Post from Illinoismel's blog:
The National Anthem by Francis Scott Key
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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.
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!

O! 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!

The Star Spangled Banner

Reader Comments
  
And
By Lincoln Park Dem Jul 5th 2008 at 2:42 pm EDT
I still get goosebumps sometimes when i hear it...

OK..............PLAY BALL!!!!!
Re: And
By illinoismel Jul 5th 2008 at 2:45 pm EDT
Many people do not know there is more than one stanza.
Re: And
By Lincoln Park Dem Jul 5th 2008 at 2:50 pm EDT
I did but only bease I was in the choir in High school. it's beautiful
Re: And
By Gretchen Jul 5th 2008 at 5:09 pm EDT
Thanks Mel-- I learned something today... Wish they would sing the entire song more often-- I think ALL Americans should know more that the first verse-- Will print this off-- Want my children to learn it!!! THANK YOU!!!, g.
  
Re: Thanks Mel
By illinoismel Jul 5th 2008 at 2:55 pm EDT
;o)
  
yes
By Moses Jul 5th 2008 at 3:43 pm EDT
play ball.

And to those people who post other "anthems":

Insulting others does nothing to convince them. A national anthem is just that, a NATIONAL anthem. Did you forget a certain keynote address about no white America, no black America, no blue state, no red states, but rather the UNITED states. Your condescending tone does a disservice to your candidate and is a slap in the face to other Americans. In other words, you are on the wrong side in this.
Re: yes
By Gretchen Jul 5th 2008 at 5:11 pm EDT
Moses-- I guess I look at things as the glass is 1/2 full-- I don't believe Melanie had any ill intent when she wrote this down... I honestly didn't know the entire song and am glad she did this...

We need to see/look for the positives in each other....
Re: yes
By Moses Jul 5th 2008 at 5:14 pm EDT
I normally do as well, but some of Obama's supporters are going about the wrong way of trying to convince others to vote vote him.
Re: yes
By Gretchen Jul 5th 2008 at 6:35 pm EDT
BUT Mel is NOT an Obama supporter???
Re: yes
By SPIRITED DONA Jul 5th 2008 at 7:33 pm EDT
there might be a reason, we only blog, hilary. lol!
  
Most people only know the first stanza
By Hollywood Jul 5th 2008 at 3:45 pm EDT
I always sing it with gusto, but it's not my favorite. "America The Beautiful" - that's the song I wish was our national anthem, and according to my research, it was the people's choice before Woodrow Wilson foisted it on us in an Executive Order. (I never was a fan of Wilson's - what an idiot).

Music and lyrics written by Americans, too! (the music to Star Spangled Banner was an old English drinking song). Now, here's a bit of trivia for you - Katherine Lee Bates (lyrics - a professor at Wellesley College) and Samuel Ward (music - a church organist) never actually met. And the first publication of the poem by Bates was published on July 4, 1895 in "The Congregationalist".
  
trick
By SPIRITED DONA Jul 5th 2008 at 5:58 pm EDT
trick to singing it-- hold your breath. i used to sing. thank you very, very much, mel!
  
Fascinating post Mel
By Jacob Clark Jul 5th 2008 at 7:09 pm EDT
I had no idea there was anything to it but the first stanza.
I like "America the Beautiful"