# 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:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Shot\_Clock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Shot\_Clock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_Clock)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-make-a-better-u-s-national-anthem-than-the-star-spangled-banner/447510/41 "2008-05-01T14:54:16Z")
All I know is that if our national anthem is changed to God Bless the USA, you can forward my mail to Lyon. I honestly believe Lee Greenwood has something on the Bush family and blackmails them into starting wars every so often just so this sorry, insipid excuse for a song can get airplay every now and then. I swear to all that is holy that if I ever encounter Lee Greenwood, I’m going to buy masking tape, a staple gun and a medium sized, cardboard box, just right for a person of his build and mail him to Marsha Bronson. ---
**Author:** ![Mojo\_Pin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mojo\_Pin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mojo_Pin)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-make-a-better-u-s-national-anthem-than-the-star-spangled-banner/447510/42 "2008-05-01T15:18:58Z")
There’s little wrong with the ssb. tssb is just so _iconic_ that i don’t know how well a change would go over. could do far FAR worse anyway, like our (korean) national anthem where part of the melody is a whole descending octave step by step in more or less straight quarter notes. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-make-a-better-u-s-national-anthem-than-the-star-spangled-banner/447510/43 "2008-05-01T17:16:23Z")
“For the Love of Money” ---
**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:** [May 1, 2008, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-make-a-better-u-s-national-anthem-than-the-star-spangled-banner/447510/44 "2008-05-01T17:57:41Z")
_Mars: Bringer of War_. Just write some snappy lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-make-a-better-u-s-national-anthem-than-the-star-spangled-banner/447510/45 "2008-05-01T18:04:06Z")
[Hungry Freaks, Daddy](http://parolesmania.fr/paroles/frank-zappa/hungry-freaks-daddy.html) ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-make-a-better-u-s-national-anthem-than-the-star-spangled-banner/447510/46 "2008-05-01T18:07:13Z")
[Here is our new national anthem](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbRom1Rz8OA). ---
**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:** [May 1, 2008, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-make-a-better-u-s-national-anthem-than-the-star-spangled-banner/447510/47 "2008-05-01T19:36:15Z")
Ok, I posted this before and I got trashed for it, but WTF, one more try. The perfect American anthem for a nearly post-literate society: [Rock and Roll Part 2](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAxb72cssGE) by Gary Glitter. Only has 1 word – “Hey!” Great for sports events and general energy raising. Doesn’t strain the brain or the vocal cords. Even George Bush could sing it, word for word. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-make-a-better-u-s-national-anthem-than-the-star-spangled-banner/447510/48 "2008-05-01T21:41:43Z")
[QUOTE=Frank] For every Roseanne Barr, you get a Jimi Hendrix. [/QUOTE] Alas, those are wildly optimistic odds. ---
**Author:** ![TheBoltEater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@TheBoltEater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBoltEater)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-make-a-better-u-s-national-anthem-than-the-star-spangled-banner/447510/49 "2008-05-02T03:49:35Z")
You know, I heard the Mexican national anthem once and thought, "man that thing is _long_ , so I had to look it up. English: CHORUS Mexicans, at the cry of battle lend your swords and bridle; and let the earth tremble at its center upon the roar of the cannon. Your forehead shall be girded, oh fatherland, with olive garlands by the divine archangel of peace, For in heaven your eternal destiny has been written by the hand of God. But should a foreign enemy Profane your land with his sole, Think, beloved fatherland, that heaven gave you a soldier in each son. CHORUS II War, war without truce against who would attempt to blemish the honor of the fatherland! War, war! The patriotic banners saturate in waves of blood. War, war! On the mount, in the vale The terrifying cannon thunder and the echoes nobly resound to the cries of union! liberty! CHORUS III Fatherland, before your children become unarmed Beneath the yoke their necks in sway, May your countryside be watered with blood, On blood their feet trample. And may your temples, palaces and towers crumble in horrid crash, and their ruins exist saying: The fatherland was made of one thousand heroes here. CHORUS IV Fatherland, fatherland, your children swear to exhale their breath in your cause, If the bugle in its belligerent tone should call upon them to struggle with bravery. For you the olive garlands! For them a memory of glory! For you a laurel of victory! For them a tomb of honor! And you thought La Marseillaise was bloody! ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-make-a-better-u-s-national-anthem-than-the-star-spangled-banner/447510/50 "2008-05-02T14:41:31Z")
My suggestion is [Hot Rod Lincoln](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUA6mnEXo8I). Teen rebellion, fast cars, sneering at the law; heck, the whole of American culture is right there! Plus, it **rocks.** ---
**Author:** ![Cuckoorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cuckoorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cuckoorex)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-make-a-better-u-s-national-anthem-than-the-star-spangled-banner/447510/51 "2008-05-02T15:24:39Z")
“Don’t stop…belieeeeviiiiiaaaaaeeeeeeaAAAAAAAAAAAN! Hold on to that dreeeeaaaaaeeeeeeaaaaaaayummm!” by Journey. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-make-a-better-u-s-national-anthem-than-the-star-spangled-banner/447510/52 "2008-05-02T17:52:41Z")
“Hey Ya!” by Outkast. It would be awesome at medal ceremonies at the Olympics. ---
**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 2, 2008, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-make-a-better-u-s-national-anthem-than-the-star-spangled-banner/447510/53 "2008-05-02T18:12:29Z")
[QUOTE=Peter Morris] > [@Omniscient](#): > > Bad song? Are you fucking drunk? . Well, it does celebrate a war in which you were the bad guys, and which you lost. Bad song? Maybe not. Bad national anthem? Absolutely. [/QUOTE] And, what’s more, it celebrates a flag that is obsolete anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-make-a-better-u-s-national-anthem-than-the-star-spangled-banner/447510/54 "2008-05-02T20:31:00Z")
[QUOTE=Zebra] Nothing would. [/QUOTE] I just got started reading the thread, but this is my answer as well. So I second(or third, or fourth it, or whatever). ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-make-a-better-u-s-national-anthem-than-the-star-spangled-banner/447510/55 "2008-05-02T21:50:03Z")
[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] God I love Laurie. I have the VHS that PSA is from (there’s a bunch of others, they’re all great. My favorite is the one about the playboy bunny). ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2008, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-make-a-better-u-s-national-anthem-than-the-star-spangled-banner/447510/56 "2008-05-03T01:55:01Z")
[QUOTE=Paintcharge] My vote is Phil Ochs-[Power and Glory](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlbMFRK9I9s) . [/QUOTE] Seconded. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-make-a-better-u-s-national-anthem-than-the-star-spangled-banner/447510.md?page=2)