# What would make a better U.S. national anthem than "The Star-Spangled Banner"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 30, 2008, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-make-a-better-u-s-national-anthem-than-the-star-spangled-banner/447510 "2008-04-30T19:47:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [April 30, 2008, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-make-a-better-u-s-national-anthem-than-the-star-spangled-banner/447510/21 "2008-04-30T21:59:22Z")
“Warlike lyrics?” Really? Are they as bad as these? > [@](#): > > Arise, children of the Fatherland, > The day of glory has arrived! > Against us, tyranny’s > Bloody banner is raised. > Do you hear in the countryside > The braying of these ferocious soldiers? > They are coming into our midst > To cut the throats of our sons, our wives! > > To arms, citizens! > Form your battalions! > March, march! > May tainted blood > Water our fields! ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-make-a-better-u-s-national-anthem-than-the-star-spangled-banner/447510/22 "2008-04-30T22:38:45Z")
[QUOTE=Paintcharge] My vote is Phil Ochs-[Power and Glory](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlbMFRK9I9s) . [/QUOTE] Oh, for a minute I thought you meant this song [Power & Glory](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NHU4ibLiTA) ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-make-a-better-u-s-national-anthem-than-the-star-spangled-banner/447510/23 "2008-04-30T22:49:57Z")
How about _New World Man_? DARN IT! We _invented_ Rock & Roll! Why don’t we _use_ it? ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-make-a-better-u-s-national-anthem-than-the-star-spangled-banner/447510/24 "2008-04-30T22:55:30Z")
It’s a bit aggressive, but if everyone learned the words to [American Idiot](http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/greenday/americanidiot.html) and sang it at the head of every sporting event perhaps we could rescue ourselves from the role of “has-been head clown of the international circus” and focus on kicking our addiction to cerebral novacaine. No? Oh. Another vote for [America The Beautiful](America the Beautiful) then. Same message, gentler nudge. ---
**Author:** ![Intravenus\_De\_Milo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Intravenus\_De\_Milo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intravenus_De_Milo)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-make-a-better-u-s-national-anthem-than-the-star-spangled-banner/447510/25 "2008-04-30T22:56:30Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > “Warlike lyrics?” Really? Are they as bad as these? That’s “La Marseillaise”, right? ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-make-a-better-u-s-national-anthem-than-the-star-spangled-banner/447510/26 "2008-04-30T23:27:20Z")
[QUOTE=Zsofia] I agree with “America the Beautiful”. We can get rid of the verse about the Pilgrims if you like. It actually talks about the country itself - beauty, spirit, dreams, etc. Particularly: "America! America! God mend thine every flaw, Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law! " and "O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears! " is also very nice. [/QUOTE] I love this one, too, but every time I hear it since 9/11/01, I mentally change “Undimmed” to “Now dimmed”. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-make-a-better-u-s-national-anthem-than-the-star-spangled-banner/447510/27 "2008-05-01T00:01:22Z")
[QUOTE=Peter Morris] The master speaks. [http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mwar1812.htm](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mwar1812.htm) edit : actually, Gfactor, not the Master [/QUOTE] I’m well aware of the attempt to annex Canada. I’m even aware that the official _casus belli_ was effectively an excuse to try to annex Canada. Are you going to claim, however, that having the Royal Navy taking U.S. sailors into effective slavery is not a legitimate _casus belli_? In order for one side or the other to be bad guys someone has to be the good guys. I can’t make the RN’s behavior fit that image, sorry. ETA: The Canadians may have been “good guys,” but they didn’t exist as a separate entity - they were part of the British Empire. Of which the RN was the naval military arm. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-make-a-better-u-s-national-anthem-than-the-star-spangled-banner/447510/28 "2008-05-01T00:37:59Z")
Wrong thread to argue about it. ---
**Author:** ![thirdwarning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecccb3/32.png) [@thirdwarning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdwarning)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-make-a-better-u-s-national-anthem-than-the-star-spangled-banner/447510/29 "2008-05-01T01:35:01Z")
If we **had** to change it, I’d vote for _America the Beautiful_, mostly because _America_ shares the tune with _God Save the Queen_. I think we could well keep TSSB, but can we **please** pass a rule outlawing its use as a performance piece for every half-baked singer who wants to get “expressive”? Let’s just go back to an instrumental version with everyone in the place singing along. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-make-a-better-u-s-national-anthem-than-the-star-spangled-banner/447510/30 "2008-05-01T02:38:35Z")
[QUOTE=thirdwarning] I think we could well keep TSSB, but can we **please** pass a rule outlawing its use as a performance piece for every half-baked singer who wants to get “expressive”? [/QUOTE] For every Roseanne Barr, you get a Jimi Hendrix. ---
