The Star Spangled Banner is Full of Forgotten Stories

The second stanza of 'Defense of Fort McHenry ' is not well known or at all to Americans so the ritual of the singing of the National Anthem becomes routine and uninspiring. I believe if you get people listening or singing the second verse it will make a change everyone can feel. The sense of wonder about the people who revolted and rejected their oppressor and then had to do it again in 'The War of 1812' would be built back again because we actaually are the family of those people whose songs inspired and were inspired by heroic acts. Imagine a democracy--the world's first true democracy. I say that because we honestly have people trying to make it work for everyone. In a world or in a country of fighting for rights the good fight is everyday being fought and there is truly a victory in fighting and even though repelled seeking and striving for justice. The fight is an expression of beliefs and not a loss to be dreaded. There is no loss in a battle for rights but there is a victory in the 1st Amendment expression of your rights that everyone sees. Here's the second stanza of the 'Defense of Fort McHenry.'

On the shore dimly seen thro' 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 in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

'The Anacreontic Song' can be heard on the links to this story. It's a song which was sung in a bygone era when people acted more fraternally and seemed like a truly empassioned and united people. The tune which was used to carry Francis Scott Key's lyrics was a song that was sung at meetings of a group dedicated to keeping music alive. Their meetings were forced to cease because of English pressure. The tune was highly thought of and made a comeback with the lyrics we sing today.

Francis Scott Key witnessed the attack on Fort McHenry while a prisoner on a British ship that was attacking the fort.and wrote the poem while the attack was going on legend has it. That's some story. It was printed just days after the attack in tabloids of the day. It later had the music added and in 1931 was declared The National Anthem by Congress.