Sunday, July 04, 2004
Happy Independence Day! In honor of the day on which Americans celebrate our nationhood, I am including on this blog the rest of our national anthem, including the three verses we do not sing at ball games. As you read, I am sure you will see why. Verses 2 and 3 are about fighting and verse 4 is about God. Not very politically correct. Enjoy the day!
Oh, 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!
Oh, 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 foes' 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
And in full glory reflected now shines on 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 footstep's pollution.
No refuge can save the hireling and slave
From the terror of the flight and the gloom of the grave!
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
And thus be it ever when freed men shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation,Blessed 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!
Oh, 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!
Oh, 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 foes' 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
And in full glory reflected now shines on 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 footstep's pollution.
No refuge can save the hireling and slave
From the terror of the flight and the gloom of the grave!
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
And thus be it ever when freed men shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation,Blessed 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!
// posted by The Pendragon @ 6:50 PM 
