Ace of Spades HQ

May 14, 2011

Two weeks late, but still on point [Fritzworth]
— Open Blogger

How many of you know all the verses to the "Star-Spangled Banner"? Verse 3 is particularly obscure -- my church dropped it from their hymnal 25 years ago -- because, as originally written, it referred to those pesky, invading British in unflattering terms. And since we've been best buds with them for most of the last 200 years, it really is a bit out of date.

Except that it's not, especially not after 9/11. It has a whole new meaning, now. And with the abrupt termination of Bin Laden two weeks ago, it is more appropriate than it has been since, well, 1814 or so. This is what should be sung before baseball games for the rest of the season, or at least on 9/11/11:

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battleÂ’s confusion,
A home and a country, should leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footstepsÂ’ 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,
OÂ’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Right atcha, Usama. Have a great Saturday, everyone. ..fritz..
(blogging from 32,000 ft on my way home from NYC)

Posted by: Open Blogger at 05:50 AM | Comments (43)
Post contains 234 words, total size 1 kb.

1 My opinion is that the entire song refers to the Brits with who we were at war when the song was written. This verse doesn't refer to them by name.

Posted by: Vic at May 14, 2011 05:55 AM (M9Ie6)

2 I've always liked the third verse. I can't sing, so I memorized the whole thing as a sort of dramatic reading. It was a poem first, after all. Drop it into a conversation when someone tries to use a famous quote and it hits hard. No one knows where it comes from until you get to the "Land of the Free" part.

Posted by: Sean D Sorrentino at May 14, 2011 05:59 AM (8mN8g)

3 Well, yes, the whole song (poem, originally) referred to the battle at Fort McHenry, but the other three verses only make a single reference to the attacking British forces ("the foe's haughty host") and focuses instead largely on America and American forces. It's only verse 3 that describes the British in such unflattering terms. ..fritz..

Posted by: fritzworth at May 14, 2011 06:04 AM (ehnNX)

4 On topic: Watch this and feel good for 2 minutes.

Posted by: Y-not at May 14, 2011 06:15 AM (pW2o8)

5 Nah... the whole of it is "neener neener" in intent: See that flag over there? Nyah nyah ya fkn Brit a-holez!

Posted by: 7 Chinese Spammers at May 14, 2011 06:21 AM (xaCZY)

6 On topic: Watch this and feel good for 2 minutes.

Posted by: Y-not at May 14, 2011 10:15 AM (pW2o

You want all the morons crying, don't you

Posted by: momma at May 14, 2011 06:25 AM (penCf)

7 Posted by: Y-not at May 14, 2011 10:15 AM (pW2o

One of the wonderful things about our country is the expression of genuine patriotism and love for America that seems to spring up in the most unexpected places. Contrast this with the carefully choreographed, saccharine events designed by our politicians and their image consultants!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (NJConservative) at May 14, 2011 06:32 AM (LH6ir)

8 Can they do this? Can they monitor when we are on the internet, when we are taking a shower? Look at the comments from the people designing it as well. Even they seem to have concerns over privacy rights. Can they make us pay a license to be able to watch t.v.???? http://www.poedpatriot.com /2011/05/smart-grid-to-track-internet-tv-and-ice.html
I had to add spaces between the com and the backslash to post

Posted by: timwi at May 14, 2011 06:33 AM (Sxt4Z)

9 OT

Did you guys see this video yet?

If not, it is a must see.

This mom reads excerpts of an ethics book at a school board meeting (cuss words in chapter titles, anti whitey, anti-capitalism, whites stole our land and dignity, America is evil, etc).

A board member tells her she can't use that language because there are children present at the meeting.

She responds: I'm reading straight from their school issued ethics book!

