Happy Independence Day!!

First, I'd like to say Congratulations to O'Fallon, MO for it's sesquicentennial celebration. The fireworks display last night rocked (although KSDK reported they would fire at 10:15 p.m. and they actually started at 9:15 p.m.)

This morning as I awoke, I was trying to remember the words of the Star Spangled Banner. You know-- Our National Anthem. As I lied there thinking through the words I realized I've sung this song thousands of times, and I don't know the words without singing the bloody tune (that's my way of recognizing my English friend, Ada whom is a new daddy). It's like starting the alphabet in the middle without singing the alphabet song-- It cannot be done.

After thinking way too much about the words, I realized they don't make a whole lot of sense! It was time to look up the lyrics online:

Oh say can you see,
by the dawn's early light
which so proudly we hailed
by the twilight's last gleaming?

Whose bright starts and broad stripe
through the clouds of the fight.
[Clouds? What was perilous?]
O'er the ramparts we watch'd
['ramparts' means a means of defense or protection]
Were so galantly streaming?

And the rocket's red glare
The bombs bursting in air
Gave proof to the night
That our flag was still there.

O say does that star spangled banner yet wave?
O'er the home of the free
and the land of the brave.

---

What amazed me was the history of the melody which was taken from the British:

In 1814, Francis Scott Key wrote new words for a well-known drinking song, "To Anacreon in Heaven," to celebrate America's recent victory over the British. However, only in 1931, following a twenty-year effort during which more than forty bills and joint resolutions were introduced in Congress, was a law finally signed proclaiming "The Star Spangled Banner" to be the national anthem of the United States.

Anyway, Happy 4th of July. Don't get blown up.