# God Bless America is not the fucking national anthem! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 7, 2011, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856 "2011-10-07T02:40:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/201 "2011-10-11T14:09:46Z")
Uh, yeah. :slowly backs away from Canada: ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/202 "2011-10-11T17:22:40Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Spain’s belongs to a third category, “just improvise”, which is very much in keeping with out nathional mithos of “we suck at organizing, why do we always do things in the twelfth hour, oh mommy, I can’t believe we did it, we really need to stop improvising so much.” > [spoile > No official lyrics, people either sing some joke lyrics or just go “lalalala”. > > [/spoiler] Spain’s is actually more “Oh shit, politics”, because the Spanish national anthem used to have lyrics. Lyrics were written during Alfonso XIII’s time, but then when the Republic was declared, they decided they didn’t want a national anthem called the “Royal March”, so they replaced it with a liberal song called the “Himno de Riego”. After the Nationalists won the Civil War, they restored the original anthem, but with new lyrics taking out references to the Crown and replacing it with lyrics like: > [@](#): > > Viva España, alzad los brazos, hijos > del pueblo español, > que vuelve a resurgir. and also changing the name of the song back to its original name, the “Marcha Granadera” Then, after Franco’s death, the new government just decided the song would be an instrumental, because they didn’t want to keep the fascist lyrics, which they considered to be overly millitaristic. They also changed the name of the song from the “Marcha Real/Marcha Granadera” to just the “Himno Nacional Español”. This actually in some circles is still a political question. Earlier this year, after Alberto Contador won the Giro d’Italia, the organizers accidentally played Franco’s anthem instead of the current one, which led to the Spanish government filing an official complaint. And some Spanish fascists still sing the Franco lyrics. In 2008, the Spanish government considered new lyrics, as part of their Olympic bid, but the lyrics they proposed pissed off Basque and Catalan politicians, and it got dropped. And **Muffin** , as to your question, while the French national anthem is certainly militaristic, my winner for scariest anthem would be the Vietnamese anthem. There’s something about “The path to glory is built by the bodies of our foes.” and “For too long have we swallowed our hatred.” that makes me not want to mess with Vietnam. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/203 "2011-10-11T19:32:18Z")
> [@C3](#): > > Uh, yeah. > > :slowly backs away from Canada: Oh, come on, that was _hockey_ - we’re perfectly reasonable outside of rinks. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/204 "2011-10-11T20:05:49Z")
If it were not for the Habs and the Richard brothers, I would not even exist – my parents courted while watching the Canadiens practice (they worked in an office in the Forum). ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/205 "2011-10-11T20:23:54Z")
“courted”, eh? You guys are adorable! ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/206 "2011-10-11T21:21:04Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Oh, come on, that was _hockey_ - we’re perfectly reasonable outside of rinks. 🙂 Tell that to Canucks fans. 😉 You’re not supposed to boo unless Bettman’s there. Then it’s manditory. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/207 "2011-10-11T22:44:35Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Tell that to Canucks fans. 😉 > You’re not supposed to boo unless Bettman’s there. Then it’s manditory. Okay, we’re perfectly reasonable outside of hockey season. How’s that? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/208 "2011-10-11T23:03:17Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Okay, we’re perfectly reasonable outside of hockey season. How’s that? 🙂 Well, you need to learn to be like Pittsburgh. We only riot when we _win_. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/209 "2011-10-12T23:09:34Z")
Verna Mae Bentley-Krause’s [“Ich Liebe Deutsche Land”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wxmia7CA3lA) is not the German anthem either, but it damn well \*should \*be. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/210 "2011-10-12T23:25:48Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > And Ireland - Amhrán na bhFiann means “The Soldier’s Song”. Translated lyrics [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amhr%C3%A1n_na_bhFiann#Lyrics). > > And the UK’s, verse 2: > … > > By comparison the Star Spangled Banner is positively amicable. 🙂 The third verse: > [@](#): > > 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 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! ---
**Author:** ![Docta\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Docta\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Docta_G)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/211 "2011-10-12T23:35:43Z")
> [@colonial](#): > > I think I’m doing pretty well in the coherence department, actually. The ironic thing is that you’re a complete fucking idiot. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2011, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/212 "2011-10-13T01:21:12Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > Um - this isn’t exactly a new thing. The Philadelphia Flyers have been playing “God Bless America” in their arena since before I was born. Yeah, I’ve always been amused at the thought of [the starting line of the 1976 Philadelphia Flyers](http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l37mzhBILG1qzo79oo1_500.png) getting a little wistful listening to Kate Smith sing that song. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2011, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/213 "2011-10-13T03:55:04Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > The third verse: Cool. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2011, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/214 "2011-10-13T06:54:59Z")
That third verse? F. Scott Key was the Antichrist of scansion. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2011, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/215 "2011-10-13T16:59:40Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > That third verse? F. Scott Key was the Antichrist of scansion. I remember a short story (Clarke? Asimov? one of those two) where knowledge of the third verse was enough to prove someone was a Soviet spy, since no \*normal \*American citizen would bother to memorize the third verse of the anthem. Only an (over-) prepared spy would know that … ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2011, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/216 "2011-10-13T20:07:56Z")
Anyone know the lyrics to the SDMB’s anthem? ---
**Author:** ![Fish\_Cheer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fish_cheer/32/17179_2.png) [@Fish\_Cheer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish_Cheer)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2011, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/217 "2011-10-13T20:18:35Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Anyone know the lyrics to the SDMB’s anthem? I’m sure you can work them out for yourself. [Listen closely.](http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/badgers) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2011, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/218 "2011-10-13T20:23:13Z")
Don’t forget the Ankh-Morpork national anthem: \*"When dragons belch and hippos flee My thoughts, Ankh-Morpork, are of thee Let others boast of martial dash For we have boldly fought with cash We own all your helmets, we own all your shoes We own all your generals - touch us and you’ll lose. Morporkia! Morporkia! Morporkia owns the day! We can rule you wholesale Touch us and you’ll pay. We bankrupt all invaders, we sell them souvenirs We ner ner ner ner ner, hner ner hner by the ears Er hner we ner ner ner ner ner Ner ner her ner ner ner hner the ner Er ner ner hner ner, nher hner ner ner (etc.) Ner hner ner, your gleaming swords We mortgaged to the hilt Morporkia! Morporkia! Hner ner ner ner ner ner We can rule you wholesale Credit where it’s due."\* They figure that nobody ever memorizes any verse other than the first, so why not make it official? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/219 "2011-10-26T12:59:18Z")
The second verse of the Star spangled banner is: Thus be it ever, that free men shall stand, between their loved homes and the war’s desolation, Conquer we must, if our cause it is just, And thus be our motto ;“In God is our trust”. Then shall that Star Spangled banner yet wave, ore the land of the free, and the home of the brave. Not sure if my punctuations are correct, but I sang it often when I was a young girl! Now, the way some people sing it it sounds like some kind of comedy version to me! We can’t use America The beautiful because the music is the same as England’s NA.At least that is what I was told. ---
**Author:** ![vd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b19c9b/32.png) [@vd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vd)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/220 "2011-10-26T13:40:03Z")
> [@monavis](#): > > We can’t use America The beautiful because the music is the same as England’s NA.At least that is what I was told. That’s “My Country, 'Tis of Thee”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856.md?page=12)