Emotional Reading of Excerpts at Tucson School Board Meeting From a Book Used in the Controversial Ethnic Studies Curriculum for Grades 3rd Â– 12th (Content Warning)

Posted by: momma at May 14, 2011 06:33 AM (penCf)

10
Emotional Reading of Excerpts at Tucson School Board Meeting From a Book Used in the Controversial Ethnic Studies Curriculum for Grades 3rd Â– 12th (Content Warning)

Posted by: momma at May 14, 2011 10:33 AM (penCf)

Video on longer available due to copyright.

Posted by: Tami at May 14, 2011 06:35 AM (VuLos)

11 On topic: Watch this and feel good for 2 minutes.

Posted by: Y-not at May 14, 2011 10:15 AM (pW2o

You want all the morons crying, don't you

Posted by: momma at May 14, 2011 10:25 AM (penCf)

I wasn't crying, I just got something in my eye.

Posted by: ErikW at May 14, 2011 06:36 AM (J0IxH)

12 http://preview.tinyurl.com/26zu9tm

This will make you feel good, too.

Posted by: Retread at May 14, 2011 06:36 AM (G+7cD)

13 "The Star Spangled Banner" doesn't adequately acknowledge Muslim contributions to arithmetic.

Posted by: Lincolntf at May 14, 2011 06:37 AM (xMT+4)

14 And since we've been best buds with them for most of the last 200 years

Let me be clear, as I have said before, I'm, uh, gonna fix that!

Posted by: Barry O at May 14, 2011 06:42 AM (op4Bf)

15 This happened spontaneously at a Tea Party where Herman Cain was speaking. We need to learn ALL the verses and sing them loudly.

Posted by: MathMom at May 14, 2011 06:42 AM (tj0rx)

16 "The Star Spangled Banner" doesn't adequately acknowledge Muslim contributions to arithmetic.

Posted by: Lincolntf at May 14, 2011 10:37 AM (xMT+4)

Or their world-class rock throwing skills.

Posted by: ErikW at May 14, 2011 06:43 AM (J0IxH)

17 13 http://preview.tinyurl.com/26zu9tm

This will make you feel good, too.
----
Nice!

Posted by: Y-not at May 14, 2011 06:46 AM (pW2o8)

18 17 "The Star Spangled Banner" doesn't adequately acknowledge Muslim contributions to arithmetic.

Posted by: Lincolntf at May 14, 2011 10:37 AM (xMT+4)

Or their world-class rock throwing skills.

lol

Posted by: Jane D'oh at May 14, 2011 06:47 AM (UOM48)

19 I fixed the link. I posted it in both because it is a wake up call. Listen to ignorance form the board and the filth they are teaching our children.

Emotional Reading of Excerpts at Tucson School Board Meeting From a Book Used in the Controversial Ethnic Studies Curriculum for Grades 3rd Â– 12th (Content Warning)

Posted by: momma at May 14, 2011 06:47 AM (penCf)

20 I like MathMom's link better than mine. If you poke around a bit you can find a vid of Lewis singing all four verses, made after his spontaneous effort went viral. What a voice that man has.

Posted by: Retread at May 14, 2011 06:49 AM (G+7cD)

21 momma@20

I heard Beck talking about this. It is just unbelievable. Makes me so angry I could spit.

Posted by: Jane D'oh at May 14, 2011 06:52 AM (UOM48)

22 I heard Beck talking about this. It is just unbelievable. Makes me so angry I could spit.

Posted by: Jane D'oh at May 14, 2011 10:52 AM (UOM4

Perhaps you should watch Y-not's vid again.

Posted by: ErikW at May 14, 2011 06:54 AM (J0IxH)

23 I can think of others it can speak to...

Posted by: AoSHQ's DarkLord© at May 14, 2011 07:19 AM (Fs7RJ)

24 Hey, don't blame us. We burned Washington for you; you're the guys that decided to rebuild it.

Posted by: andycanuck at May 14, 2011 07:21 AM (Y1DZt)

I watch BBC shows on the commie channel (PBS) and I don't see any way that the British population doesn't hate us to the bone when they allow that anti-American garbage to be shown continuously. I will continue to support their trigger pullers, but the rest of those socialists can just go drink warm beer for all I care. They will probably need rescuing again some time and maybe we just won't answer the phone.

