# British National Anthem/Let Freedom Ring **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 11, 2000, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-national-anthem-let-freedom-ring/8469 "2000-03-11T21:44:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sealemon88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Sealemon88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sealemon88)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2000, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-national-anthem-let-freedom-ring/8469/1 "2000-03-11T21:44:00Z")
I’ve noticed that these two songs are the same basic tune. Does anyone know the historical reason why this is? * * * You say “cheesy” like that’s a **BAD** thing. ---
**Author:** ![MrKnowItAll](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrknowitall/32/87_2.png) [@MrKnowItAll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrKnowItAll)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2000, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-national-anthem-let-freedom-ring/8469/2 "2000-03-11T21:54:00Z")
Well, the actual titles are “God Save the Queen (King)” and “My Country 'tis of Thee” (or simply “America”). As for why, I would guess (“guess” being the operative word) that when the country was founded, someone thought it would be nice to have American words to the main song that does honor to the King of England. Maybe it was done as a form of protest, or to stir patiotic feelings. Or perhaps, “My Country” already existed as a poem and someone noticed that its meter fit “God Save”. Unfortunately, most of my music research books or more about “classical” music. Still, I’ll try to see what I can come up with. * * * _Now with 1000 posts of pure wisdom!_ (or something) ---
**Author:** ![MrKnowItAll](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrknowitall/32/87_2.png) [@MrKnowItAll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrKnowItAll)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2000, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-national-anthem-let-freedom-ring/8469/3 "2000-03-11T22:06:00Z")
Damn. I hate when my guesses are completely off the mark. According to this [site](http://www.cgmusic.com/cghymnal/others/m/mycountrytisofthee.htm), the tune is attributed to Henry Clay who wrote it in 1740. So far so good, but here’s where it falls apart. The words were written by American Baptist minister Samuel Francis Smith around 1832. So, I doubt there’s any real historical reason for it. I’d say Smith just liked the tune and decided to make a patriotic hymn out of it. ---
**Author:** ![aseymayo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e57/32.png) [@aseymayo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aseymayo)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2000, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-national-anthem-let-freedom-ring/8469/4 "2000-03-11T22:09:00Z")
The words to “My Country 'Tis of Thee” were written by Samuel Francis Smith, according to [this site](http://www.cgmusic.com/cghymnal/others/m/mycountrytisofthee.htm). ---
**Author:** ![aseymayo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e57/32.png) [@aseymayo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aseymayo)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2000, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-national-anthem-let-freedom-ring/8469/5 "2000-03-11T22:11:00Z")
Mr. KIA beat me to it - but we managed to link the same site! ---
**Author:** ![pluto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f08c70/32.png) [@pluto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pluto)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2000, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-national-anthem-let-freedom-ring/8469/6 "2000-03-12T01:50:00Z")
“America” is a protest, or at least a response, to “God Save the King” (or “Queen”, nowadays). The last line of the last verse of the American version pays homage to “great God our king” in direct contradiction to the British version. American version = hymn to the country. British = hymn to the king. IIRC, Americans aren’t too fond of kings. * * * “You have no choice but to be impressed.” Tony Rothman and George Sudarshan _Doubt and Certainty_ ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2000, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-national-anthem-let-freedom-ring/8469/7 "2000-03-12T02:31:00Z")
Now, “To Anachreon in Heaven”…THERE’S a drinking tune you go away whistling! ---
**Author:** ![Sealemon88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Sealemon88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sealemon88)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2000, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-national-anthem-let-freedom-ring/8469/8 "2000-03-13T02:04:00Z")
Wow. Thanks, guys for the quick response! And, err…sorry about getting BOTH song titles wrong. * * * You say “cheesy” like that’s a **BAD** thing.