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The unsung stanza of the National Anthem (video)
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The Star Spangled Banner is played numerous times a year at professional sporting events, political rallies, amateur sports arenas and other venues across the country. Many know that Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner upon witnessing “Old Glory” still waving after the battle at Fort McHenry in 1814. Amidst the smoke and haze of the morning he saw that the flag was still flying after a night of bloody battle. He was so inspired by the bravery of the soldiers and the symbolism in the flag that he wrote prose that later became a song. This song was requested so often that it became the unofficial anthem for the U.S. Finally in 1931 Congress voted and proclaimed The Star Spangled Banner as our official National Anthem.
Though many choose the freedoms that others died for in order to freely burn the U.S. Flag on a whim, our leaders long ago chose to preserve the flag and the meaning of it. In fact, the very flag that inspired what is now our National Anthem, still stands today. It is on display in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington D.C.
What many don’t know and what is rarely taught in history classes is that there are more stanzas to the National Anthem than those we typically hear sung. Key’s original song has four stanzas, not one. The most stirring of these is the final stanza. It poignantly reflects the true heart of America, the land of the free and the home of those brave enough to face up to religious persecution in order to be here. In honor of the celebration of Independence Day, here are the lyrics from that last stanza:
O, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand,
Between their lov'd homes and the war's desolation;
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us as a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust"
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Between their lov'd homes and the war's desolation;
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us as a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust"
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
To read all the lyrics to this song, go to StarSpangledBanner.info
Enjoy our National Anthem sung by this 7 year old with an amazing gift.
One can only imagine what the last stanza would sound like coming from this kind of voice.
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