“The Star-Spangled Banner” Lyrics

Can you remember the words Francis Scott Key wrote for the first stanza of his poem “Defence of Fort M’Henry” in 1814 after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British Royal Navy during the War of 1812?

His four-stanza poem was set to the melody of a popular English tune, but did not become the official national anthem until 1931, via a joint resolution of Congress. The second, third and fourth verses are seldom performed. For the full text of Key’s poem, see the National Museum of American History.

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