what does the star spangled banner song mean

#WHAT DOES THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER SONG MEAN FREE#

Americans were free and no longer controlled by the British tyranny.

O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

As the smoke cleared throughout the night, the American flag stood clear over the nation.

O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave

The red glow of the fire enabled Americans to see that the flag still flew and hadn’t been captured by the enemy.

The air was filled with cannon fire, smoke, and loud booms.

This depicts the bombs from the dueling cannons from the British navy and from the fort.

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there,

Ramparts are another word for the still-standing walls and structure of Fort McHenry after it survived the bombing.Īnd the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,.

The perilous fight refers to the Battle of Baltimore during the War in 1812.

O’er the ramparts we watch’d were so gallantly streaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight After all the destruction, the flag still stood its ground. During the night of the bombing, heavy rain and smoke prevented onlookers from getting a clear look at the scene until morning.What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming, O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light, Although the lyrics were originally written about the war of 1812, the tune has gone on to reflect the spirit the entire country.Ĭlick here to see the complete version of The Star Spangled Banner from the Maryland Historical Society collection. The National Anthem has four versus, but only the first is traditionally sung.

While most Americans can probably hum the tune in their sleep, many are unfamiliar with the exact lyrics and the meaning behind them. It wasn’t until Mawhen President Hoover passed a law in congress officially designating the Star-Spangled Banner as the national anthem of the United States. The Star-Spangled Banner grew in popularity during the Civil War, and in 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed an order to make it the official anthem of the military. After the War of 1812, there was an outpouring of patriotic tunes. The song did not become the official national anthem until over a century later. Portrait of Francis Scott Key, attributed to Joseph Wood, about 1825. The melody he had in mind was called “To Ancreon in Heaven,” which was ironically an English drinking song. Key was not a particularly musical person, and he wrote the poem with specific tune in his head. The poem tells of the visuals he witnessed, originally titled “Defense of Fort M’Henry.” Key wrote a poem, that was later turned into a song, while watching the British bomb Fort Henry from the window of a warship. Many people believe the song was written around the time of the American Revolution, but it was created during the War of 1812 at the Battle of Baltimore. The Star-Spangled Banner was written by 35-year-old Washington lawyer and writer, Francis Scott Key. It’s journey to becoming the national anthem may be more interesting than you think. The song hasn’t always been as popular as it is today. It’s power to inspire and motivate generations of citizens makes it an undeniable part of the American experience. The Star-Spangled Banner is one of the most recognizable songs heard round the world.

What does the star spangled banner song mean