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.

Local variations

There are several popular local variations on the ending and other changes in emphasis:

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• The University of California, Berkeley, at the singing of the National Anthem, will replace "the rockets' red glare" with "the rockets' BLUE glare" and "home of the brave" with "home of the BEARS".
• Rock singer Steven Tyler of Aerosmith improvised on the song's ending by singing "...and the home of the Indianapolis 500," in reference to the race he performed at. This offended veterans' groups, and they demanded an apology from Tyler.
• The anthem's performance at every University of North Dakota hockey game ends with the entire crowd yelling "SIOUX!" in the place of "Brave." (Similarly, whenever the national anthem is performed at University of Oklahoma sporting events, the last line becomes, "and the home of the 'SOONERS!'")
• At North Carolina State University sporting events, students and fans often shout the word "red" in the line "the rockets' red glare" and replace "brave" at the end of the song with "wolfpack" in tribute to the school's color and mascot. However, this practice has come under fire recently, though it has not led to any change in behavior.
• When the song is performed at Atlanta Braves games, the final word is pluralized, making the last line "and the home of the BRAVES!" (Sometimes, "Atlanta" may be added before "Braves.")
• When the song is performed at Tacoma Rockets hockey games, the word "rockets'" is shouted. ("...and the ROCKETS' red glare...") This is also done at Houston Rockets games.
• At home games of the Baltimore Orioles, who are affectionately known as the "O's", when the song is performed, the "Oh" in the line "Oh say does that Star-Spangled Banner yet wave" is emphasized and yelled out, rather than sung. Fans also raise their hands above their heads to form a circle/"o". This is such a tradition in Baltimore that this practice may also be heard at many places in and around Baltimore when the anthem is performed or where there is a large congregation of Orioles fans. The "O" is also done by the Cameron Crazies at Duke University, although their reason for doing it is unclear.