“The Star-Spangled Banner” Francis Scott Key

“The date is September 13, 1814. Your name is Francis Scott Key, and you are a lawyer-poet. For more than two years, the War of 1812 has been raging between the United States and England, our former mother country. The President of the United States, James Madison, has chosen you and another person to go on board the British warship, Surprise, anchored in the Chesapeake Bay, to negotiate an American prisoner's release. Meanwhile, the British have begun to bombard Ft. McHenry, which is guarding the city of Baltimore. Unfortunately for you, the British are now holding you captive. During the night, you anxiously pace back and forth on the deck, hoping to catch a glimpse of the coastline; but you cannot see the coast clearly due to the fog, smoke and haze. You know if the flag is lowered, it is a sign that your fellow countrymen have surrendered to the English. Then, as dawn draws near, with the flash of bursting shells you can occasionally see the fort and the over-sized flag bearing fifteen stars. You are elated! Finding an envelope upon your person, you jot down your thoughts to remind yourself of your feelings of the long and restless night. Also, an old English tune comes to mind, ‘To Anacreon in Heaven'. Since this tune is well recognized by your fellow Americans, your version, a parody, that you originally titled, ‘The Defense of Ft. McHenry', quickly becomes popular. ”

as the sun is rising, can you see the flag that was flying last night Lines from “the Star-Spangled Banner” Paraphrased Version   O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light, as the sun is rising, can you see the flag that was flying last night

  What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming,  we had proudly saluted the flag as the light faded

  Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,  We could see the flag through the dangerous battle

Lines from “the Star-Spangled Banner” Paraphrased Version   O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?  Over the fort walls we watched the flag bravely flying

We could see the British rockets and bombs exploding   And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,  We could see the British rockets and bombs exploding

Seeing the flag, we had hope that the fort had not surrendered.   Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.  Seeing the flag, we had hope that the fort had not surrendered.

Tell me, is the American flag still flying Lines from “the Star-Spangled Banner” Paraphrased Version   Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave Tell me, is the American flag still flying

Is our nation still free? Lines from “the Star-Spangled Banner” Paraphrased Version   O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave? Is our nation still free?