I had a dream last night that I was asked to sing the U.S. National Anthem, and while singing I forgot all of the words after, “Oh say can you see.” The stress, even in a dream state made me feel like less of an American — how could I possibly forget? I’ve joined the Christina Aguilera club. I wonder if it’s all me, the words do seem harsh and have little relevance now.
On the surface all the bombs and kabooms are kind of a war-affirming buzz kill, and what are gallantly streaming ramparts, anyway? It seems that the old Banner could use a little polish and updating. Perhaps America the Beautiful is more along the lines of what we want to portray as a vision of the country as spacious skies and mountain’s majesty. It doesn’t contain anything bursting in air. And it gets my vote.
Did you know there are additional verses to the Star Spangled Banner? I didn’t know until today.
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! Oh 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!
Oh! 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!
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Tags: dread silence reposes, star spangled banner