Star Spangled Banner: Poem Analysis

The star-spangled banner has been performed over the years by many artists. There have been few that have really stuck out and remained in our memory. It was created during a time of revolution and the beginning of a nation. There is no time to be more patriotic than when you are fighting for your country. The song represents the freedom that americans have fought and died to defend. There is not a place on earth with so much freedom and equal rights as in America. When veterans hear the star-spangled banner it brings them pride because they fought for our freedom. The national anthem makes every american feel a sort of pride for their country.

Asking most American’s today regarding the national anthem of the United States of America the clear answer would be The Star-Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key, but most Americans are unaware of the great debate between the two patriotic songs America, the Beautiful and The Star-Spangled Banner in regards of the suitable national anthem. There is no doubt that controversy shrouds the beloved national anthem, as issues of racism, slavery, and the militaristic tone arise after each passing century. However, in my opinion, the national anthem should not be changed as it is a part of America. Not only is the Star Spangled Banner a song that is a piece of history of the land of the free, it is also a song that has deep roots in this country, and is a part of America’s heritage.

When songwriters begin to pen the lyrics of a song, I believe their ultimate goal is to transcend time in hopes of reaching listeners for generations to come. J.R. Cash, professionally known as Johnny Cash, wrote a song that did just that. “Ragged Old Flag” is a patriotic song that speaks to every generation. Written in 1974, “Ragged Old Flag” was meant to tell the story of our country. Johnny Cash recorded “Ragged Old Flag” live at the House of Cash. Cash wanted the song to be recorded live because it was raw, untouched, and unapologetically real. The basis of this analysis is to show how patriotism spans generations, but also why a song such as, “Ragged Old Flag” is an important part of patriotism in the United States of America.

Their eyes searched the sky for a glimpse of the American flag that flew above the fort. Finally in the early hours of September 14, 1814 Francis Scott Key saw the Star Spangled Banner standing tall above Fort McHenry. The sight so inspired him that he wrote a poem entitled, "The Defense of Fort McHenry" which was published as a broadside and later set to the tune of an old British drinking song. The Great Garrison Flag that flew above Fort McHenry was the inspiration for the name "The Star Spangled Banner" and still hangs in the Smithsonian in Washington

Other than all of the important war events that took place at the fort, the National Anthem of the U.S.A. was written because of the events that took place during the Battle of Baltimore. The writer, Francis Scott Key, was inspired at how the American flag was still standing after the British bombed Fort McHenry. The National Anthem was originally made just to be read, but over time started to be sung as a song. Come see this patriotic landmark today!

Boom, boom, boom. “Mommy, that one is my favorite!” Screams a blonde haired, blue eyed five year old little girl as fireworks screech into the midnight sky over the crystal blue lake on the Fourth of July. Nearly two-hundred and forty years ago our beloved land was born, gaining independence from Great Britain and declaring America as its own. From that day forward July Fourth would be celebrated with parades, festivals, and get-togethers across the nation. Red, white, and blue blanketing towns, patriotic music blaring through speakers, and fireworks shooting into the night sky, all to celebrate the birth of our nation. Across America no matter what day it is, the Star Spangled Banner flies high, to represent the passion and love Americans have for their homeland; however, present day issues are rivaling the foundation our Founding Fathers built the Untied States around.

In the War of 1812 a man named Francis Scott Key was inspired by the war. He writes a song about what he sees in the battle of Baltimore's Fort McHenry and writes a song the reflects what he saw. As he was watching the war he admired what he saw and put it in his own words; for example "And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air," he was seeing the war and expressing what he saw it. This song was eventually called the Star-Spangled Banner. The Star-Spangled Banner became a very popular hit of the time and finally was decided to become the National Anthem of the United States years after. This made an influence on what the citizens of the United States because it is a song that they can be proud of and can represent with great

This familiar anthem The Star Spangled Banner is America’s long-standing unchanging tradition that is played at each sporting event nationwide, school events, assemblies, Independence Day events, etc. It was invented when the U.S entered World War 1 by a man named Francis Scott Key who gave his poem to his brother, who noted that key’s poem fit the melody of The Anacreontic Song. It started out playing in the World Series game in 1918, where from that point in time it has played all sporting events since then. The Star Spangled banner exemplifies how traditions including anthems, origin narratives, as well as symbols are invented to meet the need of a national group, also known as an invented tradition. Even if it’s for just a moment of time regardless of class, race, gender, or people with disabilities people are ban together to show unconditional pride to their country’s flying colors. In the U.S students grades k-12 take part in the pledge of allegiance, where the entire class stands up and recites the pledge of allegiance at the start of their school day. In another country, it might be a morning prayer per say.

In 1814, Francis Scott Key wrote the poem The Star Spangled Banner after witnessing the attack on Fort McHenry by the British Royal Navy in the War of 1812. The poem was sang to the tune of a well-known British song and eventually, Key’s once amateur patriotic poem became the United States national anthem in which the lyrics strongly symbolize our country’s perseverance and freedom. The Star Spangled Banner can be heard at a variety gatherings such as official military functions and sporting events where celebrity singers often display impressive vocal talent to emphasize the final and most infamous line of the song “O 'er the land of the free and

Ladies of the Confederacy are often linked to the term “southern belle.” This label traditionally evokes images of beautiful, spoiled young ladies whose primary concerns were that of attending balls and capturing the attention of men. Attended to by numerous slaves, the stereotypical southern belle “had few tasks other than to be obedient, to ride, to sew, and perhaps to learn reading and writing.”1 By definition, a southern belle is a beautiful upper-class lady from the south.2 The southern belle stereotype is exemplified in many literary portrayals of upper-class southern women of the 19th century, such as that of Scarlett O’Hara in “Gone With the Wind.”

Born on August 1, 1779, in Frederick County, Maryland, Francis Scott Key became a lawyer who witnessed the British attack on Fort McHenry during the War of 1812. The fort withstood the day-long assault, inspiring Key to write a poem that would become the future U.S. national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner.

The issues that stems from Francis Scott Key when he wrote a poem which was later set to music. Later becomes America's national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The poem, originally titled “The Defense of Fort McHenry,” was written after Key witnessed the Maryland fort being bombarded by the British during the War of 1812. Due to the inability to deal with the inequality and dishonesty in this nation, the problem continues.

Innocent black people are getting killed and no one is doing anything. But when an athlete doesn't stand up for "The Star-Spangled Banner" they start to get mad and start do something about it. There's a war between people and police men where they are killing innocent black people and not going to jail for the crimes they did. Why can't we have peace at all? That means there are innocent black people who are unarmed and they are getting killed. But they won't let the victim's family get their justice that they need. Not standing up for the "The Star-Spangled Banner" is rude but then again there's some reasons behind it.

Meaning in music is derived from parenthetical analysis of several technical aspects including lyrics, form, historical context, emotional content, and personal connection. A hermeneutical approach to the Star-Spangled Banner can yield only interpretational results. Therefore, we must examine the more concrete details of the work, and how the music relates to the meaning of the protests as stated by Colin Kaepernick in August of 2016.

Over the course of American history, there has been several significant events that have impacted poetry, which serve to be the origins of many songs. This poetry origin has further developed diction and repetition within each song. “The Battle Cry of Freedom,” a historic piece, employs repetition and diction to emphasize its patriotic theme. However, as time continues, the merit of the piece, written by George Frederick Root in 1862, has been degraded and no longer holds the same significance in people's hearts. In order to better understand why, one must consider the meaning of the poem, the context of when it was written and the context of what it means today.