National Anthem

[twirlgrrl]

I would prefer that our national anthem be changed to "America the Beautiful." I like that it emphasizes the natural beauty of our environment, and prominently features concepts like brotherhood and liberty. And it can be done bluesy, Ray-Charles style as well as hymnlike. Plus the "undimmed by human tears" part makes me verklempt. OK, I know we as a nation would never get past the first verse at ball games, and who knows the other verses to the Star Spangled Banner? But the SSB is such a bloodthirsty song. And WTF with this:

"Then conquer we must
for our cause it is just
and this be our motto
in God is our trust"

Yeah, again, it's the last verse, but still... it's just a bit jihad-y for me.

And no, this thought was not prompted by any immigration or English-language debates or any other tomfoolery by the POTUS or his gang. It's from an article in the Utne Reader.

Comments

To Anacreon in Heav'n

[artemis-rich.livejournal.com]

I personally love the fact that the tune was written for a popular gentleman's drinking and music club of the mid-1700s, the Anacreontic Society, named for Anacreon, a sixth century Greek poet with a penchant for eroticism and alcoholic indulgence.

If ever called upon to sing, I tend to use the original words of the song. The lyrics celebrate wine, women and well...song. Just my own little subversive way of sticking it to the man (while being a font of useless trivia and arcane information all at the same time!).

To Anacreaon in Heaven

To Anacreon in Heaven, where he sat in full glee,
A few sons of harmony sent a petition,
That he their inspirer and patron would be;
When this answer arrived from the jolly old Grecian
"Voice, fiddle and flute,
No longer be mute,
I'll lend you my name and inspire you to boot,
And besides I'll instruct you like me, to intwine
The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine."

Ye Sons of Anacreon, then join hand in hand
Preserve unanimity, friendship, and love
'Tis yours to support what's so happily planned;
You've the sanction of Gods, and the fiat of Jove.
While thus we agree
Our Toast let it be
May our Club flourish happy, united and free!
And long may the Sons of Anacreon intwine
The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine.

Re: To Anacreon in Heav'n

[twirlgrrl.livejournal.com]

Yes, that was in the Utne article too, though not the lyrics. I love that you know them. I guess there were tons of lyrics to that particular tune back in the day... and the article made mention of the fact that it was sung "jauntily" then too. Somehow the SSB lyrics don't make me want to tap my toes and snap my fingers though.

Re: To Anacreon in Heav'n

[artemis-rich.livejournal.com]

I actually learned them when I was about 14 or 15. Some friends (http://www.oakashthorn.com/home.htm) in a singing group sang them. There are three or four more verses between the two I printed (those are the first and last). I've even got one of their albums where they sing it (on vinyl, of course).

The tune is original to the Anacreontic Society and the lyrics I printed above. In the years following there have been about four or five other poems that were set to that particular piece of music. I believe that FSK even penned an earlier bit of doggrel that he set to that tune, before the SSB. In my opion, FSK was just a half-assed poet who took advantage of the situation to gain noteriety.

Not that it's ever going to happen, but add my vote to the "America the Beautiful" campaign.

[summerbluerain.livejournal.com]

I have thought for years that America the Beautiful should be the national song just for the fact that it is so hard to sing for 90% of the population.

[neuraltube.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's one of the arguments against the SSB melody in the Utne article I read. I think that America the Beautiful is more moving, both in lyric and in melody, you know?