Oh Say Can You See

Last week's music class was all about patriotic music.  The kids were pretty familiar with most of the music we sang, but they were shocked, as many are, to find out that the Star Spangled Banner has three verses.  Francis Scott Key penned all of these verses after observing a British attack in Baltimore Harbor during the war of 1812.  When he realized that the Americans had successfully defended Fort McHenry, he set pen to paper and wrote the famous poem.  It was later set to a popular British tune.  In 1931 the US Congress adopted the song as our National Anthem.  

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,

Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,

What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,

As it fitfully blows, half conceals half discloses?

Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,

In full glory reflected now shines on the stream;

'Tis the Star Spangled Banner, oh long may it wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh, thus be it ever when free men shall stand

Between their loved homes and the war's desolation!

Blest with vic'try and peace; may the heaven rescued land

Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.

Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just,

And this be our motto, "In God is our trust."

And the Star Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Francis Scott Key