A thought about the National Anthem

[PJMcK]

Isn't it curious that "The Star Spangled Banner" begins with the words "Uh, oh?"

(Credit is due to the late, great Alan Jay Lerner)

[COLGATE4]

1. Another thought on the National Anthem -

While most educated Americans have at least some notion that the lyrics to the national anthem are based
on a poem by Francis Scott Key, more than a few might be hard pressed to tell you when the events that caused him to write it took place (War of 1812) and I doubt that more than a very few of even the better educated know that the tune used for the national anthem is in fact a bawdy old English drinking song entitled "To Anacreon in Heaven". Another kind DU'er provided a link to the song, along with a Cliff Notes version of the lyrics: "Let's get drunk and get laid". Here it is for your patriotic pleasure:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029633303

[PJMcK]

3. Yep, I knew the history of our Anthem

When I was in music school, I wrote a paper about various countries' anthems and how they were adopted. Fascinating stuff but I've always loved that the metrical scanning of the poetry fits with a song about debauchery!

The one-liner I quoted was written for a 1983 Broadway musical titled "Dance A Little Closer" with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner ("My Fair Lady," etc.) and music by Charles Strouse ("Annie," etc.). The show was such a failure that opening night was the only performance, (excepting the previews), and the show's producers cancelled the opening night party to save the money! Broadway wags still refer to the show as "Close A Little Faster."

The show had several terrific songs and quite a few pithy lines but the plot was silly. There was one cool feature: they had an on-stage skating rink.

[TlalocW]

2. And we only singified (shut up, that should totally be a word) part of it

There are a few more stanzas after the first, one that relates Key's getting his jollies at slaves escaping their masters to join up with the British getting blown up.

TlalocW