# The Time Has Come to Change the National Anthem! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 12, 2021, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-has-come-to-change-the-national-anthem/950539 "2021-09-12T11:20:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2021, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-has-come-to-change-the-national-anthem/950539/41 "2021-09-13T12:15:12Z")
I’m still hoping to get the Canadian national anthem changed. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/JtgUSSN0lb8/hqdefault.jpg "SCTV - The Canadian Anthem") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtgUSSN0lb8) ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2021, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-has-come-to-change-the-national-anthem/950539/42 "2021-09-13T13:28:09Z")
> [@Jim\_B](#): > > I certainly think it has. I mean of course the US national anthem. And I mean from _The Star-Spangled Banner_ to [America the Beautiful](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/America_the_Beautiful). What are we waiting for? From an aesthetic standpoint I would support that. _AtB_ is a much nicer and more singable song. > [@Jim\_B](#): > > Oh, and BTW, we could just go the route of the UK, and replace the offending line. > > Britain used to have for _God Save the Queen_ : > _O Lord our God arise, > Scatter her enemies > And make them fall; > Confound their politics, > Frustrate their knavish tricks, > On Thee our hopes we fix, > God, save us all!_ > > Now, they have: > _Not in this land alone, > But be God’s mercies known, > From shore to shore! > Lord make the nations see, > That men should brothers be, > And form one family, > The wide world o’er._ Actually the British just skip that verse - if they sing more than one verse, it’ll be the first and third (as done in the aforementioned Britten version). > [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Can we all agree Born in the USA would be perfect for the anthem? People who understand only the surface can be all rah rah USA Fuck Yeah! and the people that understand what is really being said can also approve. Well if _that’s_ what you want… [**Note: audio really not NSFW**]. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtJJC0nWs9s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtJJC0nWs9s) Tbh though, I’d be happier if, instead of changing the anthem, we’d at the very least stop getting grandstanding melisma addicts to sing it at public events and get the crowds to sing it instead. It’s _our_ anthem, dammit. ---
**Author:** ![Bonum\_Legatum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bonum_legatum/32/6183_2.png) [@Bonum\_Legatum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bonum_Legatum)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2021, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-has-come-to-change-the-national-anthem/950539/43 "2021-09-13T13:44:27Z")
No love for Phillip Souza? An anthem doesn’t HAVE to have a vocal section… Consider this though: How do you think would you feel about a selection forty or fifty years later? If it had been changed that long ago, we’d likely be stuck with some disco version! So be careful what you wish for - you might get it. ---
**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:** [September 13, 2021, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-has-come-to-change-the-national-anthem/950539/44 "2021-09-13T13:47:18Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Why not “This Land Is Your Land”? [Too Marxist for some.](https://www.npr.org/2000/07/03/1076186/this-land-is-your-land) ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2021, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-has-come-to-change-the-national-anthem/950539/45 "2021-09-13T14:23:05Z")
> [@Bonum\_Legatum](#): > > An anthem doesn’t HAVE to have a vocal section… Actually, by original definition, it should. Anthems are [choral](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/anthem) or [vocal](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/anthem) pieces. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2021, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-has-come-to-change-the-national-anthem/950539/46 "2021-09-13T15:01:00Z")
Can we just stop playing the thing before sporting events? What is it with sporting events that mandates someone has to go out a butcher a hard to sing song? Why don’t we sing it before rock concerts? Why not before church starts (maybe some do)? What about before a movie theatre starts the movie? ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2021, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-has-come-to-change-the-national-anthem/950539/47 "2021-09-13T15:40:47Z")
If we’re doing Schoolhouse Rock I’d go with the [Preamble](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_NzZvdsbWI) song. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2021, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-has-come-to-change-the-national-anthem/950539/48 "2021-09-13T16:07:06Z")
All I know is, we should hold nationwide auditions where people can come up on a stage and perform their anthem… [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/xc79HAg8ZXo/hqdefault.jpg "Albert Brooks - Rewriting The National Anthem") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xc79HAg8ZXo) ---
