Wake Up or Die: Singing Songs; The Star-Spangled Banner

The Star-Spangled Banner

During the War of 1812, on the evening of September 13, 1814, Frances Scott Key was detained on a British ship by a British Admiral Cochrane while pleading for the release of a captured friend. The British were shelling Fort McHenry, and Key had to watch through the night as the Americans were attacked by the British. In the dawn of morning, the American flag still flew above the fort and Key was inspired to write the lyrics of this song. It was set to the music of "To Anacreon in Heaven", an English air attributed to John Stafford Smith. The Star-Spangled Banner was made our national anthem by an act of Congress on March 3, 1931.

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, thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro' 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 thro' the mists of the deep,
Where the foes 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 on 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!

Oh, thus be it ever when free men shall stand
Between their lov'd homes and the wars desolation!
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued-land
Praise the Pow'r 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!

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Graphics & Text Copyright 1997 Elena Haskins. All Rights Reserved.

	The Star-Spangled Banner

	During the War of 1812, on the evening of September 13, 1814, Frances Scott Key was detained on a British ship by a British Admiral Cochrane while pleading for the release of a captured friend. The British were shelling Fort McHenry, and Key had to watch through the night as the Americans were attacked by the British. In the dawn of morning, the American flag still flew above the fort and Key was inspired to write the lyrics of this song. It was set to the music of "To Anacreon in Heaven", an English air attributed to John Stafford Smith. The Star-Spangled Banner was made our national anthem by an act of Congress on March 3, 1931.

	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, thro' the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming? And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof thro' 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 thro' the mists of the deep, Where the foes 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 on 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!

	Oh, thus be it ever when free men shall stand Between their lov'd homes and the wars desolation! Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued-land Praise the Pow'r 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!



	Return to Singing Songs Contents

	Return to Site Table of Contents

	Graphics & Text Copyright 1997 Elena Haskins. All Rights Reserved.