chimney ♪ ♪ Good news Knockin' on my door ♪ ♪ Good news Leavin' through the window ♪ ♪ Good news Can't take no more ♪ ♪ Good news Spreadin' o'er the country ♪ ♪ Good news For the young and old ♪ ♪ Good news Goin' round the world now ♪ ♪ Good news, good news, good news, good news ♪ ♪ Good news, good news ♪ ♪ Good news, good news, good news, good news ♪ ♪ Good news!

♪ ♪ Good news!

♪♪ [applauding] ♪ Before the days of Abraham ♪ ♪ I Am, I Am ♪ ♪ Even before the world began ♪ ♪ I Am, I Am ♪ ♪ Touch the wound here in my side ♪ ♪ and the scars on my hands ♪ ♪ No time or place I will not be ♪ ♪ I Am, I Am ♪ [music] speaker: Good evening everyone.

This next song was written for this night, for the 50th anniversary of Concordia University, Irvine.

Here we go.

♪ The time has come for me to go to the Father ♪ ♪ But I would never leave you orphaned and alone ♪ ♪ I will send my Spirit so you know ♪ ♪ I am with you ♪ ♪ Always, always ♪ ♪ I am for you ♪ ♪ Always, always ♪ ♪ Through the fire, through the flood ♪ ♪ You are mine, you are loved ♪ ♪ I am with you ♪ ♪ Always ♪ [music] ♪ Turn your ears to hear the voice of the hurting ♪ ♪ Turn your eyes to see the hopeless and the poor ♪ ♪ I will send my ♪ ♪ Holy Spirit ♪ ♪ With you as you go ♪ ♪ I am with you ♪ ♪ Always, always ♪ ♪ I am for you ♪ ♪ Always, always ♪ ♪ Through the fire, through the flood ♪ ♪ You are mine, you are loved ♪ ♪ I am with you ♪ ♪ Always ♪ ♪ Always ♪ [music] [music] ♪ So, go ♪ ♪ To the ends of the earth with the love and the joy ♪ ♪ and the peace and the hope ♪ ♪ Go ♪ ♪ To the lost and the hurt and the sick and the meek ♪ ♪ and the scared and the broke ♪ ♪ Go ♪ ♪ I am going before you to give you a word ♪ ♪ as you enter a home ♪ ♪ Go ♪ ♪ Teaching them to obey all that I have commanded ♪ ♪ behold ♪ ♪ I am with you ♪ ♪ Always, always ♪ ♪ I am for you ♪ ♪ Always, always ♪ ♪ I am with you ♪ ♪ Always, always ♪ ♪ I am for you ♪ ♪ Always, always ♪ ♪ Through the fire, through the flood ♪ ♪ You are mine, you are loved ♪ ♪ I am with you ♪ ♪ Always ♪ ♪ Always ♪ ♪ I am with you ♪ ♪ Always ♪♪ [music] [music] speaker: From a small hill in California to the city that never sleeps, these voices rise in gratitude, singing in gratitude for the gift of liberty and for the responsibility it carries.

From New York's storied Carnegie Hall, we remember the song of a nation still seeking harmony.

[music] [music] [music] ♪ My country, 'tis of thee ♪ ♪ Sweet land of liberty ♪ ♪ Of thee I sing; ♪ ♪ Land where my fathers died ♪ ♪ Land of the pilgrims' pride ♪ ♪ From ev'ry mountainside ♪ ♪ Let freedom ♪ ♪ ring!

♪ [music] [music] ♪ My native country, thee ♪ ♪ Land of the noble free ♪ ♪ Thy name I love; ♪ ♪ I love thy rocks and rills ♪ ♪ Thy woods and templed hills; ♪ ♪ My heart with rapture thrills ♪ ♪ Like that above ♪ [music] [music] ♪ Let music swell the breeze ♪ ♪ And ring from all the trees ♪ ♪ Sweet freedom's song; ♪ ♪ Let mortal tongues awake; ♪ ♪ Let all that breathe partake; ♪ ♪ Let rocks their silence break ♪ ♪ The sound prolong ♪ [music] ♪ 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 ♪♪ [music] [music] [applauding] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] announcer: "America in Song: A Concordia Celebration" is brought to you by the Lutheran Church Extension Fund with additional support from Charlie and Ling Zhang.