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Collapsing Nation Still Somehow Expects Singer to Perform Anthem Sober (thehardtimes.net)

submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (2 children)

It has four verses, even though typically only the first verse is performed. The full version has these lyrics:

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.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

I don't really read that as condoning slavery, as much as acknowledging that slaves fought and died in the war?

[–] [email protected] -2 points 3 months ago (2 children)

how does that work with "the terror of flight"?

[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 months ago (1 children)

They're running from the British troops.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

that's still not good. why does it only talk about slaves and hirelings then?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago

Because it talks about other people in other places. Also, in context it could be referring to the British forces themselves. It had already been used as a rhetorical device for that after the revolutionary war.

Really though the idea that he would take a break in a poem about the war of 1812 and specifically the bombardment of Fort McHenry to dunk on slaves is just weird too. It doesn't fit.

Here's the complete extra stanzas.

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 - O long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

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 wash'd out their foul footstep's 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.

O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand Between their lov'd home and the war's desolation! Blest with vict'ry and peace may the heav'n rescued land Praise the power that hath made and preserv'd 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.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 months ago

the entire songs context is around the Battle of Baltimore which included 25 hours of naval bombardment. from the perspective of the ships where it was witnessed and given the volume of shells fired they assumed everyone would be dead.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Ah, thought it might be something like that. Pretty much nobody knows any stanzas past the first exist, so it's a bit silly to criticize it for that. It sucks just fine without it.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

i don't understand your point. it's one thing to say you can't say people are racist for liking it, because they wouldn't know the full lyrics which, i didn't say anyway... but it's silly to criticize a song for being racist just because people stop singing it before it gets really bad? bit of a weird take.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

It's silly to use a stanza that is literally never sung as criticism for why it sucks as a national anthem. As a reason for why the whole song as a general concept sucks, sure.