# Do you know all the words to the "Star-Spangled Banner"? (The USA national anthem) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 9, 2018, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198 "2018-01-09T03:15:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![AppallingGael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9bd4f/32.png) [@AppallingGael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AppallingGael)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198/61 "2018-01-10T08:26:14Z")
First and fourth. Also, “By the shore dimly seen”. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198/62 "2018-01-10T08:48:54Z")
My bio father taught me the first verse when I was very young. I think it would be hard to forget. I don’t know the other verses. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198/63 "2018-01-10T09:28:36Z")
NM. Sorry for interrupting the discussion. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198/64 "2018-01-10T09:32:23Z")
I’ve never memorized the Anthem. I know a few of the phrases in the lyrics. By the Dawns Early Light, The Flag is still there, etc. I never sing along with the crowd. I stand while the professional sings it. I do know the Anthem is based on a poem written about the British shelling of Fort McHenry, Baltimore. I do know the Pledge of Allegiance. We recited it every school morning in grade school. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198/65 "2018-01-10T09:43:38Z")
I can sing the National Anthem. It’s not easy to sing — it has a broad range of notes. The other stanzas? There are other stanzas? Kudos to **ThelmaLou** — there is a hyphen in the Star-Spangled Banner. I never realized that before. > [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Thanks to Schoolhouse Rock, I can sing the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution, but I’m not sure I could say it. Same here, and I’m glad it has a catchy tune. As a kid I also learned Fifty Nifty United States, and because of that song I can recite the 50 states alphabetically from memory. This song is a major reason why, to me, Puerto Rico should never become a state and California should not split into two. Nor should any state secede — the song would then be worthless. > [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Isaac Asimov devoted one of his monthly columns for _The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction_ to an appreciation of the four verses of the anthem, called “All Four Stanzas.” > > You can read an abridged version (which includes the text of the four verses) [here](http://www.purewatergazette.net/asimov.htm). And you can find the original, unabridged article, along with a discussion of the fact of its abridgment, [here](http://www.classicalvalues.com/archives/2010/09/dowdifying_asim.html). Thanks for this! Okay, so I had to look up the four verses. Here they are, from **Thudlow Boink** ’s link. \*Oh! say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light, W hat 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 rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof thro’ 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 thro’ the mist 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. 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 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. . Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand Between their loved 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 preserved us a nation. Then conquer we must, for our cause is just, And this be our motto–“In God is our trust.” And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.\* ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198/66 "2018-01-10T09:46:46Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Who remembers when TV channels did NOT run all night, and there was a signoff, usually at midnight, with the national anthem? For a while, we lived in Niagara Falls, NY, and I loved the CBC signoff with “O Canada!” Beautiful anthem. I occasionally left the tv on to hear the Anthem and the station announcement they were switching off for the night. That was a very good recording of the anthem. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198/67 "2018-01-10T09:48:31Z")
I am not American so I won’t answer the poll, but I have lived in Australia for nearly 20 years, over a third of my life, and do not know the lyrics to the Oz National Anthem, _Advance Australia Fair_. I sort of know the melody and a few of the key words like the famous “girt by sea” but otherwise never felt it necessary to learn it. But I am a New Zealander. I do know the lyrics to the Kiwi National Anthem, _God Defend New Zealand_, miserable dirge though it may be. We had to sing it at school a lot, I can even remember, with effort, the second and third verses, which are rarely sung. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198/68 "2018-01-10T11:13:43Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > My bio father taught me the first verse when I was very young. I think it would be hard to forget. Same here. I will always remember that night. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198/69 "2018-01-10T11:15:46Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > I am not American so I won’t answer the poll, but I have lived in Australia for nearly 20 years, over a third of my life, and do not know the lyrics to the Oz National Anthem, _Advance Australia Fair_. I sort of know the melody and a few of the key words like the famous “girt by sea” but otherwise never felt it necessary to learn it. > > But I am a New Zealander. I do know the lyrics to the Kiwi National Anthem, _God Defend New Zealand_, miserable dirge though it may be. We had to sing it at school a lot, I can even remember, with effort, the second and third verses, which are rarely sung. I don’t understand why “Waltzing Matilda” is still not Australia’s anthem. It should be. Does New Zealand have any song comparable to it that might become its anthem some day? ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198/70 "2018-01-10T11:41:14Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Does New Zealand have any song comparable to it that might become its anthem some day? It does indeed. [Pokarekare Ana](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgRVK2ge1ys). ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198/71 "2018-01-10T11:57:37Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > It does indeed. [Pokarekare Ana](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgRVK2ge1ys). Beautiful song! 🙂 I assume there are English lyrics? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198/72 "2018-01-10T13:59:33Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > I am not American so I won’t answer the poll, but I have lived in Australia for nearly 20 years, over a third of my life, and do not know the lyrics to the Oz National Anthem, _Advance Australia Fair_. I’m a (nerdy) \*Yank \*and I know the song. Also, just taking a mental inventory: “O Canada”, “God Save the Queen”, “La Marseillaise”, “Fratelli d’Italia”, and I can hum the Russian and German ones, whatever they call them now. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198/73 "2018-01-10T14:48:36Z")
This is how much I know of _The Star-Spangled Bnner_: ♬ _Oh_… ♬ That’s all I can remember right now. 😛 Just kidding. In actuality, this: > [@Jophiel](#): > > All of the first verse which is, realistically, the National Anthem version. I’m aware of the second verse and have sung it with lyrics in front of me but don’t know a single line from memory. Of course I know the first verse. The second… We sang it once in elementary school, but _America The Beautiful_ was the song we sang the second verse to more often. (And I can’t remember the second verse now. Something about pilgrims.) ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198/74 "2018-01-10T15:04:38Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Who remembers when TV channels did NOT run all night, and there was a signoff, usually at midnight, with the national anthem? For a while, we lived in Niagara Falls, NY, and I loved the CBC signoff with “O Canada!” Beautiful anthem. Oh yes, I do too. From Upstate New York, in a small town near Albany. I remember the National Anthem while showing the flag flying. We weren’t close enough to Canada to get O Canada! Yes, it is a beautiful anthem. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198/75 "2018-01-10T15:14:19Z")
Over 90 people voted they know the complete first verse. I think that’s very surprising. I thought most people mumbled along and got a few words right. 😉 I appreciate the heroism and courage that the song honors. The actual words are better suited to poetry. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198/76 "2018-01-10T15:16:18Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Over 90 people voted they know the complete first verse. > > I think that’s very surprising. I thought most people mumbled along and got a few words right. 😉 We probably would get almost all words right. We might misplace a word or two. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198/77 "2018-01-10T15:27:33Z")
It is much easier to sing in crowd. Everyone helps push the words along. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198/78 "2018-01-10T15:29:51Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Over 90 people voted they know the complete first verse. > > I think that’s very surprising. I thought most people mumbled along and got a few words right. 😉 I don’t know if most Americans know the first verse or not, but I don’t find it surprising that 90% of respondents here do. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that most Americans do. > [@aceplace57](#): > > I appreciate the heroism and courage that the song honors. The actual words are better suited to poetry. Personally, I think the song is too bombastic. I think _America The Beautiful_ would have been a better choice for the National Anthem. Looking up the verses I don’t remember, it praises the good things about the United States, promotes mercy, inclusiveness, self-sacrifice, and self control, and admits there are flaws to be mended. It’s a song about making a great nation better, rather than ‘Eff you, Britain! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!’ ---
**Author:** ![Bayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bayaker/32/3454_2.png) [@Bayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198/79 "2018-01-10T17:00:07Z")
I picked the second option in the poll for lack of a better one. I know the first and fourth verses completely, not the second. Also the first and fourth verses of _My Country 'Tis of Thee_, and all four verses of _America the Beautiful_. Lordy, am I a nerd - I also know at least one verse each of _God Save The King/Queen_, _God Save The Tsar,_\* Der Kaiserhymne\* (post Franz), _Das Lied Der Deutschen_(not the verse they use now, just the more familiar “uber alles” one), _La Marseillaise_(which is a lot more bloody than the US anthem), and _Oh Canada_. And I really wish I knew the Russian anthem, 'cuz that’s one nice tune! ---
**Author:** ![UncaStuart](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uncastuart/32/404_2.png) [@UncaStuart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncaStuart)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198/80 "2018-01-10T17:13:25Z")
> [@Bayaker](#): > > I picked the second option in the poll for lack of a better one. I know the first and fourth verses completely, not the second. Me too. In my case, our band teacher in the early 60s had us memorize the fourth. Too many brain cells have died in the interim to remember why he skipped the second and third. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198.md?page=5)