National Anthem

[McCandless]

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 rockets' 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 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!

[Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967]

A bit different, but still most excellent - presentation of the original:

 

 

[Subdeacon Joe]

Nice find, Hardpan.

 

Here is more on that recording: https://osaycanyouhear.wordpress.com/2013/01/06/a-world-premiere-recording-of-the-star-spangled-banner/

[Blackwater 53393]

The trumpet solo at the beginning of today's Dallas/New York game was outstanding!!

[McCandless]

A bit different, but still most excellent - presentation of the original:

 

Wow! an 1814 version. Thank you!

[Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967]

Nice find, Hardpan.

 

Here is more on that recording: https://osaycanyouhear.wordpress.com/2013/01/06/a-world-premiere-recording-of-the-star-spangled-banner/

 

Excellent expansion, Joe ~ thanks! That was a good read.

[Frazee Ridge, SASS #54171]

^{My wife and I had goose bumps listening to the Anthem sung by an Indianapolis police officer before the Colts-Lions game. Lions got a field goal with about 4 seconds left to win the game.}

[McCandless]

https://www.c-span.org/video/?321206-1/discussion-fort-mchenry-birth-starspangled-banner

 

The full history behind the war, and the birth of the Star Spangled Banner.