Growing up in Malibu, California, she began learning the violin at the age of four and left regular school five years later with the goal of becoming a world-class violinist; she practiced eight or nine hours a day and read a wide range of literature. Progressing to writing her own music, she studied under various teachers and went to Indiana University, which she left over issues regarding the relationship between classical music and the appearance of the performer. Through her own independent label Traitor Records, Autumn debuted with her classical album On a Day: Music for Violin & Continuo, followed by the release in 2003 of her album Enchant.
She appeared in singer Courtney Love's backing band on her 2004 America's Sweetheart tour and returned to Europe. She released the 2006 album Opheliac with the German label Trisol Music Group. In 2007, she released Laced/Unlaced; the re-release of On a Day... appeared as Laced with songs on the electric violin as Unlaced. She later left Trisol to join New York-based The End Records in 2009 and release Opheliac in the United States, where previously it had only been available as an import. Currently she is on tour to promote her newest album Fight Like A Girl. She played the role of Painted Doll in Darren Lynn Bousman's 2012 film The Devil's Carnival.
The Star Spangled Banner
Emilie Autumn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
Emilie Autumn's rendition of The Star Spangled Banner is a hauntingly beautiful interpretation of the iconic American anthem. In the intro, Autumn's delicate voice singing the opening lines, "Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light, what so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?" creates a sense of nostalgia and patriotism. The line, "Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight" refers to the American flag and its importance in the country's history. The line, "O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming" evokes an image of soldiers fighting for their home, watching the flag waving high in the wind.
However, the song takes a dark and eerie turn as Autumn's voice grows louder and more intense, representing the trials and tribulations the country has faced. The line, "And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there" refers to the Battle of Fort McHenry during the War of 1812, when Americans fought bravely against the British, enduring a night of bombs and rockets but still seeing their flag standing strong in the morning. The question at the end, "Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave, o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?" challenges the listener to consider what it truly means to be free and brave in America.
Overall, Emilie Autumn's version of The Star Spangled Banner is a thoughtful and emotional interpretation of a beloved American anthem that forces the listener to reflect on their country's history and the values it stands for.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
Can you see what's happening in this early morning?
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
What were we so proud of in the evening when the flag was last raised?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
Whose flag with its broad stripes and bright stars survived the dangerous battle?
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
Did we watch our flag flow gracefully over the fortifications?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
When we saw the bombs and rockets exploding in the air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
we knew that the flag was still waving all night long.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
Can you still see that banner with its shining stars and stripes?
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
Above the country where people are free and brave?
Contributed by Benjamin G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.