National Anthem Lyrics

The Star-Spangled Banner is the National Anthem of the United States of America. It became the national anthem on March 3, 1931 when PresidentHerbert Hoover signed a congressional resolution that made it that. However, before it became the national anthem, it had a rich history of being an important patriotic song. Before the Star-Spangled Banner was chosen as the song of choice, there were others that acted as hymns of American officialdom. “Hail, Columbia” for example, served this purpose for most of the 19th century.

History of National Anthem

The national anthem is a mixture of words written by Francis Scott Key and the music written by John Stafford Smith in a drinking song named The Anacreontic Song.” The song quickly became a popular one for Americans because they had already been singing the drinking song. However, the Star-Spangled Banner quickly did become an American patriotic song that wasreceived greatly by people.

In 1989, the Navy recognized it for official use. For the next approximately twenty five years, it stayed that way. However, in 1916, it became the Presidential song. Because of its use in so many different outlets, it continued to evolve and soon became the national anthem as described previously.

The Song

An interesting fact about the song is that we only sing the first verse of the poem that Key wrote. However, there are a couple others. They all have the same tune as the first verse, but they are significantly different because the words are. For choruses that sing this song, it is not unlikely to hear them sing all of the verses to give complete credit to Key’s poem.

For most amateur singers, though, singing the Star-Spangled Banner is actually quite difficult. Because it goes over the range of an octave and a half, someone who isn’t aprofessional will have a difficult time making the song sound good. However, it is important to sing along because it is the national anthem.

There is some etiquette to the national anthem. First and foremost, one must stand and remove their hat. This is out of respect. Place one’s hand over their heart and face the flag or, if there is no flag, face the individual that is singing. Finally, when the song is over, do not clap. Because it is not a performance, there is no reason to clap.

The Lyrics

Here are the lyrics. The final paragraph is one that was added after the Civil War.

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! 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!

When our land is illumined with liberty’s smile,

If a foe from within strikes a blow at her glory,

Down, down with the traitor that tries to defile

The flag of the stars, and the page of her story!

By the millions unchained,

Who their birthright have gained

We will keep her bright blazon forever unstained;

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave,

While the land of the free is the home of the brave.