The Star Spangled Banner

Score of the hymn.

The Star-Spangled Banner is the national anthem of the United States. It was adopted in 1931, although its origins go back almost to the time of independence.

The lyrics were written in 1814 by Francis Scott Key, a 35-year-old lawyer and inexperienced poet. Key witnessed the bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland, by British ships in the Chesapeake Bay during the War of 1812. On September 13, 1814, he visited the bay to try to secure the release of Dr. William Beanes, who he had been captured after the burning of the city of Washington D.C. Key managed to free Beanes, but he was detained on a boat that night, while attacking Fort McHenry. At dawn, he was so happy to see the United States flag flying over the fort, that he began to write a poem to celebrate it. The song became popular in the United States performed to the tune of the English song To Anacreon in Heaven.

The Star-Spangled Banner was declared the national anthem by a resolution of Congress on March 3, 1931, although the Navy and Army had already adopted it. The origin of the music is not very clear, but it may have been composed by John Stafford Smith, an Englishman born in 1750. The first verse is perhaps the only one known and sung.

Tradition

Plaque that details how to stay when the hymn sounds in Tacoma, in the state of Washington

United States law 36/301 establishes that during the performance of the national anthem, when the flag is unfurled, all those present, except those who are in uniform, must stand facing the flag with their right hand on their chest. Members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present may give you the military salute. Men out of uniform must remove any caps and hats and hold them with their left while placing their right on their chest. Those who give the military salute must maintain it from the first note of the hymn to the last. Military law also requires that all vehicles in the venue stop when the music starts. They recently passed their law in 2008 allowing military veterans out of uniform to salute as well.

There is no penalty for not following these recommendations, however. This behavior for the national anthem is subject to the First Amendment to the United States Constitution which protects free speech. For example, Jehovah's Witnesses do not sing or place their right hand on their chest, but they do stand stand before the anthem as a sign of respect.

Letter

Score of the hymn.

Traditionally only the first of the four verses is performed.

Original lyrics in English and Spanish language

U.S. Air Force Publicity Poster using the Estrofa O'er the ramparts we watchwhich translated would be on the walls we watch

I

Oh say, can you see, by the dawn's early light

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,

O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?

And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

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

O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave?

II

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! O long may it wave

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

III

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore

That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion

A home and a country should leave us no more!

Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.

No refuge could save the hireling and slave

From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:

And the star-spangled banner, in triumph doth wave

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

IV

O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand

Between their loved home and the war's desolation!

Blest with victory and peace, may the Heav'n-rescued land

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

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

And this be our motto: In God We Trust

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave

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

Literal translation into Spanish

I

Oh say, can you see, in the early light of the dawn,

What we so proudly greet in the last flash of the twilight,

Which wide stripes and bright stars, through dark struggle,

We watched the walls wade so gallantly?

And the red blast of rockets, the bombs blowing in the air,

They test the night our flag was still there.

Oh, say, keep waking the horny star flag

on the land of the free and the home of the brave?

II

On the shore, barely visible between the fog of the sea,

Where the arrogant horde of the enemy in turbulent silence rests

What is that which the breeze, on higher peaks,

Capriciously fluttering, showing and hiding at a time?

Now catch the glow of the first lightning of the day,

In full glory reflected now shines in the current:

It's the horny star flag! Oh, that's a long time.

On the land of the free and the home of the brave!

III

And where is that band that swore with such prepotence,

That the ravages of war and the confusion of battle

Shouldn't they leave us a home and a home?

His blood has cleaned the contamination of his dirty steps.

No shelter could save mercenaries and slaves

Of the terror of the flight, or of the grave's grave:

And the horny flag of stars, triumphant wadea

On the land of the free and the home of the brave.

IV

Oh, always be like this when free men stand firm

Among their dear homes and the desolation of war!

Blessed in victory and peace, that the earth rescued by Heaven

He praises the power he has achieved and has preserved us as a nation.

Then we must conquer when our cause is just

And this is our motto: "In God is our trust."

And the horny flag of triumphant stars will wave

On the land of the free and the home of the brave!

I

Oh say, can you see, with the first light of the aurora,

What we so proudly greet in the last flash of the twilight,

Which wide stripes and bright stars, through dark struggle,

We watched the walls wade so gallantly?

And the red blast of rockets, the bombs blowing in the air,

They test the night our flag was still there.

