Star Spangled Banner
Louis Armstrong & His All‐Stars Lyrics
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What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O! say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
"The Star Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States of America, and the lyrics were written by Francis Scott Key in 1814 during the War of 1812. This particular rendition of the song is performed by Louis Armstrong & The All Stars, who bring their own distinctive jazz and soulful interpretation to the anthem.
The lyrics encapsulate the pride and resilience of the American nation. The first stanza begins with a question posed at dawn, asking if one can see the American flag in the early light. The flag represents the liberty and freedom fought for by the American people. It is described as being proudly hailed, symbolizing the admiration and respect it receives. The reference to the twilight's last gleaming suggests the anticipation of a new era and the perseverance of the American spirit.
The second stanza highlights the struggles faced by the nation during a perilous fight, possibly referring to the War of 1812 itself. The broad stripes and bright stars of the flag are described as gallantly streaming. The rockets' red glare and bombs bursting in air imply a fierce battle, but amidst the chaos, the flag is still visible, providing proof that the United States remains strong and united.
The final lines of the stanza reiterate the question asked at the beginning, inquiring if the star-spangled banner still waves over the land of the free and the home of the brave. This question serves as a reminder of the values and principles upon which the country was built.
Overall, Armstrong and his ensemble's rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" infuses the anthem with their unique jazz style and soulful energy, inspiring a sense of unity and national pride.
Line by Line Meaning
O! say can you see by the dawn's early light,
Oh, can you perceive with the first light of the day,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming,
That which we recognized with great pride as the day faded into darkness,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
Whose wide stripes and shining stars endured throughout the dangerous battle,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
As they gallantly floated above the protective walls we guarded?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
And the bright red bursts of rockets, the exploding bombs,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
Provided evidence throughout the night that our flag remained present;
O! say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
Oh, can you affirm that our flag with stars and stripes still flies
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
Above the country of the free and the residence of the courageous?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: David L Brunner, Francis Scott Key
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind