# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198/81 "2018-01-10T17:16:44Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > 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.) In Good Citizenship Indoctrination Class, aka elementary school music, we sang _America The Beautiful_, _My Country Tis of Thee_, _This Land is Your Land_, _You’re a Grand Old Flag_ and an odd selection of Civil War evoking ditties for a Chicago suburban school such as _Dixie_, _Glory, Glory Hallelujah_, and _As The Caissons Go Rolling Along_. [Edit: That last one evidently comes well after the Civil War but the term ‘caissons’ always struck my young mind as antiquated so I connected the two] I agree that _America the Beautiful_ would make for a more fitting anthem and musically dislike _The Star-Spangled Banner_ which is nearly impossible to sing well. ---
**Author:** ![jkirkman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ac8455/32.png) [@jkirkman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jkirkman)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198/82 "2018-01-10T17:20:34Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > For the record, this was the salute of the Roman Republic centuries before it came to be associated with modern Fascism or Nazism. (Also for the record, fasces are themselves symbols of republican rule, which is why they’re featured so prominently in the US Congress.) I will respectfully ask for an authoritative cite on the bit about a Roman salute. Wiki disagrees with your statement. > **[Roman salute](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_salute)** > > The Roman salute, also known as the Fascist salute, is a gesture in which the right arm is fully extended, facing forward, with palm down and fingers touching. In some versions, the arm is raised upward at an angle; in others, it is held out parallel to the ground. In contemporary times, the former is commonly considered a symbol of fascism that had been based on a custom popularly attributed to ancient Rome. However, no Roman text gives this description, and the Roman works of art that displa On a more cheerful note, I feel like Diogenes–I will gladly buy you a beer if we ever meet, because you are the only other person I have ever “met” that probably knows what the mace of the US House of Representatives is, and what it, erm, represents. Something will be happening, and there will be a short scene on TV of an elected person speaking in Congress, and I will be looking to see if the Mace is there, and if this officially a meeting of the committee of the whole, or Congress is actually in session. The entire thing is delightfully archaic. ---
**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, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198/83 "2018-01-10T17:26:44Z")
You’re probably thinking of the pre-war [Bellamy Salute](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bellamy_salute), which was changed to hand-over-heart because of its resemblance to the Nazi salute. ---
**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, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198/84 "2018-01-10T17:32:52Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > In Good Citizenship Indoctrination Class, aka elementary school music, we sang _America The Beautiful_, _My Country Tis of Thee_, _This Land is Your Land_, _You’re a Grand Old Flag_ and an odd selection of Civil War… such as _Dixie_, _Glory, Glory Hallelujah_… This matches my experience. ---
**Author:** ![jkirkman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ac8455/32.png) [@jkirkman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jkirkman)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198/85 "2018-01-10T17:59:12Z")
On a slightly tangential note, and if you have never seen it in person, the flag referenced in the poem/song is HUGE. I have seen it at National Museum of American History. It is 42 x 30 feet, and just huge. It is absurdly large. Also, it looks wrong. Back in the day, they added stripes and stars for each state, and it has 15 stripes. > **[7 things you didn't know about the Star-Spangled Banner](https://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/2014/06/7-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-star-spangled-banner.html)** > > The Star-Spangled Banner is one of the most recognizable icons of the United States. Huge, vibrant, and rich in history, most Americans are familiar with the story of this particular flag: It's the one that flew over Fort McHenry the morning after... ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198/86 "2018-01-10T18:05:43Z")
Still remember the first verse from grade school music class. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198/87 "2018-01-10T20:06:11Z")
I go to a lot of MLB games and the words always appear on the screen during the performance, one would be hard pressed not to learn the words if you go to enough games. The unofficial last line of the anthem is “Play Ball!” ---
**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, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198/88 "2018-01-10T20:36:57Z")
I’d like to buy my own private islane. I’d name it Donserleigh Island. It would have a lighthouse or other beacon. Mariners will know it as the Donserleigh Light. ---
**Author:** ![jkirkman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ac8455/32.png) [@jkirkman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jkirkman)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198/89 "2018-01-10T20:50:16Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > I go to a lot of MLB games and the words always appear on the screen during the performance, one would be hard pressed not to learn the words if you go to enough games. The unofficial last line of the anthem is “Play Ball!” I grew up in Atlanta. The last line of the national anthem in Atlanta ends with “…and the home, of the…Braves!” ---
**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, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198/90 "2018-01-10T20:51:26Z")
There’s a guy named José Cañusí by it. ---
