Not all countries have national anthems. And then, some have them, but those anthems do not contain any words. But, here in the United States, our anthem is called The Star Spangled Banner. Both words and music. And I’ll tell you why in a little minute.
The lyrics come from the “Defence of Fort M’Henry.” It is a poem written by Francis Scot Key.
Francis, or Franky, penned this poem on September 14, 1814, after seeing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by British ships of the Royal Navy, all of this occurring in Outer Baltimore Harbor in the Patapsco River during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812.
Francis was a 35-year-old lawyer at the time and an amateur poet. It seems he got out his pen and paper because the battle inspired him, especially the part when he saw the large U.S. flag, with 15 stars and 15 stripes flying above the fort during the U.S. victory. The nickname for the flag back then was called The Star Spangled Banner.
Ever wonder what a spangle is? Well, I am here to tell you. It is a small thin piece of glittering material. Typically, a spangle is just one of many spangles, all sewn typically on clothing for decoration. Another word for a spangle is sequin. So, some kid in a beauty contest, tossing a baton in the air, is likely wearing a little bathing suit number covered in spangles, just so you know.
Yet, it can be a verb too. If we spangle something, we cover it with spangles or other small sparkling objects or lights.
So, as we can see, the stars spangled that banner. A star-covered flag.
But if you think about it. That flag, these days, is about 75% stripes, not stars. The stars are just smooshed up there in the corner. At the time Francis wrote the song, only fifteen were there. But an equal amount of stripes, too.
But, Francis couldn’t really title his poem, The Big Stripey Flag. I mean, can you hear it now, being announced before the football games or public gatherings?
“Will you all now please stand for “The Big Stripey Flag,” our national anthem? Doesn’t really have the same ring to it, now, does it?
So, instead, we stand for the Star Spangled Banner. Well, most people do. But I won’t get into that right now.
Ironically, the tune comes from a popular British song by John Stafford Smith. His song is called “To Anacreon in Heaven” (or “The Anacreontic Song”).
I’ll tell you from experience. The song is hard to sing, as it has a range of 19 semitones. I know.
“A congressional resolution made the Star-Spangled Banner” the national anthem on March 3, 1931, signed by President Herbert Hoover.
So there it is, for better or for worse.
We should count our blessings and be glad we are not from Greece. Their National Anthem has 158 verses. You’d have to get to the game three hours early just for the singing of the anthem.
I’m pretty sure I’d be spending all my hot dog money way before the first pitch.
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“Where liberty dwells, there is my country.”
— Benjamin Franklin
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“Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.”
— Adlai Stevenson
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“Freedom is nothing but a chance to be better.”
— Albert Camus
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The big stripey flapping flag thing.
