4 July -- Rare Songs

Good luck happens to thrifty shoppers more often than one might think. Yet, it is always a good story when it does. Considering today is the Fourth of July and the US is celebrating its independence from those pesky British Colonizers it is interesting to find a story that seems to combine all of the essential elements.

A rare and original manuscript of one of America's most patriotic songs, America (My Country 'tis of Thee), has been bought for 10 dollars. Well, the person buying this rare and original manuscript thought they were buying a picture of a framed flower, but when they opened the frame they found something considerably more valuable than 10 bucks.

The manuscript was written early in 1831 by Samuel Francis Smith and it was first performed in public on 4 July 1831. It was performed in the First Baptist Church in Newtown, Massachusetts. What is funny is that the song was written to the tune of "God Save the Queen" which is the national anthem of the UK.

A patriotic song written to the national anthem of the UK. Smith obviously had a good sense of humour or a sense for the ironic.