The 4th of July is a significant day to most Americans and is certainly to me. It reminds me of how much I love my country and what sacrifices were made that I might live in a place so wonderful as America. I love the picnics and parades and fireworks to be sure, but mostly I love my country. I wanted to share our national anthem with everyone in its entirety. For more info on the 4th of July go here. Happy 4th everyone – and especially to our troops who continue to stand the watch, ever vigilant. Respectfully, WC
“The Star Spangled Banner”
The Defense of Fort McHenry
by Francis Scott Key
20 September 1814
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?
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, now conceals, now 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.
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 wiped out their foul footstep’s 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.
oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation!
Blest with victory 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 forever shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Anita Rodgers Mystery Writer 
And a happy one back atcha, kiddo.
Haven’t been MIA just out on the deck.
The nights have been so beautiful I can’t resist.
be safe, be well
I’ll be in touch
~m
Cool. I”d like to be out on a deck somewhere too. But mostly, for me, it’s been the sweaty keyboard. Yeah, we’ve hit Joo-lie and the mercury is rising. But it’s all good, I’m getting a lot done.
Back atcha – have a good barbecue with the family and enjoy the day.
Talk soon.
WC
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Thanks for posting the entire song. i’ve never seen the whole thing before.
i am not what anyone would call “patriotic”. i am glad to live here as our nation has so much potential, though it now seems to be in that awkward adolescent stage, and there are few other places in the world i’d consider living- France or Ireland, Japan interests me.
What i appreciate about the 4th of July are the family gatherings and the reminder that our country began with the promise of high ideas. And that there’s always hope.
Happy Fourth to you, Annie. Chica.
Hey Mi Amiga!
You know, I’d never seen the complete lyrics either. I found them very stirring myself.
Yes, I guess our country is going through the ‘teen years’ good analogy. I think I’d love Ireland, could be because of my Irish heritage but it seems to call to me and I want to go there someday before I die. France would be a good place to visit and eat, but I don’t think I’d want to live there. I’ve some friends who have lived there and their description of their experiences made me think I wouldn’t care much for it. Japan would be cool – I could finally be in a place where I felt tall. Yeah, I’d like that.
Happy Fourth, Christine. Hope you have lots of good food, lots of friends and family and some beautiful fireworks.
Chica
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Thanks for writing the national anthemWC I’ve never heard it before. Happy America Day to all my American friends
From a British Friend. 🙂
Hi Di,
Thanks for your nice wishes. I’m glad you enjoyed reading the anthem. You’re a sweetie.
WC
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happy independence day from a canadian friend to the north 🙂 enjoy!!
Thanks Daisies!
WC
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I love the Star Spangled Banner. It makes me so happy. I heard it sung once by two men, and they way they organized the song– tears. Seriously.
Love me.
Hey Kenz,
Me too – tears. I also love Ray Charles’ version of America, the Beautiful. Gets me every time. Happy 4th hon.
WC
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I never could get the symbolism behind watching a fireworks display to celebrate this holiday. But then again I don’t get the reason behind most of the symbols for any holiday (i.e. easter eggs, big fat guys wearing candy red suits, dressing up in ridiculous costumes and turkeys wearing Pilgrim garb). Then again, I never understood the invented holidays either. Just what is Festivus and Hannukwanza anyway? I was particularly interested in Fast Food Day yet another made up, albeit yummy holiday. As Charlie Brown would say, “Good grief!”
Hi Mema,
Perhaps these lyrics might explain the symbolism for the 4th of July:
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.
Aside from that, fireworks are fun and beautiful to watch, using bursting beautiful colored lights in the sky seems pretty celebratory to me. But that’s me.
Perhaps the easter eggs are symbolic of new life, as in the ascension of Christ.
The legends and folklore concerning Christmas are too numerous to mention here – but it is said on the original Christmas, three wisemen traveled, bearing gifts for the New King – Christ. St. Nick/Santa Claus evolved as a benevolent protector of children. I’ve never seen a turkey wearing Pilgrim outfits but I believe Thanksgiving is symbolized by the first supper shared between the Indigenous Indians of this country and the Pilgrims who first came here.
As to the other holidays you mentioned, I haven’t a clue and am not sure I’ve heard of them. Fast Food day sounds like an advertising gimmick to me, albeit a yummy one.
That’s my best explanation. Hope it works for you.
WC
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I remember once in my 7th grade lit class, we had to memorize this and recite it. Anyone who sang it, or spoke it aloud to its melody got points deducted. It was really hard to do.
I can never hear this without crying.
Beautiful.
kim
Wow, that must have been hard to do. I simply can’t get the melody out of my head, so I’d probably have failed the test. It makes me cry too – it just means so much.
WC
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What scares me is that I know the US anthem better then the two other country’s that I actually resided in.
Happy belated BD and thanks for making me know the US anthem even more. 😉 .
Hey Spaz,
You know, that is really odd. I wonder how that could be. Maybe it’s really well known outside of this country and I just never knew. Still, even if that’s the case, I still find that surprising. I haven’t a clue about any other country’s anthem. Weird. 😯
WC
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Actually it’s not really that odd if you are not an American. I am not sure Americans realise how much influenced the rest of the world is by “Americanisms”. All I have to say is Hollywood or the Music scene.
One thing Americans do well is sell themselves outside of America.
Haha, luckily the Swiss have chocolate, watches and cheese, or else nobody would have a clue who we are and even then, half the world can’t keep the Swedish and Swiss people apart 😉 .
Hey Spaz,
Interesting point – I never really thought of it. Though maybe it does make sense in a way – America, just geographically speaking is 4 or 5 times the size of Europe, isn’t it? Big country, lots of people, lots of create spilling over. Maybe.
I can’t even imagine how anyone could confuse the Swiss with the Swedes or vice versa – the Swedes make volvo’s and fish tuna – the Swiss are as you said, chocolate, cheese, watches and of course neutral territory. 😉
WC
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