Langston Hughes

Let America be America Again

Let America be America again.
Let it be the dream it used to be.
Let it be the pioneer on the plain
Seeking a home where he himself is free.

(America never was America to me.)

Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed--
Let it be that great strong land of love
Where never kings connive nor tyrants scheme
That any man be crushed by one above.

(It never was America to me.)

O, let my land be a land where Liberty
Is crowned with no false patriotic wreath,
But opportunity is real, and life is free,
Equality is in the air we breathe.

(There's never been equality for me,
Nor freedom in this "homeland of the free.")

Say, who are you that mumbles in the dark?
And who are you that draws your veil across the stars?

I am the poor white, fooled and pushed apart,
I am the Negro bearing slavery's scars.
I am the red man driven from the land,
I am the immigrant clutching the hope I seek--
And finding only the same old stupid plan
Of dog eat dog, of mighty crush the weak.

I am the young man, full of strength and hope,
Tangled in that ancient endless chain
Of profit, power, gain, of grab the land!
Of grab the gold! Of grab the ways of satisfying need!
Of work the men! Of take the pay!
Of owning everything for one's own greed!

I am the farmer, bondsman to the soil.
I am the worker sold to the machine.
I am the Negro, servant to you all.
I am the people, humble, hungry, mean--
Hungry yet today despite the dream.
Beaten yet today--O, Pioneers!
I am the man who never got ahead,
The poorest worker bartered through the years.

Yet I'm the one who dreamt our basic dream
In the Old World while still a serf of kings,
Who dreamt a dream so strong, so brave, so true,
That even yet its mighty daring sings
In every brick and stone, in every furrow turned
That's made America the land it has become.
O, I'm the man who sailed those early seas
In search of what I meant to be my home--
For I'm the one who left dark Ireland's shore,
And Poland's plain, and England's grassy lea,
And torn from Black Africa's strand I came
To build a "homeland of the free."

The free?

Who said the free? Not me?
Surely not me? The millions on relief today?
The millions shot down when we strike?
The millions who have nothing for our pay?
For all the dreams we've dreamed
And all the songs we've sung
And all the hopes we've held
And all the flags we've hung,
The millions who have nothing for our pay--
Except the dream that's almost dead today.

O, let America be America again--
The land that never has been yet--
And yet must be--the land where every man is free.
The land that's mine--the poor man's, Indian's, Negro's, ME--
Who made America,
Whose sweat and blood, whose faith and pain,
Whose hand at the foundry, whose plow in the rain,
Must bring back our mighty dream again.

Sure, call me any ugly name you choose--
The steel of freedom does not stain.
From those who live like leeches on the people's lives,
We must take back our land again,
America!

O, yes,
I say it plain,
America never was America to me,
And yet I swear this oath--
America will be!

Out of the rack and ruin of our gangster death,
The rape and rot of graft, and stealth, and lies,
We, the people, must redeem
The land, the mines, the plants, the rivers.
The mountains and the endless plain--
All, all the stretch of these great green states--
And make America again!

poem by Langston HughesReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

Share

Related quotes

America

(Francis Scott Key)
Oh, say, can you see
By the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed
At the twilight's last gleaming
Whose broad stripes and bright stars
Through the perilous fight
O'er the ramparts we watched were so
Gallantly streaming?
America, America, America
America, America, America
And the rocket's red glare
The bombs bursting in air
Gave proof through the night
That our flag was still there
Oh, say, does that star
Spangled banner yet wave
Over the land of the free
And the home of the brave!
America, America, America
America, America, America
America, America, America
America, America, America
America, America, America
America, America
ooohhh

song performed by by Lou ReedReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!

Share

America Post 911

Land of freedom
Land of war
Land of peace
There you are
America!
Land of spirit truth and grace
Land that will never quit the race
May you fight until you're done
Because the battle has not yet been won
America!
Land of the beautiful
Land of the free
Bring the enemy to his knees
May his conscience sear his soul
Till the bell of victory tolls
America!
This is America land of the brave
Though you hurt us our banners continue to wave
High above the skies our spirits soar
As we replace future's door
America!

poem by Mitzie ThorneReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

Share

America Is Not... Is

America is something far greater
beyond the borders of the united states

America is not made of rock land or sea
America is not the country
we were fooled into
mistaking it to be
America is not a monger of war
not a preacher of nationalism
America does not exploit
the weaknesses of humanity
America has never been
represented accurately
or depicted properly
by those career manipulators
America is not a place
where one man can reject
the presence of another

America is raw unearthed potential
freedom truth beauty equality!

