Honoring America 250

Songs for America

A new art song cycle on the words that founded a nation.

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The Concert The Songs

The Premiere

An America 250 Recital

Sunday, July 12, 2026 · 6:00 PM

Trinity United Presbyterian Church

79 W Fayette St · Uniontown, Pennsylvania

Dr. Julianne Laird, soprano  ·  R.J. Nestor, piano

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Premiering R.J. Nestor: Songs for America

also featuring works by
Louis Ballard · Florence Price · Undine Smith Moore · Lee Hoiby

Free & open to the public

The Cycle

A note on the words

The lyrics for all five songs are below. Tap any line marked ⊕ to see where its words came from.

Tap a line marked ⊕ to reveal its source.

  • the original words
  • adapted for singing
  • R.J.'s own line
Paine · the original wordsPaine, Common Sense (1776), "Thoughts on the Present State of American Affairs." The motto returns across the cycle.
Paine · adaptedPaine's introduction: "The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind."
Paine · adaptedPaine: "Many circumstances hath, and will arise, which are not local, but universal…"
Paine · adaptedPaine: "the cause of America is… the cause of all mankind… the principles of all Lovers of Mankind are affected."
The cause of America
Is the cause of all mankind.
R.J.'s lineMine, opening from Paine's "receive the fugitive… an asylum for mankind." This triplet frames Songs 2, 3, and 4.
Paine · the original wordsPaine: "The sun never shined on a cause of greater worth."
Paine · adaptedPaine: "not only the tyranny, but the tyrant, stand forth!" — recast as a command.
The cause of America
Is the cause of all mankind!
Paine · adaptedPaine, Common Sense (1776): "O! receive the fugitive, and prepare in time an asylum for mankind."
Washington · the original wordsWashington, Address to Irish Immigrants (1783): "The bosom of America is open to receive not only the Opulent and respectable Stranger, but the oppressed and persecuted of all Nations and Religions."
Washington · refrainWashington, Address to Irish Immigrants (1783).
Washington · adaptedWashington: "whom we shall welcome to a participation of all our rights and privileges."
Washington · adaptedWashington, Letter to the Hebrew Congregation at Newport (1790): "the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance."
Washington & Paine · adaptedWashington's "Government of the United States" joined to Paine's "receive the fugitive… an asylum for mankind."
The bosom of America is open.
The bosom of America is open.
Washington & Paine · adaptedWashington's "no sanction… no assistance" and Paine's "receive the fugitive… an asylum for mankind," cut down to commands.
The bosom of America is open.
The bosom of America is open.
America is open.
Wheatley · adaptedWheatley, Letter to Samson Occom (1774): "God has implanted a Principle, which we call Love of Freedom."
Wheatley · the original wordsWheatley: "it is impatient of Oppression, and pants for Deliverance."
There is a Principle
Which we call Love of Freedom.
There is a Principle
Which we call Love of Freedom.
It is impatient of Oppression,
And pants for Deliverance,
For Deliverance.
Lincoln · the original wordsAbraham Lincoln, fragment on democracy (c. 1858): "As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master."
As I would not be a slave,
So I would not be a master.
Lincoln · adaptedLincoln: "This expresses my idea of democracy. Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is no democracy."
There is a Principle
Which we call Love of Freedom.
There is a Principle
Which we call Love of Freedom.
It is impatient of Oppression,
And pants for Deliverance.
Wheatley · adaptedWheatley: "God has implanted a Principle… the same Principle lives in us."
Abigail Adams · the original wordsAbigail Adams, Letter to John Adams (March 31, 1776).
Abigail Adams · adaptedAdams: "be more generous and favourable to them than your ancestors."
Abigail Adams · adaptedAdams: "Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands."
Abigail Adams · the original wordsAdams: "Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could."
Abigail Adams · adaptedAdams: "If particular care and attention is not paid to the Ladies…"
Abigail Adams · adaptedAdams: "we are determined to foment a Rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice, or Representation."
Remember the Ladies.
R.J.'s lineMine—not in her letter. My twist on her threat.
Paine · the original wordsPaine, Common Sense (1776). The cycle's motto, now opening the finale.
Jefferson · adaptedJefferson, First Inaugural Address (1801): "Let us, then, fellow-citizens, unite with one heart and one mind."
Jefferson · adaptedJefferson: "Let us restore to social intercourse that harmony and affection without which liberty and even life itself are but dreary things."
My friends, fellow citizens,
Unite in heart and mind.
Jefferson · adaptedJefferson: "Every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle. We have called by different names brethren of the same principle."
R.J.'s lineMine, from Jefferson's "brethren of the same principle." The vow that the nation survives is mine.
Paine · adaptedPaine: "not only the tyranny, but the tyrant, stand forth!" — recast as a closing command.

The cycle premieres July 12. Come hear it whole.