The+National+Anthem+(Literature)

Chapter 10, Lesson 3- __**The National Anthem**__

**National Anthem:** The national anthem was actually a poem before it became a song. Francis Scott Key made the poem when he was watching a battle at Fort McHenry on a boat far away for the war. He could see bombs bursting from the boat. In the morning it was smoky but as it cleared up he saw that our flag was still up, the british had not defeated us. When he saw the flag, he wrote down his feelings of pride. He read aloud his poem that described what had just happened that night. When it was a poem it took a while for it to become the national anthem. The Amercian soldiers were singing it as they brought their flag down. During World War 1 the song began earning popularity. Congress finally agreed to make it the National Anthem. They printed the poem in 1814. Finally on March 3, 1981 (which was 116 years after it was writen) it became a song. The National Anthem has been ours for 75 years. There are 311 words in the song.


 * Francis Scott Key:**

**The Star Spangled Banner** **Lyrics:** Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, Whatso 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: '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 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 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!

[] [] the music click [|here]