The US anthem, The Star Spangled Banner revolves around our independence from the British recounting a battle scene. I think it's a good anthem and it's important for the citizens of the US to remember why, how and when the nation was founded. It also emphasizes the courage it took to secure our freedoms. It never mentions God.
It is a good anthem, but I think this one would be even better as an anthem - America the Beautiful : O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassion'd stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness
America! America!
God mend thine ev'ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law.
O beautiful for heroes prov'd
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country lov'd,
And mercy more than life.
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness,
And ev'ry gain divine.
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears.
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea.
I agree, a lovely song and far superior from a lyrical and melodic standpoint imo.
Yesterday I was on a roll, so I listened the anthems of the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Finland, the UK and the US. The thing that really stood out for me in the US anthem was in the last stanza. This sentence: And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
Somehow, it doesn't fit with the rest of the song. Like it was added later. But indeed, the US anthem is one anthem which recollects the history of the country.
Ah, I stand corrected. This is definitely in there but we never hear or even learn more than the first portion of the song. It is sung at the outset of every major sporting event etc. but only the first part.
I think this is true for most anthems. They are way too long to play completely. I do think it would be a funny thing if they would. Past the first portion, only the people who were hired to sing the song would still be singing.
I wonder what the shortest anthem is? Brevity is king!
Here's a link to the Ugandan Anthem it sounds joyful and the lyrics are nice: Oh Uganda! may God uphold thee,
We lay our future in thy hand.
United, free,
For liberty
Together we'll always stand.
Oh Uganda! the land of freedom.
Our love and labour we give,
And with neighbours all
At our country's call
In peace and friendship we'll live.
Oh Uganda! the land that feeds us
By sun and fertile soil grown.
For our own dear land,
We'll always stand:
The Pearl of Africa's Crown.
According to wikipedia (or rather, a copy of the Defence of Fort McHenry (1814) ) it already contained "And this be our motto: "In God is our trust.""
Yes, very true. I did not know this line and would wager that most Americans don't. It's never sung passed the first portion.
It still sounds like it doesn't belong... When you listen to the song, I think you'll know what I mean. That, or the version I listened was bad.