The Star Spangled Banner Lyrics By Francis Scott Key 1814
Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected now shines in the stream: 'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion, A home and a country should leave us no more! Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution. No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave: And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand Between their loved home and the war's desolation! Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation. Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, And this be our motto: "In God is our trust." And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
HH, I knew you would get under someone's skin with your continued preference for La Marseillaise over the Star Spangled Banner. I'm a bit of a flag-waver myself, but musically and emotionally little compares to this scene from Casablanca.
I frankly think your love for this anthem has more to do with this magnificent movie than with your political leanings. Or maybe I'm just projecting my own feelings.
Just wish our own national anthem were a bit more lyrical or at least singable. I will reserve most of my admiration for our Constitution and Bill of Rights rather than this unfortunate choice of tune.
Hope you're not offended, American. I salute your loyalty to our screecher of a national song (or maybe you just like the poetry).
Ya gotta admit that La Marseillaise is waaaay more fun to sing than the Star Spangled Banner. Kind of has that throaty congregational 'Bringing in the Sheaves" type of vibe.
Every since I learned that the melody to the SSB is the Oxford drinking song "To Thee Oh Anacreon," I picture a bunch of begowned, bewigged and besotted lads bellowing out their erudition to the combined bemusement and annoyance of hapless patrons or passersby whenever U.S. sportsfans are moved to make the brave attempt to negotiate its octave plus demands.
For myself, the sentiments of our southern neighbors' anthem "Oh Canada" conveys a national spirit and pride that foregoes militant nationalism.
HH was born an Air Force brat in Gulfport, Mississippi, and has lived in Kansas, Oklahoma, and NEW YORK CITY. He received the B.A. in Liberal Arts from The New School for Social Research, a felony for pacifist draft resistance (1972), and a Presidential Pardon (1977).
HH's plays have been produced Off-Off Broadway. HH created the role of the wicked CIA executive in SHADOWPLAY: THE WORLD'S FIRST MUSICAL HISTORY OF THE CIA. HH is Executive Director of the Museum of the Bourgeois (MoB). MoB is the world's first conceptual museum (since 1789).
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The Star Spangled Banner Lyrics
By Francis Scott Key 1814
Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
HH, I knew you would get under someone's skin with your continued preference for La Marseillaise over the Star Spangled Banner. I'm a bit of a flag-waver myself, but musically and emotionally little compares to this scene from Casablanca.
I frankly think your love for this anthem has more to do with this magnificent movie than with your political leanings. Or maybe I'm just projecting my own feelings.
Just wish our own national anthem were a bit more lyrical or at least singable. I will reserve most of my admiration for our Constitution and Bill of Rights rather than this unfortunate choice of tune.
Hope you're not offended, American. I salute your loyalty to our screecher of a national song (or maybe you just like the poetry).
Ya gotta admit that La Marseillaise is waaaay more fun to sing than the Star Spangled Banner. Kind of has that throaty congregational 'Bringing in the Sheaves" type of vibe.
Every since I learned that the melody to the SSB is the Oxford drinking song "To Thee Oh Anacreon," I picture a bunch of begowned, bewigged and besotted lads bellowing out their erudition to the combined bemusement and annoyance of hapless patrons or passersby whenever U.S. sportsfans are moved to make the brave attempt to negotiate its octave plus demands.
For myself, the sentiments of our southern neighbors' anthem "Oh Canada" conveys a national spirit and pride that foregoes militant nationalism.
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