Oh, say, keep waking the horny star flag

on the land of the free and the home of the brave?

II

On the shore, barely visible between the fog of the sea,

Where the arrogant horde of the enemy in turbulent silence rests

What is that which the breeze, above the highest ciders,

Capriciously fluttering, showing and hiding at a time?

Now catch the glow of the first lightning of the day,

In full glory reflected now shines in the current:

It's the horny star flag! Oh, that's a long time.

On the land of the free and the home of the brave!

III

And where is that band that swore with such prepotence,

That the ravages of war and the confusion of battle

Shouldn't they leave us a home and a home?

His blood has cleaned the contamination of his dirty steps.

No shelter could save mercenaries and slaves

Of the terror of the flight, or of the grave's grave:

And the horny flag of stars, triumphant wadea

On the land of the free and the home of the brave.

IV

Oh, always be like this when free men stand firm

Among their dear homes and the desolation of war!

Blessed in victory and peace, that the earth rescued by Heaven

He praises the power he has achieved and has preserved us as a nation.

Then we must conquer when our cause is just

And this is our motto: "In God is our trust."

And the horny flag of triumphant stars will wave

On the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Spanish version

Translated by Francis Haffkine Snow (1919), commissioned by the U.S. Bureau of Education [1]

I

dawn: do you not see in the light of the dawn

What we hailed the night so much when we fell?

His stars, his stripes, floated yesterday,

In the fierce battle in victory.

Fulgor rockets, thunder bombs,

At night they said, "He is defending himself!"

Oh, say! Does your starry beauty still unfold?

On the land of free the sacred flag?

II

On the far coast that barely bleach

Where the fierce host lies

On that precipice that rises atrocious

What's that in the breeze?

It is hidden and flamed, in the dawn

Reflected in the sea, where it shines

Still there, she unfolded her starry beauty.

On the land of free the sacred flag!

III

Oh, so always, in loyalty we defend

Our homeland against the clumsy invader!

To God who gave us peace, freedom and honor,

He kept us a nation with fervent blessing.

Our cause is good, and that is why we succeed

It was always our motto: "In God we trust."

And he will display his starry beauty like this.

On the land of free the sacred flag!

The starry banner (Spanish version by Clotilde Arias)

As part of the good neighbor policy, Franklin D. Roosevelt held a contest to make official a Spanish version of the American anthem with the idea of promoting American ideals in Latin America. The Peruvian composer Clotilde Arias was the winner of said contest.

I

Look! Can you see the subtle lightening

what stood tall when the sun went down?

And their stripes and stars in the hard fight,

Over strong bastion Gallardo undulated!

And the bomb launching its reddish explosion,

at night he revealed that the banner was there.

Does the Starry Banner flutter happily

in the land of courage, in a free country?

II

On the shoreline, veiled in misty expanse,

Where an enemy host rests in silence,

What is that that undulates on a raised rock,

that the breeze will rock capricious when playing?

Ora radiates in the light of early dawn,

pray in glory in the waters he sees himself reflected:

The Starry Banner flutters happily

in the land of courage, in a free country!

III

Be it so: may the man of honor fight forever,

Defending your home from the fury of war!

In victory and in peace of the Supreme in hearing,

Raise your voice to heaven blessing this land.

And swearing of good and justice to go after,

Let our motto today be: "We trust in God."

And the Starry Banner flutters happily

in the land of courage, in a free country!

Our Anthem

Adaptation of the hymn in Spanish adopted by Latin American immigrants in the United States. It premiered at immigrant protests in the United States in 2006.

I

It dawns: do you see it in the light of the aurora

What we hailed the night so much when we fell?

His stars, his stripes, floated yesterday,

In the fierce battle in victory.

Fulgor of struggle, at the passage of freedom,

At night they said, "He is defending himself!"

Oh, say! Does your starry beauty still unfold?

On the land of free the sacred flag?

II

His stars, his stripes, freedom, we are equal.

We're brothers, it's our hymn.

In the fierce battle, in a sign of victory,

Fighting skills... (my people keep fighting!)

...At the Pass of Freedom (It's time to break the chains!)

At night they said, "He is defending himself!"

Oh, say! Does your starry beauty still unfold?

On the land of free the sacred flag?

Score

• Piano Score of the Anthem of the United States of America. G (Sol) transcripts for easy piano.