Posted by: Errol at May 14, 2011 07:30 AM (uAzAD)

26 During the royal wedding the music of the star spangled banner was playing. The wife asked what the hell are they doing playing that in England during a royal wedding. I said "see what we did?" lol

She had no idea we put our own words to god save the queen.

Posted by: Berserker at May 14, 2011 07:36 AM (FMbng)

27 Not the Star Spangled Banner. We put "My Country, Tis of Thee" to "God Save the Queen".

Posted by: sportsnmusic at May 14, 2011 07:43 AM (TeSqd)

28 She had no idea we put our own words to god save the queen.

I hate to be pedantic but that is not the Star Spangled Banner. It is America that uses the music from God Save The Queen.

Posted by: Vic at May 14, 2011 07:46 AM (M9Ie6)

29 Well someone beet me to it while I was typing

Posted by: Vic at May 14, 2011 07:47 AM (M9Ie6)

30 ""I hate to be pedantic but that is not the Star Spangled Banner. It is America that uses the music from God Save The Queen.""

I'm pretty sure thats what I said. We put our own words to god save the queen.

Posted by: Berserker at May 14, 2011 07:55 AM (FMbng)

31 The melody of the Star Spangled Banner was a drinking song.

It had been used for songs praising John Adams and Thomas Jefferson before Key wrote his poem.

Posted by: HeatherRadish at May 14, 2011 08:01 AM (op4Bf)

32 Maybe i have to make it retard clear actually.

The wife heard star spangled banner, which we know was actually god save the queen.

Seeing the wife is american, she heard what was familiar to her as star spangled banner.

Not knowing we added our own words to god save the queen, she heard what she thought was god spangled banner,but it was really god save the queen..

I looked at her and giggled and said "see what we did?"

is it any clearer now?

Posted by: Berserker at May 14, 2011 08:02 AM (FMbng)

33 Hmm, god spangled banner, thats a new one.

Posted by: Berserker at May 14, 2011 08:04 AM (FMbng)

34 woops I see what I did, I got the titles wrong, my bad. yes, my country tis of thee.

Posted by: Berserker at May 14, 2011 08:05 AM (FMbng)

35 This came in email today:
Subject: Fw: Quote of the day

"Thanking Obama for killing Bin Laden is like going into McDonalds and thanking Ronald McDonald for the hamburger. It's the guy cooking the burger that should get the credit, not the Clown."

Posted by: real joe at May 14, 2011 08:07 AM (w7Lv+)

36 "Thanking Obama for killing Bin Laden is like going into McDonalds and thanking Ronald McDonald for the hamburger. It's the guy cooking the burger that should get the credit, not the Clown."

thats great, only you have to add that the "clown" was actually campaigning to close down mcdonalds, and was ordering the DOJ to prosecute bigger flippers, then has the balls to take the credit for the great burgers.

Posted by: Berserker at May 14, 2011 08:13 AM (FMbng)

37 Berserker, I love that line---"it's the guy cooking the burger that gets the credit, not the clown". It could apply to so much that The Man Who Shot Osama Bin Laden does -he absolutely has the Ronald McDonald Touch---with a little bit of Chuckles and Bozo mixed in. Of course he's got an evil streak like The Joker.

Posted by: Comanche Voter at May 14, 2011 08:43 AM (3ESDJ)

Try singing this verse with the melody. Its tuff to match up.

Posted by: MD at May 14, 2011 10:04 AM (jmoS0)

Isaac Asimov's famous essay on our national anthem:

http://tinyurl.com/9wy4w

Posted by: BOF at May 14, 2011 12:04 PM (JzWBS)

40 I actually prefer the last verse to what we all sing at football games, the first verse.

O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the warÂ’s desolation.
Blest with victÂ’ry and peace, may the HeavÂ’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: Â“In God is our trust;Â”

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