America resides in the heart and mind
America is home of the human spirit
America is a dream of potential earth utopia
America is something we all cherish and long for

America, its time we redefine ourselves
rethink our concept of who we are.

poem by Gregory Allen UhanReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

Share

Milk And Honey

Welcome to the land of milk and honey
This is where your braves died to be free
Living in those days for love or money
Left your heart and soul at wounded knee
History and time are all you have now
You were free from sea to shining sea
But thats no matter to the folks who live here
You only ride your ponies on t.v.
Weve got everything youll ever need
Weve got everything youll ever need
eEverything youll ever need
America, America
America, America
All your pride was wasted aint that funny
You never tried to bite the feeding hand
Welcome to this land of milk and honey
Where they keep you fenced on burning sand
War dance for the customers on fridays
Birthrights up for sale in tourist stores
Carved your land and faces on your mountains
Crazy horse can never tie the score
Weve got everything youll ever need
Weve got everything youll ever need
Everything youll ever need
America, America
America, America
America, America
America, America

song performed by by NazarethReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!

Share

America

Written by: neil diamond
Far
Weve been travelling far
Without a home
But not without a star
Free
Only want to be free
We huddle close
Hang on to a dream
On the boats and on the planes
Theyre coming to america
Never looking back again
Theyre coming to america
Home, dont it seem so far away
Oh, were travelling light today
In the eye of the storm
In the eye of the storm
Home, to a new and a shiny place
Make our bed, and well say grace
Freedoms light burning warm
Freedoms light burning warm
Everywhere around the world
Theyre coming to america
Every time that flags unfurled
Theyre coming to america
Got a dream to take them there
Theyre coming to america
Got a dream theyve come to share
Theyre coming to america
Theyre coming to america
Theyre coming to america
Theyre coming to america
Theyre coming to america
Today, today, today, today, today
My country tis of thee
(today)
Sweet land of liberty
(today)
Of thee I sing
(today)
Of thee I sing
(today)

song performed by by Neil DiamondReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!

Share

America!

America;
Land of sirens shattered, evil and bestowed Lavish and forgiving.
America;
Homeland to many, Home to few.
Seeking Fame treasuries, under silence.
America;
Tainted moonshine dreams.
Land of silent thunder and blinding lightning.
America:
The way we live.
The way we die.
America;
Republic under siege, and fire.
America;
Dream big: seem bigger.
Raise rooftops; smoke of fire.
America;
Intelligence divine, growing health.
America;
Illuminates under dark skies, furious and stolen.
Images of the night scene, alcohol-burning retinas. Cigar tainting lungs.
America;
Land of eternal debt for fossils.
America;
Eating dirty stairs, climbing to new heights.
America;
Lonely under crosses.
America;
Cotton candy zealousness.
America;
Dreaming, infinitely unsettled. Promised and found beauty.
America;
Insearch of a dream. Sparkling destinies.Hated sundown. Every fading fashion, halting delight.
America;
Collaboration lacking CEO's.
Outward perspectives.
America; Awake and looking. Profound Mysteries.

poem by Sebastian JohnstonLindsayReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

Share

Dear Bhoilseabhach

If only I had the power to confer
on you and yours all power
to free America
from its greed
and the paltry middle class

to free America
from piggish bourgeoisie

to free America
from its war mongering

to make America
land of the free
and home of the brave

to make America
more spirited and generous
beautiful happy and heroic

dearest Boilseabhach!

poem by Michael PruchnickiReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

Share

Oh America

We all stand a chance
You’ll love it at a glance
Everyone
From everywhere
No matter what your race
What you look on the face
You can get the same
As the ones with fame

I dream of a land
Where everyone is free
I dream of a land
Where everyone is happy
I dream of a land
Where is everyone is rich
I dream of a land
Where everyone is pretty


Oh America
You make my dreams come true
Oh America
You make my life complete

poem by Unsal BellReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

Share

Visionaries

America was a dream.
America was a vision
Made by believers
Who made a decision
To break away from old mistakes
And start something new.
It did not come easy.
The believers were just a few.

