National Anthem of Venice, California by Brad Kay and choir

Hello, viewers. This is the official National Anthem of Venice, California, as premiered at the dedication of the 1941 Abbott Kinney mural, at the Venice post office, 11/15/2007.

I have posted the complete lyrics to this worthy Anthem below. Owing to my ignorance of how this Commenting system works, you have to read upward from my first comment at the bottom. Thank you, Mr. Sewell. - Brad Kay

At the request of several viewers, I am posting (by installments) the complete lyrics of "Venice! O, Venice!"

1st stanza:
By the blue Pacific waters
At the edge of the golden west;
Come our nation's sons and daughters
To the place they love the best!
No, it's not Topeka, Kansas!
Heidelberg or Rome - it's
VENICE OF AMERICA!
The place we call our home!

1st Chorus
Venice! O, Venice!
O hear our voices ring!
Where Music reigns triumphant -
And Art is King!

Venice! O, Venice!
Where we work and live and play -
We Hail to thee, O, Venice!
The Pearl of the U.S.A.!

Recitation: a la F. D. R.
Venice of America - A Peaceful Home to every Race, Creed and Color under the sun.
Venice - Where Art and Commerce mingle freely, as nowhere else.

Many a city was founded because it was where two rivers crossed, where a battle was fought, where business was good (cont.)

Recitation, continued:

But only VENICE OF AMERICA exists because one man - ABBOTT KINNEY - dreamed of a place where the highest artistic and intellectual aspirations of HUMANITY could not only be imagined, but REALIZED!

2nd stanza:

There was nothing here but swampland
When with Brick and Steel and Steam
Came a man named Abbott Kinney
To construct his golden dream

Toiling on thru sleepless weekends
Here he built thru sweat and tears
A home for art and po - e - try,
Canals and gondoliers!

2nd Stanza:

There was nothing here but swampland
When with Brick and Steel and Steam,
Came a man named Abbott Kinney
To construct his golden dream

Toiling on thru sleepless weekends,
Here he built thru sweat and tears -
A home for art and po - e - try;
Canals and gondoliers!

Second Chorus:

Venice! O Venice!
We lift our voice to thee!
Where rents are somewhat pricey,
But the air is Free!

Venice! O Venice!
- Though it's now part of L. A. -
We Hail to thee, O Venice!
- - And to HELL with Marina Del Rey!