Rarely Heard Verse of the Star Spangled Banner, Tea Party Edition
**Written by guest-blogger Doug Powers
There was a Tea Party in Douglas County, Georgia on Friday. The main speaker was the wonderful Herman Cain.
During a Q & A, a man named Lewis, who said he’s a former Marine, expressed concern that people always hear the first verse of the Star Spangled Banner, but not the rest of the song. So, out of nowhere, he lit into one of the lesser known verses. He’s actually singing the 4th verse instead of the 2nd, but I thought this was a helluva nice job and very moving — and the crowd obviously did too.
Now this is an American Idol:
**Written by guest-blogger Doug Powers
Twitter @ThePowersThatBe
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Outstanding job.
Awesome, awesome, awesome!
Thank you for posting this, Doug!
Yes, that stood out for me Red Pill.
Thank you Doug and Mr. Lewis, everytime anymore when I hear people stand with that kind of patriatism and love for their country my eyes swell with pride, eventually shedding a tear or two, or three or…
I suppose Obowmao and Nitwitatano thought that was a target-rich environment for extremists and terrorists.
Thanks, NJ-Aviator.
I should have made a few more words bold…
There was no doubt among our Founders that God’s hand played a central role in making and preserving this nation.
What was the mindset of our founders less than four months before they signed the Declaration of Independence?
What activity did they do in unison less than two months before they signed the Declaration of Independence?
Most people are familiar with the largest and most recognizable signature on the Declaration of Independence… that of John Hancock.
But most people are not familiar with a document he (and several others) consented to less than four months earlier…
Take a serious look at this and compare it to today.
The Library of Congress Document Image
The Library of Congress Transcript
That day of unified fasting and prayer on May 17, 1776 likely had a significant impact on our independence being declared 48 days later.
God’s hand made us a nation. And God’s hand preserved us a nation.
That was obvious to Francis Scott Key when he saw the results of the battle and wrote what became our National Anthem.
Dangerous themes there, the DOJ will be investigating the author, singer and all who stood.
Francis Scott Key better be watching over his shoulder……
Change just one word… “Colonies” to “citizens”…
and see how applicable John Hancock’s words are today, 234 years later.
The first Amendment was ratified December 15, 1791.
Just over three years later, on January 1, 1795, President Washington issued another Thanksgiving Proclamation.
And just over two years after that, on March 20, 1797, Samuel Adams, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, issued a proclamation that some would challenge as “unconstitutional” today, yet those who actually wrote and ratified the 1st Amendment did not challenge or question the constitutionality of this proclamation:
About ten years ago, I researched the event that inspired “The Star Spangled Banner” for an article I wrote for a local community fraternal organization with the purpose of defending that song as our national anthem.
I was surprised to learn that the British attack of Fort McHenry was anticipated at least one year in advance and that the Star Spangled Banner itself was commissioned for a very specific reason. That flag was made on a scale far too large for where it flew.
The flag Francis Scott Key saw flying as he was escorted below deck on the British ship was the standard smaller flag. The SSB was only raised to after the bombardment stopped at about 3am. Upon hearing the bombing end, Francis Scott Key’s spirits fell because that usually indicated surrender. He believed Fort McHenry had fallen.
It’s imagining the effect on the British on first seeing that flag that makes our anthem so inspiring. When Key finally exited the ship a couple of hours later, he saw the giant flag flying in the wind and immediately understood it’s true significance beyond that Fort McHenry had not surrendered. It told the British that the Spirit of 1776 was still alive and well in America.
The British, like many Americans, believed that British reconquest was inevitable and that because most of the 1776 patriots were dead or very old, that the spirit of 1776 was also dead. The size of the flag served as an irreverent taunt of “Can you hit THIS you blind bastards?” which meant despite marching virtually unopposed to eventually burn down our nation’s capital, they failed to defeat us.
The staging of such a blatant act of political theater had re-ignited that old spirit across America. Within a month, every American had heard the poem and it quickly became a drinking song in the pubs sung to “John Brown’s Body”. Even Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” spread as fast. It was the biggest American seller in history.
Re-igniting the spirit of 1776 was the last thing the British wanted and so the War of 1812 suddenly reminded them of the War of Independence where they also won almost every battle but lost the war.
Understanding the context of this event made my case for why this is our national anthem and shouldn’t be abandoned only because it is supposedly hard to sing.
