Kate Smith: In the Summer of His Years - A Tribute to President Kennedy

It is hard to believe that the shocking events in Dallas on November 22, 1963 occurred a half century ago.  On this 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's assassination, here is a song written for a BBC tribute to the President.  Recorded by Kate Smith and written by Herb Kretzmer and David Lee, it was released by RCA Records in the weeks following that tragic day.

LYRICS:

A young man rode with his head held high
Under the Texas sun
And no one guessed that a man so blessed
Would perish by the gun
Lord, would perish by the gun

A shot ran out like a sudden shout
And Heaven held its breath
For the dream of a multitude of men
Rode with him to his death
Lord, rode with him to his death

Yes, the heart of the world weighed heavy
With the helplessness of tears
For the man cut down in a Texas town
In the summer of his years
In the summer of his years

And we who stay must not ever lose
The victories that he's won
For wherever men look to freedom
Then his soul goes riding on
Lord, his soul goes riding on!