**Author:** ![Bonum\_Legatum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bonum_legatum/32/6183_2.png) [@Bonum\_Legatum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bonum_Legatum)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2021, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-has-come-to-change-the-national-anthem/950539/49 "2021-09-13T18:42:51Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Actually, by original definition, it should. Anthems are [choral](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/anthem) or [vocal](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/anthem) pieces Distinction noted. Thank you. So - have a Souza march performed by the “New Swingle Singers.” ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2021, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-has-come-to-change-the-national-anthem/950539/50 "2021-09-13T18:49:56Z")
> [@Bonum\_Legatum](#): > > So - have a Souza march performed by the “New Swingle Singers.” Are the lyrics “Be kind to your small person friends”? I don’t think that’s very anthem-y. Not enough blood. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2021, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-has-come-to-change-the-national-anthem/950539/51 "2021-09-14T00:21:06Z")
(Martin Mull, mid 70’s) This land ain’t your land, This land is MY land. From the New York Yankees to Levittown Long Island. From the Gulf Coast Golf Course to the US Air Force This land was made for folks like me. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2021, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-has-come-to-change-the-national-anthem/950539/52 "2021-09-14T00:26:26Z")
Well, my version was from Joey Tribbiani. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/6OZoP2iWpnU/hqdefault.jpg "This Hand Is Your Hand") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OZoP2iWpnU) ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2021, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-has-come-to-change-the-national-anthem/950539/53 "2021-09-14T01:33:55Z")
Damn heathens. Don’t you know that Jesus, himself, personally handed the National Anthem to our founding fathers!? And George Washington, AK 47 in hand, declared, ‘Make it so!’ Change it!? Oh Lordy, take me now. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2021, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-has-come-to-change-the-national-anthem/950539/54 "2021-09-14T01:49:29Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > > [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > > > [Boring, formulaic Egyptian national anthem](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vdA-qJn0zrA) > > > > Vs. > > > > [Strauss’ Egyptian March](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=o5tVZZrA4TE) > > Really? _That’s_ the Egypt-themed classical piece you go with? Not [this?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXMdei-UTfw) Or [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rgDjQ8fY0E)? ---
**Author:** ![anny\_m](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@anny\_m](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anny_m)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2021, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-has-come-to-change-the-national-anthem/950539/55 "2021-09-14T02:15:10Z")
I always sing: God shed her grace on thee And crowned thy good With sisterhood From sea to shining sea. I get funny looks. I don’t care. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2021, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-has-come-to-change-the-national-anthem/950539/56 "2021-09-14T02:24:46Z")
I’d wager that most Americans are happier with their state u football song than the are with the Star Spangled Banner. Even (fuck’em Bucky!) “On Wisconsin!” isn’t bad, even though it was originally “Minnesota!” ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2021, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-has-come-to-change-the-national-anthem/950539/57 "2021-09-14T11:22:14Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > Can we just stop playing the thing before sporting events? What is it with sporting events that mandates someone has to go out a butcher a hard to sing song? Why don’t we sing it before rock concerts? Why not before church starts (maybe some do)? What about before a movie theatre starts the movie? In the WW2 era (and after - I don’t know when the tradition ended) - Canadian movie audiences were expected to stand for “O Canada” before the movie, and then “God Save the King/Queen” at the end.[ ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2021, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-has-come-to-change-the-national-anthem/950539/58 "2021-09-14T13:01:39Z")
You know what’s better than a national anthem? A national rhapsody. You know the Hungarian Rhapsody by List, even if only from watching old cartoons. Sweden has a rhapsody that’s pretty catchy: it’s sampled in the Ma-na-meh-na song. Czechia doesn’t have one that I could find, but they can use the Dance of the Comedians. The [Romanian Rhapsody](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DdgRjFSR_oM) will get you out of bed in the morning. You might say the the USA has Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, but a 1920’s urbanite composition won’t do for a fraught 2020’s. It won’t play as soon as you get to the suburbs. Someone will come up with a clunky red version ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2021, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-has-come-to-change-the-national-anthem/950539/59 "2021-09-14T13:15:15Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > Czechia doesn’t have one that I could find, but they can use the Dance of the Comedians. There’s always [Entrance of the Gladiators](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entrance_of_the_Gladiators) by Julian Fučík. It would certainly keep one’s leaders humble to [walk in with that playing](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B0CyOAO8y0)… ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2021, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-has-come-to-change-the-national-anthem/950539/60 "2021-09-14T14:00:55Z")
Yeah, even worse fake “patriotism”. I’m guessing all Canadians are glad that crap is over with. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-has-come-to-change-the-national-anthem/950539.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-has-come-to-change-the-national-anthem/950539.md?page=4)