# 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:** 14
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2012, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/261 "2012-06-16T17:38:23Z")
> [@C3](#): > > What happened to “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”? That’s what they play around here. I’ll stand up for that. 9/11 happened. No, really, that’s when it got swapped out at Yankee Stadium. Then other places followed suit. Oh, Flyer? Jimi says ‘fuck you, I’m making art here.’ ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2012, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/262 "2012-06-16T17:54:24Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > 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 … > [@foolsguinea](#): > > Asimov knew all the verses in real life and would sing them at people. > > :we need a lightbulb smiley: > > So Clarke probably wrote the story to tweak him. > > Who was it linked to Nouvelle Vague upthread? I suggest that the nations of the world toss out their tired old “march to death” anthems and commission new ones a bit like, say, these: > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYH0zhll0H0&feature=related](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYH0zhll0H0&feature=related) > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=516ZUtOeWMg&feature=fvwrel](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=516ZUtOeWMg&feature=fvwrel) Actually, it was Asimov in one of his Union Club mysteries, in which Griswold, the former spy regales the reader with a self-congratulatory tale of how his sharp mind solved a pressing spy-related mystery and saved the Republic. The stories would usually be in two parts: the set-up and apprehension of the villain, with the obligatory _How did Griswold solve the problem?_ at the end; then (after the centerfold\*) the _dénouement_, where Griswold tells us. Perhaps in a hundred years, after Kate Smith’s belt-y voice has vanished from human memory, _God Bless America_ will one day be a listenable song; for now, I avoid it like the plague. ETA: [The story discussed here, in fact.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Refuge_Could_Save) \*The stories often appeared in _Oui_ Magazine. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2012, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/263 "2012-06-16T18:02:11Z")
> [@Flyer](#): > > …or you can use “Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean.”… Never even heard of this song, let alone have any idea how to sing it. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2012, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/264 "2012-06-16T18:04:55Z")
> [@Flyer](#): > > If you insist on using some song as the unofficial anthem, then you’ve got two–and **only** two–choices. And I want you to listen closely, because I’m going to say this only once. You can use “My Country 'Tis of Thee” or you can use “Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean.” Ahem. I was taught just one unofficial anthem in kindergarten (P.S. 41, Manhattan, 1980): “This Land is Your Land”. It’s simple, it’s inspirational, it can be sung by a 5-year-old, and it was written as a response to “God Bless America”. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2012, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/265 "2012-06-16T19:31:12Z")
I was taught “America” (“My Country 'Tis of Thee”) and “This Land is Your Land” in first grade. It wasn’t until much, much later I knew the political history behind “This Land is Your Land.” ---
**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:** [June 16, 2012, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/266 "2012-06-16T20:41:12Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Never even heard of this song, let alone have any idea how to sing it. Here’s the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing it. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/evYfXBoN9cU/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGH8gFygXMA8=&rs=AOn4CLBH2Il8vi2umwcVjmCADxfOGbEWoA "Columbia, The Gem of the Ocean (With lyric annotations)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evYfXBoN9cU) To be a completist, here’s Hail, Columbia, which was our unofficial anthem for a while, and is now the Vice President’s anthem. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/JPlQS1pzHdA/hqdefault.jpg "Hail Columbia! with Lyrics; First American National Anthem - United States of America") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPlQS1pzHdA) ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2012, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/267 "2012-06-16T22:12:16Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > I was taught “America” (“My Country 'Tis of Thee”) and “This Land is Your Land” in first grade. Not to be confused with “[This Town Is Our Town](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpJosZHHFC4)”. Totally different sentiment. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2012, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/268 "2012-06-16T22:57:26Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > Here’s the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing it. > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evYfXBoN9cU](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evYfXBoN9cU) > > To be a completist, here’s Hail, Columbia, which was our unofficial anthem for a while, and is now the Vice President’s anthem. > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPlQS1pzHdA](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPlQS1pzHdA) I recognize the melody of the first, can’t say as I’ve ever heard the lyrics. Is it possible the melody was a rip off of something else? Don’t know why, but on hearing it I was reminded of the British navy. The Vice President has his own anthem? And it’s _not_ **Send in the Clowns**? ---
**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:** [June 17, 2012, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/269 "2012-06-17T00:25:40Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I recognize the melody of the first, can’t say as I’ve ever heard the lyrics. Is it possible the melody was a rip off of something else? Don’t know why, but on hearing it I was reminded of the British navy. Britannia, the Pride of the Ocean. > [@](#): > > The Vice President has his own anthem? And it’s not Send in the Clowns? He does, as does the president, obviously (Hail to the Chief), the generals and admirals, and the Speaker of the House, governors, the Chief Justice, and members of the Cabinet. ---
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/270 "2012-07-05T11:53:41Z")
