2 Songs For America
By Two "Official Connecticut Troubadours" Tom Callinan & Phil Rosenthal
Tom was designated Connecticut's first “Official State Troubadour” in 1991. Phil was so honored as “The Nutmeg State's” third “Official State Troubadour” in 1993. In light of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on The World Trade Center in New York City and The Pentagon in Washington, D.C., Tom and Phil each responded with patriotic songs independently of one another. Tom, a Vietnam-era Marine, was inspired to compose “These Colors Just Don't Run!” while taking in and furling his flags at home two days after the attacks. Phil and wife Beth Sommers had recorded, but not released Phil's arrangement of “America (My Country ‘Tis Of Thee)” for another project. When Tom arrived at American Melody Studio to record “These Colors...”, Phil was mixing “America”, so the pairing and releasing of these two songs as a collaborative endeavor was serendipitous.
flag courtesy of George and Kim Dingwall
THE PLAYERS
TOM CALLINAN - Lead and harmony vocals, guitar, bodhran on “These Colors ...”
PHIL ROSENTHAL - Lead vocals on “America”; 5-string banjo, mandolin, and electric bass on both songs
BETH SOMMERS - Harmony vocals on “America”
JEFF McQUILLAN - Percussion (conga drum & spoons) on “America”
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ALL profits from the sale of this commemorative CD will be donated to the families of the victims and/or the rescue workers through one of the reputable charities.
America (My Country 'Tis Of Thee)-Phil Rosenthal
Words By Rev. Samuel F. Smith; Melody “God Save The Queen/King”
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 mountain side,
Let freedom ring.
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.
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.
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.
These Colors Just Don't Run-Tom Callinan 