But it only takes a few
To believe in what is right.
And so America started
But not without a fight.
It was about taxes
Just like it is today.
But instead of King George
It’s the politicos taking our pay.

So where do we stand now?
We’re in the same boat.
Slowly we are sinking.
We can’t stay afloat.
We need new believers
To take up the fight
And lead us with new vision
And true insight.

We are people of every color.
We are people of every creed.
We offered freedom
To people all in need.
But the politicos have turned us
One against the other
And ratcheted up the hate
In this land that is our mother.

America where’s your dream?
America where’s your vision?
Where are the believers to make a good decision?
They’ve gone to the Promised Land
And what do they see?
As they look upon us all
They see that we’re not free.

poem by Edwina ReizerReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

Share

Milk & Honey

Welcome to the land of milk and honey
This is where your braves died to be free
Living in those days for love or money
Left your heart and soul at wounded knee
History and time are all you have now
You were free from sea to shining sea
But thats no matter to the folks who live here
You only ride your ponies on t.v.
Weve got everything youll ever need
Weve got everything youll ever need
Eeverything youll ever need
America, america
America, america
All your pride was wasted aint that funny
You never tried to bite the feeding hand
Welcome to this land of milk and honey
Where they keep you fenced on burning sand
War dance for the customers on fridays
Birthrights up for sale in tourist stores
Carved your land and faces on your mountains
Crazy horse can never tie the score
Weve got everything youll ever need
Weve got everything youll ever need
Everything youll ever need
America, america
America, america
America, america
America, america
(written and arranged by nazareth)
Copyright 1983 fool circle limited
All rights reserved.

song performed by by NazarethReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!

Share

Why America

America, America you don't know me,
But dear America I know you.
I see you in the faces of young people,
I watch you sleep in your crib at night.
I hear your voice in the crowded streets,
I taste your soul in the resturants at dinner time.
Why America have you forgotten about us?
You got too big and you left us behind.
Not thinking about the little man,
We were just a waste of your time.
Dear America turn back and look at what you are,
The wind in our hair, the dirt in our pots,
The rain on our cheeks, the oil in our homes.
America why would you allow yourself to forget?
We made you what you are today.
We the little man dug into your land to find oil.
We turned over your soil to feed the pig you are now.
We America are who you should thank
We, America are the working class people.
Without us there is no you.
Without the work we do there is no product,
Without the product there is no profit.
We, America fuel you, yet you leave us behind.
It's okay though, all is forgiven.
WE FORGIVE YOU! !

poem by Racquel DavisReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

Share

America The Land Of The Free

America the land of the free.
The land of the free?
America has the highest

imprisonment
rate in the world not

just in the free world
in the entire world!

America number one
imprisonment double most contenders!
Imprison ethnic poor

imprison your citizens
double above most
imprisonment nations!

America the land of the lie
the land where dreams are sold!

The country devoting most
money into building prisons
massive state penitentiary!

A country delighting in
convictions for serious crimes!

Did you ever think
it might be cheaper?
it might be a better?

system to spent
more on health care
education crime

prevention!

America the land
that can provide
outlet liquor store

outlet gun store
within all worst
crack crime urban

areas because
we all know
alcohol guns

readily available to minors
gangs desperate people is the best
crime prevention policy in

America the land of the free?


Requested posting.

poem by Terence George CraddockReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

Share

america, America

Sing out! sing out! America,
''Sweet land of liberty;
Tell how we chased the red man
''From sea to shining sea''.

Be proud, stand tall America,
''Home of the free and brave'';
Ignore that angry black man,
Ancestored from a slave.

Sing out! ''This land is your land,
It was made for you and me'',
While toiling tenant farmers
Reside in poverty.

And sing about our many wars,
With them we must abide;
But tell the loyal citizens,
God was always on their side.

Corruption and intolerance
Defies our rule of law.
''America! America!
''God mend thine every flaw''.

poem by Joseph AndersonReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

Share

Don't Tear America Down!

