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yep. seen it & it sure gave me the warm & fuzzies ... not to mention a lot of patriotism. but lest ye may not know - our national anthem was taken from an old english drinking song.
The Star-Spangled Banner
- HISTORY.COM EDITORS
- UPDATED: APR 27, 2021
ORIGINAL: SEP 28, 2017
From Drinking Song to American Anthem
Ironically, the melody Key assigned to accompany the lyrics of “The Star-Spangled Banner” was a popular English drinking song called “To Anacreon in Heaven.”
Written around 1775 by John Stafford Smith, the song honored the ancient Greek poet Anacreon, a lover of wine. It was originally performed at a London gentleman’s music club called the Anacreontic Society.
The Anacreontic Song, as it was known, had a track record of popularity in the United States by 1814. In one famous case, defenders of the embattled second president, John Adams, used the tune for a song called “Adams and Liberty.”
Key himself had even used the tune before, as accompaniment for verses he wrote in 1805 commemorating American naval victories in the Barbary War.
Sources
The Star-Spangled Banner, Smithsonian.
“Star-Spangled Banner” writer had complex history on race, The Baltimore Sun.
“How the national anthem—and subverting it—became a national tradition,” The Washington Post.
“How the National Anthem Has Unfurled,” The New York Times.
“The Song Remains the Same,” ESPN the Magazine.
Citation Information
Article Title
The Star-Spangled Banner
Author
History.com Editors
Website Name
HISTORY
URL
The Star-Spangled Banner
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Thank you for the very interesting history of this song and the people involved.
When I first watched the video I posted I got tears and chill bumps.
These last couple songs are a little much for this old woman. But I do like classic rock along with many other song types and eras.
I was lost when the green haired one came up,lol. I could handle some of the hippies, they were funny at times, but the far left is too " far Out"man,lol.
I was lost when the green haired one came up,lol. I could handle some of the hippies, they were funny at times, but the far left is too " far Out"man,lol.