**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, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198/91 "2018-01-10T20:55:56Z")
> [@Bayaker](#): > > And I really wish I knew the Russian anthem, 'cuz that’s one nice tune! The one they use now is a reboot of the Soviet anthem. It was written during WWII by a fellow named Aleksandrov and became official in 1947. It was also revised with every change in leadership. (It originally praised Stalin.) Putin, being an unrepentant Communist, reinstated it after he came to power: I don't know the words right offhand, but it praises Russia's natural beauty more than it does any individual. Through most of the 1990s, \*\*this \*\*was the anthem they played at state ceremonies and when TV signed off for the night: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COJI-okkkhs) The melody is by the 19th century composer Mikhail Glinka. They held a contest to see who could come up with the best lyrics, but I don’t think it was ever decided. I much prefer Glinka’s work to Aleksandrov’s. Before the October Revolution, of course, the anthem was “God Save the Tsar.” After the Bolsheviks came to power, it was the Communist “Internationale.” There’s a funny bit about this in the movie _The Demi-Paradise_: During the war, the British are about to present an award to Laurence Olivier (who was playing a visiting Russian engineer) and get upset when they learn the Soviet anthem is the “Internationale”: “Ooooh, the Bishop isn’t going to like that!” As Olivier mounts the stage, the orchestra plays (IIRC) the old “Song of the Volga Boatmen” instead, much to his bewilderment. ---
**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, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198/92 "2018-01-10T21:00:04Z")
> [@jkirkman](#): > > On a slightly tangential note, and if you have never seen it in person, the flag referenced in the poem/song is HUGE. > > I have seen it at National Museum of American History. > > It is 42 x 30 feet, and just huge. It is absurdly large. > > Also, it looks wrong. > > Back in the day, they added stripes and stars for each state, and it has 15 stripes. > > [7 things you didn't know about the Star-Spangled Banner | National Museum of American History](http://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/2014/06/7-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-star-spangled-banner.html) It’s called a garrison flag, which were (still are?) flown over forts. The one we had when I worked for the Minnesota Historical Society was huge too, but not as big as the one from Ft McHenry. ---
**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, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198/93 "2018-01-10T21:05:15Z")
IIRC, the number of stripes on the flag ultimately reached 18, at which point it was decided to revert to 13, in honor of the 13 original colonies. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198/94 "2018-01-10T21:19:43Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > The one they use now is a reboot of the Soviet anthem. It was written during WWII by a fellow named Aleksandrov and became official in 1947. It was also revised with every change in leadership. (It originally praised Stalin.) Putin, being an unrepentant Communist, reinstated it after he came to power: > > .... I adore this melody. Heard it a lot during the Soviet era when their athletes would win gold medals at the Olympics. This tune has everything-- majesty, solemnity, grandeur, poignancy, yearning, pride. I’ve never heard the words (and may not want to…). ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198/95 "2018-01-10T21:22:27Z")
One of Beverly Clearly’s _Ramona_ books depicts the title character in kindergarten or first grade, being introduced to a song she doesn’t understand but seems to be about a “dawnser lee light.” Ramona privately speculates that a _dawnser_ might be a lamp of some kind. ---
**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, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198/96 "2018-01-10T21:25:19Z")
> [@jkirkman](#): > > I will respectfully ask for an authoritative cite on the bit about a Roman salute. > > Wiki disagrees with your statement. > > [Roman salute - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_salute) However it’s depicted (or not) in Roman art, it’s commonly believed it originated with them, which is why Mussolini adopted it as a sign of power. I would assume Hitler in turn adopted it as an _homage_ to Mussolini, with whom he was quite infatuated in the 1920s. My point was, 19th century Americans would not have made any sinister connections with it, unless they were predisposed to dislike the Romans. ---
**Author:** ![jkirkman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ac8455/32.png) [@jkirkman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jkirkman)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198/97 "2018-01-10T21:29:28Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > However it’s depicted (or not) in Roman art, it’s commonly believed it originated with them, which is why Mussolini adopted it as a sign of power. I would assume Hitler in turn adopted it as an _homage_ to Mussolini, with whom he was quite infatuated in the 1920s. > > My point was, 19th century Americans would not have made any sinister connections with it, unless they were predisposed to dislike the Romans. Agree. ---
**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, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198/98 "2018-01-10T21:31:47Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I adore this melody. Heard it a lot during the Soviet era when their athletes would win gold medals at the Olympics. This tune has everything-- majesty, solemnity, grandeur, poignancy, yearning, pride. I’ve never heard the words (and may not want to…). The Brezhnev-era version goes _Unbreakable union of freeborn republics great Russia has welded forever to stand! Created in struggle by will of the peoples, united and mighty, our Soviet land! Sing to our motherland glory undying, bulwark of peoples in brotherhood strong! Flag of the Soviets, peoples’ flag flying, lead us from victory to victory on!_ The English lyrics are actually a good translation from the Russian. The other two (I’m pretty sure) verses go on to praise Stalin, Lenin, and the Soviet victories in WWII. ---
**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, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198/99 "2018-01-10T21:38:43Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Beautiful song! 🙂 I assume there are English lyrics? You assume wrongly, at least as far as most people know. There’s [a translation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pokarekare_Ana) into something that would fit the melody, but it’s never really sung that way. There is the bastardised version sung by little kids, though. > [@](#): > > \*Pokarekare Ana > I had a squashed banana > I threw it at the teacher > She said come here > > I said no fear > I’ll be back next year > With a bottle of beer > In my underwear.\* ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-all-the-words-to-the-star-spangled-banner-the-usa-national-anthem/806198/100 "2018-01-10T21:49:55Z")
I picked the “all of the first and second verses” option, and actually know the fourth as well. I’ve seen printed lyrics in which “then conquer we must” has been variously followed by “for our cause it is just”, “when our cause…”, and “if our cause…”. Interesting how changing one little word can invoke such different intensities of patriotism! [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=4) [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=6)