Commentary on the
United States National Anthem

by Paul W. Moreland

Recently I found the full lyrics for the United States National Anthem on the internet. I was reminded of an old joke, supposedly dating back to World War II.

Two GI's were on sentry duty one night when they heard movement in the bushes near camp.

"Halt! Who goes there?" they challenged.

"An American GI" was the answer.

"If you are an American, sing the first verse of the National Anthem" challenged the corporal.

The voice in the dark belted out:

"Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd 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.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? "

"If you are an American, sing the second verse of the National Anthem" challenged the corporal.

The voice in the dark responded with:

"On the shore dimly seen thro' 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 on the stream:
'T is the star-spangled banner: O, long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave! "


"If you are REALLY an American, sing the THIRD verse of the National Anthem" challenged the corporal.

Again the voice in the dark responded:

"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 wash'd 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. "

As the voice in the dark concluded this rendition the corporal opened fire with his BAR followed by three grenades for good measure.

"Why'd you do THAT?" was the private's question when the noise died down.

"No REAL American knows all three verses to the Star Spangled Banner" was the Corporal's reply.

Now, to some, the story above may be amusing. But to tell the truth I'm appalled at the ignorance demonstrated by many concerning our nation's National Anthem. I've been able to locate FOUR verses to the National Anthem, not just the three quoted in the story above. In second place, a lot of people can't even name the National Anthem, let alone sing it or quote it. Try asking 10 random people on some random street in some random city in the United States if they can sing the whole National Anthem. You'll be fortunate to find 2 or 3 who can sing the first verse, much less know there are more.

So, for your information, here is some info on the National Anthem and all four verses too.

Lyrics by Francis Scott Key, Attorney and Poet
Written on Sept. 14, 1814

Set to the tune of "Anacreon in Heaven"
which was written by John Stafford Smith, a British Composer (b. 1750)


Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd 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.
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 thro' 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 on the stream:
'T is 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 wash'd 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 lov'd homes and the war's desolation;
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us as a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause 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!

I suspect that the reason for the general ignorance concerning the National Anthem stems from the systematic removal of all references to a Christian Deity in anything having to do with public life. Over the past several decades of our nation's history there has been a steady erosion of the basic values on which our nation was founded.

From the highlighted sections above it is obvious that early in the 19th century the American People knew toWhom they should attribute their freedom, this puts them lightyears ahead of our current crop of citizens.

Let us never forget the circumstances under which our Nation came into being, nor the ONE to Whom we owe our liberty. Let us indeed "Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us as a nation! "

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