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The
Star Spangled Banner Lyrics: FAQ's (Frequently asked questions for
kids)
The most
Frequently asked questions about the Star Spangled Banner Lyrics
are:
● Who wrote the Star
Spangled Banner lyrics?
Francis Scott Key
(1779-1843)
● Why was the Star
Spangled Banner written?
Francis Scott Key said that the lyrics were "... the
first time that someone had put down in words their
feelings about their country and the flag"
● Where was the Star
Spangled Banner written?
The lyrics were
written at Fort Henry, Baltimore, in Chesapeake Bay,
Maryland
● When was the Star
Spangled Banner written?
The lyrics were written following the US victory at the
Battle of Baltimore, during the War of 1812 on September
14, 1814
● When was the Star
Spangled Banner officially made the national anthem?
The Star
Spangled Banner Lyrics were officially made the national
anthem on March 3, 1931 by President Herbert Hoover who
signed an act into law
● What is the
meaning of the Star Spangled Banner lyrics?
The meaning of the
Star Spangled Banner Lyrics reflect the patriotic
feelings of Francis Scott Key when he saw the enormous
US flag flying over Fort Henry
● What are the Star
Spangled Banner lyrics?
The Star Spangled
Banner Lyrics are detailed below together with the
meaning of the lyrics
The Star Spangled Banner Lyrics for kids: What was the Inspiration to the
Star Spangled Banner Lyrics?
Francis Scott Key
was inspired to write the lyrics to the 'Star Spangled Banner'
after he had been detained by the British and had watched the
bombardment of Fort McHenry during the Battle of
Baltimore on the night of September 13-14, 1814. Unsure
of the outcome of the battle he looked towards Fort Henry dreading
to see the Union Jack flying over the fort. Instead, he saw the
'Star Spangled Banner' proudly flying and realized that the brave
Americans had been victorious.
Refer to
The History of the Star
Spangled Banner.
Star Spangled Banner
Lyrics for kids
The Star
Spangled Banner Lyrics provides interesting
History Facts and
important information about this important symbol of
America that transpired during the presidency of the 4th President of the United States of America.
The Star Spangled Banner Lyrics
for kids:
The Words and Meaning of the Star Spangled Banner Lyrics
The Words
and Meaning of the Star Spangled Banner Lyrics are detailed verse by
verse, line by line.
The
Star
Spangled Banner Lyrics and Meanings for kids
Star Spangled Banner
Lyrics Verse 1
Oh, say can you see
by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last
gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous
fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly
streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still
there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
Meaning of Star Spangled Banner
Lyrics Verse 1
●
The flag that
flew over the fort was enormous. The commander of
Fort Henry, Important George Armistead had commissioned
Mary Pickersgill to make "a flag so large that the
British would have no difficulty seeing it from a
distance"
● The flag
could be seen from several miles away and Francis Scott Key
was saying that it could be seen in the last light
before nightfall and the first light at dawn
● The 'perilous
fight' was the Battle of Baltimore during the War of
1812
● The Star Spangled Banner
was streaming over the ramparts (battlements) of the
fort
● The "rocket's
red glare" and the "bombs bursting" used
alliteration to describe the cannon fire pounding
from the British navy and the cannons firing from
the fort (one of the ships was armed with a rocket
launcher)
● The angry red
glow from the cannon fire enabled Americans to see
their Star Spangled Banner
was still flying - the British had not captured the
fort and hoisted the Union Jack
● The Star Spangled Banner
was waving over the 'land of the free' - a reference
to the fight for Independence that had resulted in
freedom from the tyranny of the British
● The 'home of
the brave' lyrics reflect the heroic exploits of
Americans to defend their country
● The War of
1812 was popularly known as the 'Second War for
Independence'
● Meaning of Star Spangled Banner
Lyrics Verse 1
Star Spangled Banner
Lyrics Verse 2
On the shore, dimly
seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Meaning of Star Spangled Banner
Lyrics Verse 2
●
Francis Scott Key
was describing the perspective from the land as
American looked out to hazy images of the British
ships
● The 'foe's
haughty host' lyrics describe the vessels of the
arrogant British
● The lyrics
'dread silence reposes' express the view of the
ships that look quiet and still as if resting, but
are actually a hive of terrifying activity
● Francis Scott Key
describes the high vertical position of the flag
over Fort Henry in the lyrics 'o'er the towering
steep' and the movement of the flag blowing in the
wind, concealing then revealing the Star Spangled Banner
● The sun comes
out and clearly shines on the Star Spangled Banner,
'in full glory' lyrics express the grandeur of the
flag and a religious connotation
● Francis Scott Key
almost makes the Star Spangled Banner
lyrics 'cheer' using the patriotic words "Tis the
star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave. O'er the
land of the free and the home of the brave!"
● Meaning of Star Spangled Banner
Lyrics Verse 2
Star Spangled Banner
Lyrics Verse 3
And where is that
band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps'
pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Meaning of Star Spangled Banner
Lyrics Verse 3
●
Francis Scott Key
describes the British as arrogant and boastful in
the lyrics 'that band who so vauntingly swore'
● He is venting
his anger at the British with the "foul footsteps'
pollution" lyrics inferring that the British
poisoned the ground on which they walked
● But the
poison and corruption had been washed away by the
blood of the British
● The Star Spangled Banner
lyrics "the hireling " refers to the British use of
Mercenaries (German Hessians) in the American War of
Independence
● The Star Spangled Banner
lyrics "...and slave" is a direct reference to the
British practice of Impressment (kidnapping American
seamen and forcing them into service on British
man-of war ships). This was a Important cause of the War
of 1812
● Francis Scott Key
then describes the Star Spangled Banner
as a symbol of triumph over all adversity
● Meaning of Star Spangled Banner
Lyrics Verse 3
Star Spangled Banner
Lyrics Verse 4
Oh! thus be it ever,
when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued
land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a
nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it 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!
Meaning of Star Spangled Banner
Lyrics Verse 4
●
Pride and
Patriotism is the theme of the last verse
● Francis Scott Key
uses emotive words such as 'freeman', 'home',
'blest', 'victory', 'triumph', 'conquer' and 'peace'
in the Star Spangled Banner
lyrics
● He was a
deeply religious man and his words reflect his
belief that God was on the side of the Americans
● He refers to
the American nation and fighting for a just cause
● The words "In
God is our trust" combines the concepts of religion
and patriotism and are believed to be the origin of
the official motto of the United States "In God we
trust". The unofficial motto of 'E pluribus unum'
which was adopted when the Great Seal of the United
States was created in 1782
● Star Spangled Banner
Lyrics Verse 4
The
Star
Spangled Banner Lyrics and Meanings for kids
Star Spangled Banner Lyrics for kids - President James Madison Video
The article on the
Star Spangled Banner Lyrics provides an overview of one of the Important
events of his presidential term in office. The following
James Madison video will
give you additional important History Facts and dates about the political events experienced by the 4th American President whose presidency spanned from March 4, 1809 to March 4, 1817.
Star Spangled Banner Lyrics
●
Interesting Facts about the
Star Spangled Banner Lyrics for kids
●
Meaning of Star Spangled Banner Lyrics
●
The Star Spangled Banner Lyrics, a Important
event in US history
●
James Madison Presidency from March 4, 1809 to March 4, 1817
●
Fast, fun, interesting Facts on the Star Spangled Banner
Lyrics
●
Francis Scott Lee and the
Star Spangled Banner Lyrics
●
James Madison Presidency and
the Meaning of Star Spangled Banner Lyrics for schools,
homework, kids and children |
