Posted on 09/14/2006 8:44:48 AM PDT by TaxachusettsMan
The Star-Spangled Banner: verse two
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!
(Francis Scott Key, 1779-1843)
Did you include a check?
/cynicism
I love the Star Spangled Banner but I love America The Beautiful more. It chokes me up all the time and I actually get pissed if all verses are not sung.
It probably has more to do with the time required to sing all 4 verses, than the content. Wouldn't work on tv or sports events, and that's where about 90% of the singing of the Nationa Anthem is.
I always choke up right after I sing, "above the fruited plains." I am such a darn baby when I sing these songs. I get choked up no matter what.
He can't sing but could swim when he had to!
When I was at Westpoint it was mandatory as a plebe 1984 to memorize the 2nd verse of the star bangled banner and I still have it memorized and recite it when I close at public speaking engagements.
What with the attitude of most citizens toward military service (actually doing something,) I would say that your suggestion ranks right up there with re-arranging the deck chairs on a sinking ship.
Considering how the melody does not fit even the primary verse that well, I'd say it is a good bet that Cole Porter didn't do the fitting.
We were taught all four back when I was in grade school in the '60s. And this was in a NYC public school, believe it or not.
DU's panties stay in a wad all the time, about any and everything.
Congressman Billybob
Latest article: "A Burial at Arlington"
Please see my most recent statement on running for Congress, here.
Is seems that the RNC wants nothing to do with conservatism and real Constitutional patriotism
Okay. Now that is even tearing me up a bit :-). Good for you. I hope to catch one of your closings one day. I love that you do this.
Good point. In fact I think I will nickname them PWW (Not to be mistaken of course for the IWW)--the Panty Wad Whiners (although it might be quite easy to confuse the two by this shared group trait).
I'll start singing all four when Greece starts singing all 158 of theirs... :P
Seriously, though, while there wouldn't be anything wrong with singing more than one, many people still can't even get that one right. Hastert even flubbed it badly on Monday, and he's Speaker of the House! :o
There is a sort of fifth verse. Written In or about 1861 by Oliver Wendel Holmes, father of the Justice Oliver Wendel Holmes.
There are copies of some broadsheets and sheet music in the Library of Congress containing the "fifth Verse." However one must pay for them. About six years ago I spent days doing an internet search for "Fifth Verse" and actually found it. Needless to say I have since lost it.
Funny.....on September 11th I was hoping the STAR SPANGLED BANNER would be sung.....instead of God Bless America....isn't the SSB a WAR song?
Oh, and if you're pushing yourself - just type in VANITY and start your own damn thread.
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