Those who thinks America is finished;
Think again. Feeling dismayed that
You are not leaping ahead like before?
It is not only in America; worldwide, indeed.

America is not finished; it will be there,
Even in the dark hours of economic meltdown.
America will be there, for Americans are
Too proud, too strong willed to let
Their country go to pieces.

As their motto says:
'O Say Can You See! '
And, 'God Bless America,
Land That They Love! '
Americans truly loves America.

So, think not of a doom America
Think of a America of renewed hope,
Renewed love, and renewed faith,
For, if unbetold to you before,
God really loves America

poem by Winston HardingReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

Share

My version of Ginsberg's America.

Against the filthy politics found in America and against the actions of it's dispicable governments.


America tell Coloumbus to fook off, take his smallpox and Capitalism with him.
America, you've swallowed your national mythology like pancakes and syrup.
America, Land where eugenics was tried

America, Land where the native americans cried
America, Land where warmongering thrives
America, you think you're the world police.
America, you were duped by a Christian to believe he's the prince of peace and now a black man convinces you the same.
America, your obsession with religion is insane.


America, I hope your guilt drives you to suicide, having to stare into the eyes of the children of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
America, I hope the masterminds of the Manhattan Project are suffering like they should.
America, your dream is as fake as Hollywood.
America, what the hell happened in Zuccotti Park?
America, you actually have a exhibition dedicated to Noah's ark?
America, where is this democracy you're trying to spread?
America, why won't you let the poor be fed?
America, you lead the west in destroying the world and waging war.

America land of MKULTRA and CO-INTELPRO
America land of Glenn beck, Neo-cons, where gay marriage is a 'no no'.
America, you're no city on the hill.
America, you're the home of the corporate shill.
America, you're oil addiction has make the globe ill.
America, your tv channels still project cold war closed minds.
America, how is it that slaves built the white house?
America, what exactly did you mean by 'All men are born free and equal'? Terms and conditions apply?
America, what are you doing to right past wrongs?

America, where's your concern for the Navajo?
America, I would've fought with Geronimo.
America, I think you've forgotten the Treaty of Fort Laramie.
America, Pay back in blood those killed at Wounded Knee.
America, you lied about Pine Ridge and the FBI really killed Annie Mae.
America, massacring to the tune of a million dollars to catch a single man.
America, which small country will you invade next? America, I can see your eyeing up Iran.
America, You wouldn't want what happened in Diego Garcia to happen to you.
America you know a thing or two about Coup

America Bikini Atoll is still ailing.
America, Love Canal is ruined.
America, I love the Wobblies.
America, The city of Chicago can built statues but it really just needs to apologize.
America, you've poisioned us all.
America, Land of Bush, of agent orange and Monsanto
America, Trainers of the Taliban, guards of Guantanamo


America, Land where the poor are shushed
America, Land where environmental decay is pushed
America, Land where they pollute the air
America, Invade the world and don't seem to care.
America, Land where the Mexican hides in slums for a meagre sum.
America, Land where they strung up blacks for fun
America, Land where they worship the Gun.
America.

America, Land of government without dignity
America, Home of Jefferson's slave, Blackwater's crime,
The Red Scare
And Gulf of Mexico Oil slick slime.
America.

poem by Scott ForsterReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

Share

America The States

America America
The States
The States
The land where my fathers died,
And where I lay my fate,
Declaring independence from big ol’ Britain,
When they came to take us back they got an ass kickin’.

America America
The States
The States
Been living it up since 1868.
We got our freedom, we got the right,
If they try to take it back then there’ll definitely be a fight.

