USA Anthem Poll

[John Fredrick Parker]

These are the major American Patriotic songs I found that were around before the Star Spangled Banner was officially designated our anthem; some of them had acted as unofficial anthem in years prior.

What I want to know is, of these, what would you most like to have seen become America's national anthem?

America the Beautiful

Battle Cry of Freedom

The Battle Hymn of the Republic

Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean

God Bless America

Hail, Columbia

The Liberty Song

Lift Every Voice and Sing

My Country, Tis of Thee

The Star-Spangled Banner

Stars and Stripes Forever

Yankee Doodle

[Emperor Norton I]

I like "Columbia, Gem of the Ocean" better sound-wise, but "Hail, Columbia" is more descriptive and basic as a national song.

[TheGingerninja41]

Pshh you forgot Tupac AND Metallica

[John Fredrick Parker]

I considered a number of these, many I liked but had too many issues with -- for example, My Country Tis of Thee feels perfect except for the fact that it's the same tune as the British anthem (God Save the Queen).

Ultimately, Lift Every Voice and Sing was my choice, because, of the choices I liked, I had the least problematic reservations with this one.

Pshh you forgot Tupac AND Metallica

Like I said, I was only looking at major patriotic songs around at the time Star Spangled Banner was chosen OTL

[IsraFrance]

From your options, I like stars and stripes forever, if they gave it lyrics

Though if they changed the lyrics to this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqcuY...eature=related, I would like it the best.

[John Fredrick Parker]

They actually do have lyrics -- beautiful to hear, hard to follow, a bitch to sing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDrz3...eature=related

May be a bit much for the ballgame...

(Note, I'm almost certain they diverge from Sousa's lyrics -- still awesome...)

Though if they changed the lyrics to this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqcuY...eature=related, I would like it the best.

Wait, you want the lyrics to be Dixie?

EDIT ADD:

From your options, I like stars and stripes forever, if they gave it lyrics

[IsraFrance]

Originally Posted by John Fredrick Parker

They actually do have lyrics -- beautiful to hear, hard to follow, a bitch to sing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDrz3...eature=related

May be a bit much for the ballgame...

(Note, I'm almost certain they diverge from Sousa's lyrics -- still awesome...)



Wait, you want the lyrics to be Dixie?

Music wise yes, that's why I said diffrent lyrics

[Ofaloaf]

Originally Posted by John Fredrick Parker

Like I said, I was only looking at major patriotic songs around at the time Star Spangled Banner was chosen OTL

Homes, Tupac is timeless.

[Emperor Norton I]

Originally Posted by Ofaloaf

Homes, Tupac is timeless.

Alternatively:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWS-FoXbjVI

[TheGingerninja41]

America Fuck Yeah! from world police

[Konrad13]

I cannot bring myself to vote for God Bless America due to my firm belief in a Secular America...

Now, a very minor revision (or outright exclusion) relating to the word "heaven" in The Liberty Song and it would be 90% perfect in my opinion. I reserve the 10% for human error reasons...

[R. E. Lee]

Originally Posted by Konrad13

I cannot bring myself to vote for God Bless America due to my firm belief in a Secular America...

Now, a very minor revision (or outright exclusion) relating to the word "heaven" in The Liberty Song and it would be 90% perfect in my opinion. I reserve the 10% for human error reasons...

I voted for Battle Hymn of the Republic... just because I think it would be hilarious to watch ultra-secular types heads' explode at every baseball game.

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord:
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:
His truth is marching on.

(Chorus)Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.

[The Kiat]

Star Spangled Banner!
It sends the message that you can knock down our walls, burn our cities, kill our soldiers, but will never break our spirit. In fact, after all those hours of bombarding Fort McHenry, the British were so disgusted by the site of a large flag still waving, that they turned around an went home.

[John Fredrick Parker]

I cannot bring myself to vote for God Bless America due to my firm belief in a Secular America...

You know Irving Berlin was an atheist, right?

[Konrad13]

Originally Posted by R. E. Lee

I voted for Battle Hymn of the Republic... just because I think it would be hilarious to watch ultra-secular types heads' explode at every baseball game.

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord:
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:
His truth is marching on.

(Chorus)Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.

I happen to be one of those ultra-secularists, and yes, that would piss me off...

[Konrad13]

Originally Posted by John Fredrick Parker

You know Irving Berlin was an atheist, right?

Did not know that, but still...

[R. E. Lee]

Originally Posted by Konrad13

I happen to be one of those ultra-secularists, and yes, that would piss me off...

"In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
While God is marching on."

[Timmy811]

Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean

The Liberty Song

Lift Every Voice and Sing

I don't think I've ever heard these three before.

[John Fredrick Parker]

I don't think I've ever heard these three before.

You noticed the links, right?

And I'm a little surprised you don't know Lift Every Voice and Sing

Lift every voice and sing,
'Til earth and heaven ring,
Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;
Let our rejoicing rise
High as the listening skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
Let us march on 'til victory is won.

[Douglas]

The Star Spangled Banner, but I'd prefer if we didn't have one. Too many good patriotic songs get left out!