The tune known in the United States as "America" or "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" is a contrafactum of the British national anthem "God Save the King." In 18th-century Europe, the melody was so popular that it was used as the national anthems of many countries. Until 1931, it was used similarly as one of the unofficial national anthems of the United States. The American lyrics and title went through several iterations, and the most popular version today was written by Samuel Francis Smith in 1831.

—The GCNA