Star-Spangled Banner

National Anthem ^ | 1814 | Francis Scott Key

[ZULU]

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 thru 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 of of their foul footsteps' pollution. No refuge could save the hireling and slave' From the terror of flight and 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.

[ZULU]

Read all four verses and tell me you think "America the Beautiful" is a better song!!!

I dare you.

[Maceman]

Very moving. But no way is it a better song for a national anthem than America the Beautiful.

[Blueflag]

OK. BAck to you.

America the Beautiful
Words by Katharine Lee Bates,
Melody by Samuel Ward
MIDI sequencing provided by Melody Lane
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for halcyon skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the enameled plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till souls wax fair as earth and air
And music-hearted sea!

O beautiful for pilgrims feet,
Whose stem impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till paths be wrought through
wilds of thought
By pilgrim foot and knee!

O beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife
When once and twice,
for man's avail
Men lavished precious life!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain
The banner of the free!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till nobler men keep once again
Thy whiter jubilee!

[Blueflag]

As an anthem, I'll go for America the beautiful any day.

[ZULU]

But its a song with a HISTORY!

Not just a bunch of nice words. It describes a defnining moment in a defining war that helped establish us as a nation.

Oh well, to each his/her choice.

Both nice songs.

But the hairs on my head and the tears in my eyes move whenever I hear the Star-Spangled Banner and see Old Glory wave.

[Maceman]

But the hairs on my head and the tears in my eyes move whenever I hear the Star-Spangled Banner and see Old Glory wave.

The same thing happens to me whenever I hear Ray Charles sing "America the Beautiful."

[Jeff Head]

American the Beautiful is a great and a beautiful song ... but no way would I ever consider it as my national anthem. That right is reserved for, and should be forever reserved for the Star Spangled Banner.

Having been overseas on numerous occassions ... hearing that song and thinking on the attendant words and their meaning that were penned in the midst of a war where the outcome was unsure ... conveys the fighting and perservering spirit of the United States and the attendent faith and reliance on Providence like no other tune or rhyme can IMHO.

[Luna]

I like them both. But for the nation anthem, I wholeheartedly prefer The Star Spangled Banner.

[ZULU]

You're a hard man, Maceman!

[Maceman]

You're a hard man, Maceman!

You're another one, ZULU.

[SwinneySwitch]

America, bless God!

[spookycc]

Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears

This line always makes me think of 9/11.

snuffle...

[Lady Heron]

Who wants to change it? The "Star-Spangled Banner" is the perfect anthem for the U.S., the other is nice but does not have the same power. Besides the rest of the world hates it.

[Seajay]

Please ! Being from Baltimore, I cannot EVER agree !

[Check_Your_Premises]

I respectfully disagree.

The significance of the last question/challenge in the anthem (not the poem) is why it is the best song for our anthem.

By asking that question at the end, it highlights the fact that this is a fragile, precious, and perpetual experiment in self-government. Every day, we must challenge ourselves with that question because every day we are tested to determine if "any nation so concieved and so dedicated can long endure".

I am sorry, I just don't think "America the Beautiful" captures the essence of what America is as well as the "Star Spangled Banner".

[Wolfstar]

Because of our rich and varied song-writing history, we Americans are lucky enough to have three beautiful "national anthems": one official and two unofficial. They are the "Star Spangled Banner," "America the Beautiful," and "God Bless America." In addition, we have a large number of other wonderful patriotic songs most Americans enjoy, ranging from those of the Civil War period right up to Lee Greenwood's popular "I'm Proud to be an American." I'm perfectly happy with the "Star Spangled Banner" as our official national anthem, while also being grateful we have all the others.

[Wolfstar]

God Bless America, written by Irving Berlin

(Simple, but beautiful and beloved by nearly all Americans. It was the song members of Congress sang ont he Capitol steps the evening of 9/11/01.)

God bless America, land that I love
Stand beside her and guide her
Through the night with the light from above

From the mountains to the prairies
To the oceans white with foam
God bless America, my home sweet home

From the mountains to the prairies
To the oceans white with foam
God bless America, my home sweet home
God bless America, my home sweet home

[Betteboop]

Two things--1. I can not hear "G-d Bless America" without seeing Kate Smith singing (age tells) and 2. remembering that the royalties from that song go to the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, as per Irving Berlin's wishes.

[Maceman]

America the Beautiful

At least the tune didn't come from an old British drinking song.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

How did you like the Portland/Dallas NBA game where the 13 year-old girl forgot the words and Mo Cheeks stepped up and sang with her to finish the song? Very moving.