About "The Star Spangled Banner"

About "The Star Spangled Banner" written in 1814

I must confess, growing-up I only knew verses one, two and four, usually verse three is not sung since it was a stinging jab into the side of the British who are now our allies! I especially enjoy singing the whole poem/song as this can be quite moving. Strange itn't it that the official "National Anthem" which is only the first verse ends with a question?

"The Star Spangled Banner"
Words by Francis Scott Key,
Music attributed to John Stafford Smith
from the song "To Anacreon in Heaven"

O 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, through 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.
O 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! O 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.

O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation!
Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the Heaven-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!

So, you're probably asking yourself what was "To Anacreon in Heav'n" anyway?

...Interesting question, actually.

The tune was probably composed by John Samuel Stevens although it was John Stafford Smith who wrote the tune in the mid-1760s, while still a teenager. It was first published by Longman & Broderip in London in 1778/1779, the original lyrics were attributed to Ralph Tomlinson and so "To Anacreon in Heaven" was the official song of the Anacreontic Society, a club of amateur musicians in jolly London England who gathered regularly to perform concerts!

(try singing it!)

The original lyrics are as follows:

"To Anacreon in Heaven"

I.

To Anacreon in Heav'n,

Where he sat in full glee,

A few Sons of Harmony

Sent a petition

That he their Inspirer

And Patron would be;

When this answer arrived

From the Jolly Old Grecian:

"Voice, Fiddle, and Flute,

No longer be mute,

I'll lend you my name

And inspire you to boot,

Chorus:

And besides I'll instruct you,

Like me, to intwine

The Myrtle of Venus

With Bacchus' Vine."

II.

The news through Olympus

Immediately flew;

When Old Thunder pretended

To give himself airs.

"If these Mortals are suffered

Their scheme to pursue,

The devil a Goddess,

Will stay above stairs.

Hark, already they cry,

In transports of joy,

'Away to the Sons

Of Anacreon we'll fly,

Chorus:

And there with good fellows,

We'll learn to intwine

The Myrtle of Venus

With Bacchus' Vine.

III.

"The Yellow-Haired God

And his nine fusty Maids

From Helicon's banks

Will incontinent flee,

Idalia will boast

But of tenantless shades,

And the bi-forked hill

A mere desert will be.

My Thunder no fear on't,

Shall soon do its errand,

And dam'me I'll swing

The Ringleaders I warrant.

Chorus:

I'll trim the young dogs,

For thus daring to twine

The Myrtle of Venus

With Bacchus' Vine."

IV.

Apollo rose up,

And said, "Pry'thee ne'er quarrel,

Good King of the Gods,

With My Vot'ries below:

Your Thunder is useless"--

Then showing his laurel,

Cry'd "Sic evitabile

Fulmen, you know!

Then over each head,

My laurels I'll spread,

So my sons from your Crackers

No mischief shall dread,

Chorus:

While, snug in their clubroom,

They jovially twine

The Myrtle of Venus

With Bacchus' Vine."

V.

Next Momus got up

With his risible Phiz

And swore with Apollo

He'd cheerfully join --

"The full tide of Harmony

Still shall be his,

But the Song, and the Catch,

And the Laugh shall be mine.

Then, Jove, be not jealous

Of these honest fellows."

Cry'd Jove, "We relent,

Since the truth you now tell us:

Chorus:

And swear by Old Styx,

That they long shall intwine

The Myrtle of Venus

With Bacchus' Vine."

VI.

Ye Sons of Anacreon,

Then join hand in hand;

Preserve Unanimity,

Friendship, and Love!

'Tis yours to support

What's so happily plann'd;

You've the sanction of Gods,

And the Fiat of Jove.

While thus we agree,

Our toast let it be:

"May our Club flourish Happy,

United, and Free!

Chorus:

And long may the Sons

Of Anacreon intwine

The Myrtle of Venus

With Bacchus' Vine."