**Author:** ![Gestalt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/90ced4/32.png) [@Gestalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gestalt)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-make-a-better-u-s-national-anthem-than-the-star-spangled-banner/447510/31 "2008-05-01T02:48:35Z")
I have to agree with those who want to keep TSSB. Yeah, it’s a weird melody, and doesn’t “flow” as well as a lot of the more popular little ditties mentioned here but . . . It’s so unique, subtle and different. Every other country’s national anthem is some version of: “Our country is great! Long live it! We stand behind it! It’s different from other countries! Yay \” I LOVE that TSSB is more nuanced and less blatant and insipid and jingoistic. I agree that changing it would contribute to, as one poster said above, “the dumbing down of America.” Also, Battle Hymn of the Republic? How is that even remotely appropriate? Gestalt ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-make-a-better-u-s-national-anthem-than-the-star-spangled-banner/447510/32 "2008-05-01T03:24:32Z")
I just think that a gentle nudge to “confirm thy soul in self-control” and “thy liberty in law” would a lot of us a lot of good. Not that I’ve got a problem with bombs bursting in air and such. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-make-a-better-u-s-national-anthem-than-the-star-spangled-banner/447510/33 "2008-05-01T07:40:04Z")
I found [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cE6Pg2q3lI) on youtube and thought some of you might find it interesting. ---
**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:** [May 1, 2008, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-make-a-better-u-s-national-anthem-than-the-star-spangled-banner/447510/34 "2008-05-01T08:00:48Z")
[QUOTE=Intravenus De Milo] That’s “La Marseillaise”, right? [/QUOTE] Yep. Which proves that a truly kick-ass tune can sell just about any lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-make-a-better-u-s-national-anthem-than-the-star-spangled-banner/447510/35 "2008-05-01T11:12:34Z")
Moving thread from IMHO to Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![BaneSidhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BaneSidhe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaneSidhe)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-make-a-better-u-s-national-anthem-than-the-star-spangled-banner/447510/36 "2008-05-01T13:16:53Z")
[QUOTE=lobotomyboy63] America the Beautiful. Sing it, Ray! ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/-3pIwPGM4JY/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/-3pIwPGM4JY?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque [/QUOTE] Amen! That’s exactly what I was thinking of and who should sing it. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-make-a-better-u-s-national-anthem-than-the-star-spangled-banner/447510/37 "2008-05-01T13:27:53Z")
[QUOTE=OtakuLoki] In order for one side or the other to be bad guys someone has to be the good guys. [/QUOTE] This is one of the stupidest assertions I’ve ever seen here, and that’s saying something. On the Russian Front of WWII, which one was the “good guy” – Adolf Hitler or Josef Stalin? ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-make-a-better-u-s-national-anthem-than-the-star-spangled-banner/447510/38 "2008-05-01T13:28:37Z")
[QUOTE=Inner Stickler] I found [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cE6Pg2q3lI) on youtube and thought some of you might find it interesting. [/QUOTE] That’s hilarious! And I submit this~ ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/uAhicl-Owr4/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/uAhicl-Owr4?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque Actually, I like TSSB just fine & wish we’d sing the whole thing more often. It takes till Verse Four to mention God. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-make-a-better-u-s-national-anthem-than-the-star-spangled-banner/447510/39 "2008-05-01T13:44:05Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] **As a song,** TSSB sux and everybody knows it, including those few who can properly sing it. [/QUOTE] Why do you say that? ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-make-a-better-u-s-national-anthem-than-the-star-spangled-banner/447510/40 "2008-05-01T13:50:26Z")
This land is our land? OK how about This Land is Your Land and this verse they didn’t teach you in grade school As I was walking I saw a sign there and on the sign it said no tresspassing and on the other side of the sign it didn’t say nuttin THAT side was made for you and me This land is YOUR Land This land is MY Land (it’s a communist song) It was written as a response to God Bless America and it included the phrase ‘Did God Bless America for me?’ I love this song, in it’s original uncensored form, but it’s a lousy anthem. Can you imagine standing up on the top step after winning olympic gold and hearing that? TSBB was written by a lawyer! Perfect for America! It stole, I mean assimulated the tune from somewhere else! Perfect for America! It is the ultimate one hit wonder. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-make-a-better-u-s-national-anthem-than-the-star-spangled-banner/447510.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-make-a-better-u-s-national-anthem-than-the-star-spangled-banner/447510.md?page=3)