Well, I can sing "The Star-Spangled Banner," but I always goof up the tune on "The Internationale." Guess I'll have to work on that one.It's not the tune of "Banner" I dislike. It's an interesting, stirring tune and the lyrics have an interesting story behind them - but it's so militaristic. It seems to me that most national anthems are militaristic - even "The Internationale" sounds militaristic in tone. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could break out of that mold and have anthems that celebrate peace and beauty and idealism? That's why I like "America the Beautiful."
-Joe Offer-
RedCelt, if you search our Digital Tradition database for anacreon, you'll find a couple versions of the song that is thought to be the source of the tune for "Star Spangled Banner." Click here for one and here for another. Mudcatter Dave Swan belongs to a group called Oak, Ash, and Thorn - one of their CD's has a nice recording of "To Anacreon in Heaven."