The Star-Spangled Banner

"The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States. The lyrics were written in 1814 by Francis Scott Key, a 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet, after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland by British ships in Chesapeake Bay during the War of 1812. It became well known as a patriotic song to the tune of a popular English drinking song, "To Anacreon in Heaven." While it was recognized for official use by the United States Navy (1889) and by the White House (1916), it was made the national anthem by a Congressional resolution on March 3, 1931. Although the song has four verses, only the first is commonly sung today.

External links

• MP3 Audio File of Star Spangled Banner
• Star Spangled Banner Lyrics, history, sheet music, photos and wav files.
• Bruce Springsteen preforming an acoustic "Star-Spangled Banner." Only available as a streaming audio
• Isaac Asimov on the four stanzas of the anthem
• Encyclopedia Smithsonian article on "The Star-Spangled Banner"
• "Star-Mangled Banner: A look at some controversial, and botched, renditions of our national anthem"
• "The Star-Spangled Banner" by John A. Carpenter
• Easybyte - free easy piano arrangement of the Star Spangled Banner / Anacreon in Heaven

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