Graded Literature Readers: Fourth Book :: The Star-Spangled Banner

The Star-Spangled Banner

By Francis Scott Key

Francis Scott Key (1780-1843): An American lawyer, who will be remembered as the author of "The Star-Spangled Banner."

During the second war with England, in 1814, the British made an attack upon the city of Baltimore. The British war ships moved up near Fort McHenry and opened a heavy fire of cannon balls, bomb shells, and rockets. These latter were made like our well-known sky rockets, and could be thrown at the enemy.

During the battle some Americans, one of whom was Francis Scott Key, carried a flag of truce out to the British fleet to secure the release of an American citizen who had been taken prisoner. The Americans were detained over night on a ship far to the rear of the attack. During the night they listened anxiously to the sound of the guns, and watched the red rockets and the bursting bombs, being sure that, as long as the firing continued, the fort still held out; but late in the night the guns became silent. Did it mean that the attack had been repulsed? Or had the fort surrendered? Only daylight would tell.

Before dawn the anxious Americans were watching. The first faint light of day showed them the stars and stripes still floating over the fort; then they knew that the attack had failed and that the Americans were victorious.

While on the deck of the British war ship, Mr. Key composed the poem which has become our national anthem.

1. Oh, say! can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming—
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the clouds of the 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.
Oh, say! does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

2. On that shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, now conceals, now discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam;
In full glory reflected now shines on the stream;
'Tis the star-spangled banner; oh! long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

3. And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul foot-steps' pollution;
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave;
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

4. Oh! thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and war's desolation!
Blessed with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto, "In God is our trust;"
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Ram´pÄrts: walls surrounding a place for its defence. Tow´?ring: very high. VÄunt´ingly?: boastingly; braggingly. Hav´oc: destruction; ruin. Pollu´tion: uncleanness. Hire´ling: one who serves for gain only.

Young men, you are the architects of your own fortunes. Rely on your own strength of body and soul. Take for your star self-reliance. Energy, invincible determination, with a right motive, are the levers that move the world. Love your God and your fellowmen. Love truth and virtue. Love your country and obey its laws.

PORTER

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