Melody

• The initial melody of "God Bless America" descends stepwise an overall interval of four scale steps then returns to the original chord. The counter melody plays off the fifth chord in the scale but does not change keys and moves in stepwise descent. The middle section features an ascending melodic line that implies a key change to the fifth chord of the scale but reverts to the original key. Finally, the song repeats the initial melody with a the final note ending an octave above the first note.
  
  

Rhythm

• The rhythmic pattern is to take an initial long-form rhythmic motif and repeat partial patterns in counter-melodies. For example, the initial rhythm is a half note, two quarter notes, two eighth notes and a quarter note. The pattern is answered by a snippet of a half note, two quarter notes then another independent line featuring the two eight notes and a quarter note snippet. Overall, "God Bless America" is in common time, or four quarter notes per measure, and features a steady quarter note pulse.
  
  

Structure

• The structure of the song is binary, or has two distinct sections. Section A begins with the lyrics, "God bless America..." and ends with "...from above." Section B begins with "From the mountains..." peaks on "...foam" where a key change is implied. Section B then revives the initial forms of A, terminating on the same chord with which the song started.
  
  

Harmony

• The song remains in one key and features a I-iv-V chord structure, or chords built on the first, fourth and fifth notes of the scale. The melodies begin in the tonic, or first chord, focus on the dominant, or fifth chord, but never fully change key. The only accidentals appear in the song's climax on "foam" where the dominant of the dominant, or the chord five scale notes from the chord built on the fifth scale note, is used.