Oh Say, Can You See

That Canadians observe the bicentennial of the War of 1812 differently that we do...

CBC Radio's, Ideas, with Paul Kennedy, is one of my favorite podcasts. From time to time over the past couple years they've presented episodes examining the War of 1812. Their September 15, 2014 show, Oh Say, Can You See? is a fine piece of radio journalism. The detailed story of Francis Scott Key and the experiences that lead to his writing the poem, "Defence of Fort McHenry" which in time became our national anthem, The Star Spangled Banner, alone is worth your time.

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 thru 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. 

Oh, 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! Oh 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! 

Oh! 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! 

Play ball!