America America
The States
The Sates
Saluting to the banner,
Of the red, blue, and white.
In a havoc of war and the battle's confusion,

 A home and a country should leave us no more!

poem by Whoopie CushionReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

Share

America The Melting Pot Land

Their fruits proud and confident with their knowledge of modern technology but,
historically sleeping. For some call America "The Heaven on Earth." This simply means, "As there are many
different ways of dying to go to heaven and so there are many different ways of entering
the United States of America. Since there are no differences in heaven between those
who died by road accidents and those who died in the Titanic, And so there are no
differences in America between their fruits, those with U.S. visas, those in stowaway
ships, those jumping over the fence or even bush roads. like heaven or one like America." For some call America "The Land of Dreams." But in their restless sleep with only one
hour to sleep and go back to work, their nightmare dreams are "evictions, Insurance
Bills, Car notes, Tax bills, a dream no longer at ease - "The Bills." Yet some call America "The Land of Opportunities." Indeed what wonderful
opportunities in the K.F.C. restaurants, Roy Rogers, Wendy's, McDonald's, the Great
Merrymaids Cleaning Companies. And what a smile the CVS drug store has for selling
Bengay Balsam, oops sleeping on a backache the next morning, a smile and everything is
fine. As a poet I am reminding their historically sleeping fruits that this land, this beloved
country, this portion of God's created earth, "America the Melting Pot Land." America the melting pot land is the only land on Earth folks flung and scattered from all
over the world with different backgrounds, colors, races, and languages and melted, and
blended, themselves never to be recognized. Although sometimes their zig zag tongues make their fruits ask them - Where are you
from? - In this melting pot land "America," only God could save their proud fruits with
whom they melted and blended. Thus violence has no color or race in this melting pot
land. I counted my blessing as ninth grade school drop out to be melting and blending myself
with intellectual poets in this melting pot land, "The United States of America."

poem by Binta BunduReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

Share

America My Country

It's great to live in a country big and strong
It doesn't matter if you are young or old
Our thoughts are as good as gold
Where we go on land or sea
We can always be happy and free
Free to express our thoughts and then
Even express them over again
To different people no matter what color or race
In America for them there is always a place
To make a home
For their families to roam
The fields; the woods.
The countryside
Especially the young man and his bride
For seniors and teens
In formals or jeans
Who ever it may be
Remember we can always be free
Just like a bird chirping, singing happily.
Like chipmunks in the wood
Calling to his mate and being good.
Good to his family
And Grandpa talking to his Emily
Pondering over ideas and thoughts galore
And, off to bed and listen to him snore
Taken up in the morning early light
Whenever it is nice and bright
In America where we are always free
Where in New York Harbor stands the Statue of Liberty
Her hand raised high toward the sky
Where our planes in freedom fly
Where all of us want to be
America for you and me
Liberty and freedom will never end
I'll get down on both my knees and bend
To thank God I am an American
In a country great and grand
Who wants to be anywhere else
Except in America where we can do so much expand
America will always be my land.

poem by Florence D. SchmalkeReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

Share

America no more

This is my country
Land of the free
America the beautiful
Yours for a small fee

Now the floodgates opened
And not by choice
As we pleaded and begged
To no recourse

No speakie English
Is all we hear
So we catered to you
But you just sneered

Now you take our jobs
Our land you trash
You come to my country
For the cold hard cash

Far across the rivers
Beyond the distance seas
You came here uninvited
Despite our every plea

Now I'm the poor white fool
Driven from my home
Looking for this freedom
Forever left to roam

One day again I will find her
This majestic land I love
Despite all your destruction
We will rise above

For those of you who destroyed her
America's noble land
You'll come to find you shouldn't have
When America takes a stand

Nicola J. Cleary

poem by Nicola ClearyReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

Share

God Has Blessed America

God has blessed America
with the ability to choose.
And we lean to our own understanding;
not asking him what to do.

God has blessed America
with landscape’s that will take your breath away.
And we dig-up and cut-down,
and litter everyday.

When God made the earth
He said, “It is good.”
And we’re not taking care of it;
like we know we really should.

God has blessed America
more than we deserve;
With his love and compassion,
His mercies new each day.

God has blessed America
With the babies that he give;
and we abuse and neglect them,
and kill them daily still.

God has Blessed America
Oh how he blessed us so.
We have freedom in our country;
More than other countries will know.

God has blessed America
with oceans blue as the sky;
and we pollute them, killing sea life,
not caring that they die.

God has blessed America
we have freedom of speech;
and we destroy; killing spirits
with the poison that we speak.

God has blessed America
The land we say we love;
But we continue to destroy it,
The land we’re unworthy of.

Copyright © 2010 by-Phyllis Strong

poem by Phyllis StrongReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

Share