"Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean" is an American patriotic song which was popular in the U.S. during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Composed c. 1843, it was long used as an unofficial national anth
1843 sheet music under its original title of "Columbia, the Land of the Brave"
Cover of sheet music for a circa 1862 publication of "Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean".
The Music Man
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The Music Man is a musical with book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson, based on a story by Willson and Franklin Lacey. The plot concerns con man Harold Hill, who poses as a boys' band organizer
Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean
…the song is mentioned in Chapter IX of MacKinlay Kantor's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Andersonville (1955). It was also featured in the 1957 musical The Music Man. In 1969, "Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean" was the music performed by a U.S. Navy Band embarked aboard USS Hornet as one of the ship's helicopters…
Original Broadway poster
Weldon and Tucker in the National Tour, 1960
Branding of the 2022 Broadway revival, as seen on the Winter Garden Theatre