Lets start with the lyrics to The Star Spangled Banner. Last night at a major sporting event, watched globally by millions of viewers, someone butchered, ground up and fried our beloved patriotic ditty. Now I don't like to mention names so I'll just say that her initials are Christina Aguilera. Don't get me wrong, I know she is not the only one to flub the lyrics. Hell the number of contenders for worst national anthem performance is long and illustrious. But we don't ask performers at sporting events to sing the whole song, just the first stanza. What's that you say? There is more than one verse? You see this is exactly the sort of thing I am talking about.
I may be to sensitive about this sort of thing but I had to get up and walk away for a little bit. Because you see I think every American should know the lyrics to at least the first verse of our national anthem.
I also think that they should know a little of the history surrounding the tune. Out of the truck load of info surrounding this song of songs, I think I have laid out some of the essential... lets call them bullet points.
They should know that the lyrics were written by Francis Scott Key and set to an old drinking song. That said lyrics were inspired by Key having witnessed the bombing of Fort McHenry by the British Navy from positions inside Chesapeake Bay.
Apparently after the British retreated (coming to the conclusion that a siege was a waste of time and resources), Mr. Key was beside himself to see Fort McHenry's huge flag still waving from the fort signifying that the fort had not been taken and remained in American hands.
So he wrote a poem, as poets both professional and amateur are wont to do.
Even my wife who will readily admit to being greatly historically challenged knew this. I'm just sayin'.
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