Most Americans used to know that before the heroic and inspiring version of American history was transformed to become the dark story of oppressive white male slave owners and the cause of all misery in the world.
Correction:
I have a feeling that we will be hearing this guy singing this again. All Star game?
Thank you for sharing that. Good stuff.
I think the Spirit of 1776 is still alive and well… many have been asleep, but they are now awake.
I learned it in elementary school and still wish it was the only verse we sang. The first verse ends with a question. This verse answers the question.
I wonder sometimes if God even recognizes his handiwork anymore. We abandoned him in 1973 after Roe v. Wade.
On June 6th, 2010 at 12:25 am, almiller said:
Excellent point!
I LOVE the 4th verse of the Star Spangled Banner! It’s a shame it’s almost never sung.
Interesting thought…
How’s about… at ball games and such… we start to sing the WHOLE song… continue after the normal Diva’s end, and sing the rest?
Wonder what they would do…
Bravo!
{^_^}
I can’t speak because of the lump in my throat.
I love you Lewis! Will you marry me?
And that’s what I’m talking about too.
Isaac Asimov wrote a great article about the SSB which you can read here.
Lewis, you’re no former Marine, you’re a shining example of “once a Marine, always a Marine.” Former Marines are more like EX-Marines such as Lee Harvey Oswald, although I shouldn’t mention such vile vermin in the same paragraph.
Well done.
You’ll likely be considered a subversive if you keep it up.
All I can say is
OohRah
Good on ya man
Mark it now that we will as a country drag it back from the edge the left seems to want to push us over.
We WILL recover and make our country anew and drag the rest of the world with us and not expect a thank you from anywhere when we do.
Metrosexual company board members better hope they have a good retirement package because they won’t last.
We will demand performance and ethics.
Both of them are things they can’t provide.
Bow to PETA or bow to ACORN you will wish you didn’t.
Can You Hear Us Now??????????????
Whimp out is never an acceptable cost.
On June 6th, 2010 at 3:59 am, Jim C. said:
Thanks for the posting of Asimov’s SSB monologue that contains all four verses.
It’s sometimes played in its entirety at the high school at ceremonies (e.g., graduation, some sporting events)here in Texas. These days, it brings a tear to the eye.
Wow, That’s what I’M talkin’ about! I’ve got $5 that says this guy sings baritone in a church choir that ROCKS!
New Hopey Changey National Anthem, ala Janice Joplin: “Freedom is just another word for nothin’ left to lose…”
Bravo! Bravo!
And when we allowed unions into our schools.
Wow! That was wonderful Lewis. I dearly love Herman. He is an amazing man and I would have no problem voting for him for President if he chose to run. I think he would do a great job, unlike this bho we have now.
L
“This is the fight we have to win.”
Imagine the power of singing all four stanzas at every sporting event… Let’s start a movement to reinstate singing the entire song at every opportunity.
How many more will join the Tea Party movement, when they understand more about what this country is all about?
As many have said, the first stanza asks the question, the second answers it. We need the answer.
IMPEACH OBAMA
Excellent! Maybe, for a start, we can get the Arizona sport teams to sing it at their games.
Loved this posting. Also, please note, the leader of this gathering was an African-American man of faith and obvious intelligence. Note to that there were young people in the audience, and note the respect accorded during the singing of the National Anthem. You won’t find this in a Left protest rally or march. This is America’s heartland, and as long as groups like this can gather, we won’t be subjected to the tyranny our enemies would like to impose.
Awesome! There was a reason, in years past, that our nation’s schoolchildren had to memorize all the verses of the National Anthem. It is still a good idea, but it does not happen.
That was fabulous. I hope it becomes a staple at tea parties.
Am I too cynical for thinking the left will accuse him of performing a Nazi salute in 5…4…3… ?
My God, that was magnificent.
Sixty-six years ago today, on June 6, 1944, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt lead the nation in prayer as the Greatest Generation launched its mightiest battle of the Second World War:
That prayer is as relevant today as it was sixty-six years ago. Let us take this day to remember and honor the sacrifice of not only thousands of men on D-Day but also thousands of men and women in every battle this country has ever fought in the fight for freedom.
FDR’s D-Day Prayer
Thank you, Herman, and thank you Lewis – listening to that just made my day. I sure wish I was there to hear it live. If you’re not engaged with Tea Parties, NOW is the time to get involved.
OMG.. Crying.. And the left who denigrate the tea partiers, for shame, they will all have their pentanence to pay one day.