I have no quarrel with the Song “God Bless America” or the saying of it, but I wonder what it means…It is not a prayer or request, it can be an order, or a doubt that God has Blessed America. If God has Blessed America why do people have to constantly say it? What does the word mean?Apparently something good, but what?And why would a loving God with hold blessings from any of his children. I don’t hear People of other countries saying “God Bless” their particular country, do they know they are blessed or don’t think they need it? To me, it is like a child whose father just fed it, and then someone coming up and saying to the father ,“feed your child”. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/271 "2012-07-05T17:20:35Z")
How often do you look up the words to other peoples’ national anthems? [QUOTE=Albania] For the Lord Himself has said that nations vanish from the earth, but Albania shall live on. [English translation] [/QUOTE] [QUOTE=Nigeria] O God of creation, direct our noble cause, guide thou our leaders right… [/QUOTE] [QUOTE=India] They pray for thy blessings and sing thy praise. The saving of all people waits in thy hand, Thou dispenser of India’s destiny. [English translation] [/QUOTE] ---
**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:** [July 5, 2012, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/272 "2012-07-05T21:21:56Z")
> [@monavis](#): > > I don’t hear People of other countries saying “God Bless” their particular country, do they know they are blessed or don’t think they need it? To me, it is like a child whose father just fed it, and then someone coming up and saying to the father ,“feed your child”. Look up the British national anthem. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/273 "2012-07-05T22:42:27Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > He does, as does the president, obviously (Hail to the Chief), the generals and admirals, and the Speaker of the House, governors, the Chief Justice, and members of the Cabinet. Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! If I become a general or an admiral do I get to choose my [del]theme song[/del] anthem and have a band follow me around playing it? Pleeeeeeze!? As to GBA, I stand and take off my hat to be polite, but after reading this thread, I think I’m going to start timing my trip to the beer stand a little bit better. ---
**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:** [July 6, 2012, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/274 "2012-07-06T02:52:29Z")
If I know I’m going to be at an event where it will be performed, would it be out of place to hold up a sign saying, “Fuck the Flyers”? ---
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2012, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/275 "2012-07-06T12:46:22Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Look up the British national anthem. Is that God save the Queen? ---
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2012, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/276 "2012-07-06T13:00:33Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > How often do you look up the words to other peoples’ national anthems? It is in word to their national anthem not an every day, or every speech reminder to people that they trust in God(even though many do not really trust) or find it necessary to tell God to bless others..who may be already blessed!I wouldn’t want some one to ask( or tell) me to take care of my children when they are already taken care of with love. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2012, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/277 "2012-07-06T13:39:48Z")
> [@monavis](#): > > Is that God save the Queen? _She ain’t no human being!_ ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2012, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/278 "2012-07-06T13:53:16Z")
> [@monavis](#): > > Is that God save the Queen? Yes, though technically it’s the anthem of the United Kingdom. It’s the _de facto_ anthem of Britain and England. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2012, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/279 "2012-07-06T22:02:23Z")
> [@monavis](#): > > I have no quarrel with the Song “God Bless America” or the saying of it, but I wonder what it means…It is not a prayer or request, it can be an order, or a doubt that God has Blessed America. If God has Blessed America why do people have to constantly say it? What does the word mean?Apparently something good, but what?And why would a loving God with hold blessings from any of his children. I don’t hear People of other countries saying “God Bless” their particular country, do they know they are blessed or don’t think they need it? To me, it is like a child whose father just fed it, and then someone coming up and saying to the father ,“feed your child”. It’s a request for God to _continue_ blessing America. The phrase “God bless” has carried this meaning for a while, really. It’s why you say Bless you when you sneeze–it’s not as if you’re saying God wasn’t blessing you before. The implication is that, if not for God continuing the blessing, it would stop.It’s therefore more akin to the child asking the father to feed him again after he’s been fed, something that happens often. ---
**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:** [July 6, 2012, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/280 "2012-07-06T22:05:22Z")
It’s still a shitty song. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856.md?page=15)