#Origin of the star spangled banner song free

His message to the blacks fighting for freedom was unmistakable-we will hunt you down and the search will leave you in terror because, when we find you, your next stop is the gloom of the grave.

O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

No refuge could save the hireling and slaveįrom the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave.Īnd the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave In the third verse, Key had a special message for the enslaved people who had dared to fight for freedom-we will pursue you to get revenge: After seeing the White House burn and the fort survive, Key became so moved that he wrote a poem that became the national anthem. If you are feeling inspired, make your own American flag with this fun and easy “hands-on' craft idea.In September, Key also witnessed 25 hours of continuous British bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore. O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? O! say does that star-spangled banner yet wave,

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?Īnd the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming, O! say can you see by the dawn's early light, Here are the lyrics of the first stanza of 'The Star-Spangled Banner': What did they mean to him in the context of witnessing the British attack on Baltimore during the War of 1812? What do they mean to you today? Take some time today to discuss why Francis Scott Key wrote these words. But have you ever really thought about what the words mean? Whether at a sporting event or a Fourth of July celebration, you have probably heard the national anthem many times. It has become a longstanding tradition to play “The Star- Spangled Banner' at the beginning of public sports events and other public gatherings in the United States. Singers have also been known to forget the words occasionally, which has led some to choose to prerecord and lip-sync the song rather than perform it live. The song is known for being difficult to sing because of its wide range - an octave and a half. Some people celebrate March 3 each year as unofficial National Anthem Day. On March 3, 1931, President Herbert Hoover signed a law that made “The Star- Spangled Banner' the official national anthem of the United States. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson ordered that it be played at all military functions. Soon afterward, Thomas Carr, the owner of a music store in Baltimore, published the words and music together with the name 'The Star- Spangled Banner.'Īlthough “The Star- Spangled Banner' quickly became popular with Americans, it did not receive official recognition as the national anthem until many years later. On September 20, 1814, the Baltimore Patriot and The American printed the song. Nicholson recommended putting the words to the tune of “The Anacreontic Song,' also called “To Anacreon in Heaven,' a popular British song composed by John Stafford Smith. He then showed his poem to his brother-in-law, Judge Joseph H. After returning to Baltimore, he finished the poem in his room at the Indian Queen Hotel on September 16. He scribbled the first verses on the back of an envelope. Surprised and inspired by the sight of the American flag still flying above the fort, Key began writing a poem called “Defence of Fort McHenry' on the morning of September 14. He was overjoyed to see that the smaller storm flag had been replaced with a larger American flag, which was still triumphantly waving.

When the smoke cleared in the morning, Key looked toward Fort McHenry to see if the flag was still there. Although the British bombed the fort for 25 hours, they weren't able to destroy it. Throughout the night, he saw that the fort's small storm flag continued to fly. The British decided to hold him captive until after the battle.Īs a temporary prisoner, Key could do nothing but watch the American forces at Fort McHenry be bombarded by the British on the night of September 13, 1814. Unfortunately, Key overheard certain details of the British plans for an impending attack on Baltimore.

During the War of 1812, 35-year-old Francis Scott Key, a lawyer and amateur poet, met with British military leaders aboard the British ship HMS Tonnant to plead for the release of a close friend who had been taken prisoner.

#Origin of the star spangled banner song free