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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) (9 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) (5 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 (4 children)

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

[–] [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.

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