Re: Best Music for the FOURTH

Posted by BigKev On 2011/7/3 19:34:19

Francis Scott Key was inspired to write the poem that was the basis for the Star Spangled Banner while we held aboard a ship in Baltimore harbor by the British. The Banner in question was the the large flag over the Fort protecting Baltimore. At that time it was the largest flag in USA during the war of 1812. He watched the British shell the fort relentlessly (rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air), but in the morning the fort removed the battle torn flag that flew flew the night, and hoisted the large flag that could be seen for miles as message to British fleet that after shelling the fort of nearly 24hrs, that the were still there and ready to fight. The british pulled anchor and left believing the fort was untouchable.

Once his poem was finished it was published in the local papers where it was instantly popular, and eventually sung to the tune of the British drinking song "To Anacreon in Heaven".