I think we should restore the original lyrics to The Star Spangled Banner

[GoddessOfGuinness]

Those in favor, raise your glasses! :beer:

To Anacreon in Heav'n, where he sat in full glee,
A few Sons of Harmony sent a petition;
That he their Inspirer and Patron wou'd be;
When this answer arrived from the Jolly Old Grecian;
"Voice, Fiddle, and Flute,
No longer be mute,
I'll lend you my name and inspire you to boot,
And besides I'll instruct you like me, to intwine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's Vine."

The news through Olympus immediately flew;
When Old Thunder pretended to give himself airs.
If these Mortals are suffered their scheme to pursue,
The Devil, a Goddess, will stay above stairs.
"Hark", Already they cry,
"In transports of joy,
Away to the Sons of Anacreon we'll fly.
And besides I'll instruct you like me, to intwine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's Vine."

"The Yellow-Haired God and his nine lusty Maids,
From Helion's banks will incontinent flee,
Idalia will boast but of tenantless Shades,
And the bi-forked hill a mere desert will be.
My Thunder no fear on't,
Shall soon do it's errand,
And damme I'll swing the Ringleaders I warrant,
I'll trim the young dogs, for thus daring to twine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's Vine."

Apollo rose up and said, "Pry'thee ne'er quarrel,
Good sing of the Gods with my Vot'ries below:
Your Thunder is useless"--then showing his laurel,
Cry'd "Sic evitable fulmen' you know!
Then over each head
My laurels I'll spread
So my sons from your Crackers no mischief shall dread,
While snug in their clubroom, they jovially twine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's Vine."

Next Momus got up with his risible Phiz
And swore with Apollo he'd cheerfully join-
"The full tide of Harmony still shall be his,
But the Song, and the Catch, and the Laugh, shall be mine.
Then Jove be not jealous
Of these honest fellows,"
Cry'd Jove, "We relent since the truth you now tell us;
And swear by Old Styx, that they long shall intwine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's Vine."

Ye Sons of Anacreon then join hand in hand;
Preserve Unanimity, Friendship, and Love!
'Tis yours to support what's so happily plann'd;
You've the sanction of Gods, and the Fiat of Jove.
While thus we agree,
Our toast let it be:
"May our Club flourish Happy, United, and Free!
And long may the Sons of Anacreon intwine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's Vine."

[realisticphish]

1. huzzah!

:toast:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

2. Cheers!

:toast:

[Floogeldy]

3. Are you saying something about Francis Scott Key?

What?

[GoddessOfGuinness]

4. I wonder who was responsible for setting Key's poem

to a drinking song?

[laheina]

6. And who was responsible

for that hideous high note toward the end?

I just want to know who to blame. :shrug:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

8. "There does not seem to be a single composer of this tune,

...rather it was a collective effort by the members of the Anacreontic Society. The new society song, "To Anacreon in Heaven" required a new tune and thus all got together and worked on this project. John Stafford Smith (1750-1836), a court musician and member of the society, was probably the guiding force behind this endeavor and most likely is the person responsible for the tune as we know it today. As early as 1798 the tune of The Anacreontic Song appeared in American papers with various lyrics, among these was Robert Treat Paine's (1731-1814) popular "Adams and Liberty," perhaps the most prominent American song prior to "The Star-Spangled Banner." http://www.bcpl.net/~etowner/anacron2.html

[laheina]

5. Cheers!

:toast:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

10. L'Chaim!

:toast:

[Oeditpus Rex]

7. GoG, this so rocks!

I'm bookmarking this and printing it to take to a ball game. :evilgrin:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

9. Then you've GOT to

make a recording of yourself when you sing it!

We want to hear! :bounce:

[laheina]

11. You are a brave, brave man.

:P

[Oeditpus Rex]

12. Oh, I'd totally do it

Hell, I'd have extra copies for the people around me goin' "What the hell is that??" I doubt anybody'd get in my face because they'd be so curious.

At minor-league games, after "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the seventh-inning stretch, we'd sing the Peter Yarrow version, which takes the first three words and puts them at the end:

To the ball game, take meeeee out
With the crowd, buy me soooooome
Peanuts and Cracker Jack, I don't care
If I ever get back, for it's root, root, root
For the home team, if theyyyy don't
Win it's a shame, for it's oooooone
Two, three strikes, you're out at the old ball game
Taaaake meeeee ouuuuuuut!

The looks we'd get. :rofl:

[mykpart]

13. Oh, say can you see

Any dead bugs on me?
If you can, knock 'em off
Or I'll give them all to you.