July 2, 2021
Happy 4th of July! The House I Live In
The 4th of July is peak season for songs about America, and there are plenty to choose from. This one was Frank Sinatra’s favorite, and it’s one of mine too. Sinatra’s. . . well. . . Sinatra, but I actually prefer Paul Robeson’s version, so I’m going to give his rendition of “The House I Live In” top billing.
I sure don’t want to slight The Chairman of the Board, who sang this at many of his concerts, so here’s the original version that he recorded for a 1945 short film made as part of an effort to combat antisemitism. Whichever version you prefer – or even if it’s not your cup of tea – have a Glorious 4th!
– John Jenkins