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Complete Lyrics to the Star-Spangled Banner
Originally a poem entitled "The Defense of Fort McHenry" by Francis Scott Key, these lyrics were later put to the tune of "Anacreon in Heaven" and adopted as the U.S. National Anthem.
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, O! 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!
Let's take a few moments to consider all four stanzas and to consider the setting in which they were written. Francis Scott key was temporarily a prisoner of the British, and witnessed the battle between the British fleet and Ft. McHenry from the deck of the HMS Surprise. After an all-night bombardment, you can imagine his joy in discovering, "by the dawn's early light" that "our flag was still there"!
(With thanks to my friend Jamie Barron, who sent these lyrics to me earlier today.)
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Doug on
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Well done, Sir, well done.
And, let us not forget, the American Fire Service plays a vital role in the American Dream; Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
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Permalink Reply by Brian Mackie on
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Cool! to all my American buds and budettes, and brothers and sisters, HAPPY BIRTHDAY ( it kinda is right?) or as "y'all" call it, HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!
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Permalink Reply by Anita King on
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Awesome. Thanks!
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Permalink Reply by Todd Seaney on
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Nice to see a post of the entire song. People sometimes forget the last two stanzas. Stay safe and be proud.
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Permalink Reply by Drew Tenhundfeld on
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I found a video of a fellow singing the last part of the National Anthem. Enjoy may God ride with you on each and every call. Thanks for the post Ben.
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Permalink Reply by lutan1 on
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Great video Drew. If there's one thing I've said on a few threads here (FFN), we (Australia) really lack a lot of the passion for our heritage, flag, national anthem, etc. It's a shame. I reckon if this bloke was here singing our anthem, most people would just sit there and not even react.... :-(
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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on
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Permalink Reply by Norm Tindell on
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Thanks for the reminder, Ben. We're still celebrating today.
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Permalink Reply by Rusty Mancini on
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Nice job Ben.
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Permalink Reply by Paul Montpetit on
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Thanks Ben appropriate for this time of year...Be proud...many have died to protect this great nation...under the Red, White and Blue Banner that we call our flag........."These colors never run"
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