Everyone knows the first verse of the US national anthem. However, a great trivia question appears to be to sing the second, third, and fourth verses. For those who don't remember, here is a corrected copy of the lyrics of the four verses:
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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 clouds of the 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, now conceals, now 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 – O’ long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
And where is that band that 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 footstep's 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 homes and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven-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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My source is an original handwritten manuscript signed by Francis Scott Key. You may view it on
http://www.azstarnet.com/~rgrogan/flag3.htm .
The original verses have been bowlderized several times. In particular the line "WHEN our cause it is just" in the fourth verse was changed to "FOR our cause it is just" in the 1950's McCarthy era. Needless to say this is a major change in intent.
Leonard Slatkin conducts the Washington DC musical celebrations for the 4th of July, shown on PBS. He ignores the original 3rd and 4th verses, adding in new "Hollywood Politically Correct" verses written by who knows.
Knowing this, does anyone have any suggestions about a CD containing an original and complete version of The Star Spangled Banner? There are so many CD's available at a place like
www.amazon.com but they only state if the recording contains A copy of TSSB, not a complete and original version.
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Feline audience members Katie, Susie, Fluffy Pumpkin, and Naughty Tuxedo
