The Star Spangled Banner (the national anthem of the United States)
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
Star Spangled Banner – Whitney Houston
Star Spangled Banner – The Cactus Cuties
Star Spangled Banner – Marvin Gaye
library.thinkquest.org/TQ0311280/StarSpangledBanner.htm
The “Star-Spangled Banner” is one of the most popular famous patriotic songs. In fact, it is the national anthem of the USA. It was written during the British bombardment of Fort McHenry in 1814, but it became the national anthem in 1931 when it was designated by an Act of Congress. The inspiration for this song was the sight of the original American Flag during this time of battle. The anthem was written by Francis Scott Key and is sung to the tune of “To Anacreon in Heaven” by John Stafford Smith. Key was a poet, which explains these beautiful lyrics:
“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, 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?”