Francis Scott Key – Defence of Fort M’Henry (Star Spangled Banner) Lyrics

The tune of The Star-Spangled Banner is taken from the British drinking song “To Anacreon in Heaven” that was first published by The Vocal Magazine (London) in 1778.

The lyrics were taken from Francis Scott Key’s poem “Defence of Fort M’Henry” that was written after being detained by British soldiers and later witnessing their attack on Fort McHenry during the War of 1812.

Key’s handwritten final draft is kept at the Maryland Historical Society.

Although the original draft is lost, it is often assumed that Key wrote the lyrics on the back of an envelope. This is most likely false since envelopes were not commonly used until 1840; letters were instead written on a sheet of paper to be folded and sealed with wax. Postage at the time was based on amount of sheets used, thus making envelopes wasteful and unnecessary. Being detained on his own ship, it’s quite fair to assume Key had ample resources to avoid using scrap paper of any sort.

Defence of Fort M’Henry (Star Spangled Banner) Lyrics

O 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 perilous fight
O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket’s 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?

On the 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, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
‘Tis the star-spangled banner — O long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

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 footsteps’ 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!

O thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n 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!