Alternate United States National Anthems

I'll go with the obvious. Since people have been agitating to switch over to it since at least the '60s.

America the Beautiful.
 
I'll go with the obvious. Since people have been agitating to switch over to it since at least the '60s.

America the Beautiful.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Star-Spangled_Banner said:
"The Star-Spangled Banner" was recognized for official use by the Navy in 1889 and the President in 1916, and was made the national anthem by a congressional resolution on March 3, 1931 (46 Stat. 1508, codified at 36 U.S.C. § 301), which was signed by President Herbert Hoover.
Before 1931, other songs served as the hymns of American officialdom. "My Country, 'Tis of Thee", whose melody was derived from the British national anthem,[2] served as a de facto national anthem of the United States before the adoption of "The Star-Spangled Banner";[3] and "Hail, Columbia," served as the de facto national anthem from Washington's time and through the 18th and 19th centuries. Following the War of 1812 and subsequent American wars, other songs would emerge to compete for popularity at public events, among them "The Star-Spangled Banner".

quote from wiki
 
Some would argue that the old tune "Chester", set to revolutionary lyrics during the American Revolution by the New England compser William Billings was the first "American" National Anthem, although it was only used in New England. Words would have to change if the song was used by the United States (which did not exist when it was composed)
 
In an ATL in which the U.S. goes communist in the '50s, you could have "This Land Is Your Land" as the national anthem. Especially if you include this verse:

There was a big high wall there that tried to stop me; Sign was painted, it said private property; But on the back side it didn't say nothing; That side was made for you and me.

Edit: Oh! I just realized this was in the "POD before 1900" category. Sorry if this is too off-topic.
 
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In an ATL in which the U.S. goes communist in the '50s, you could have "This Land Is Your Land" as the national anthem. Especially if you include this verse:

There was a big high wall there that tried to stop me; Sign was painted, it said private property; But on the back side it didn't say nothing; That side was made for you and me.

Edit: Oh! I just realized this was in the "POD before 1900" category. Sorry if this is too off-topic.

No dude, it has to be 'Solidarity Forever'!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYiKdJoSsb8
 
No dude, it has to be 'Solidarity Forever'!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYiKdJoSsb8


Believe it or not, that video was already bookmarked as one of my favorites. :D

With that said, I think that the ATL commie U.S. would still pick "This Land Is Your Land" over "Solidarity Forever". "Solidarity Forever", while quite inspiring and message-appropriate for the communist government, makes no specific references to people, places, or events in America.

Also, I think that the main problem is that it's too anti-authoritarian to be a nationalistic symbol. I hate to say it, but the commie U.S. isn't going to be any more classless and anarchistic than any of the communist countries OTL. "This Land Is Your Land" is radically egalitarian, but it's not anywhere near as out-and-out subversive as "Solidarity Forever". "Solidarity Forever" drives home the point too well, and whenever people of the commie U.S. would sing it, they'd be reminded of how ridiculous it is for a nominally communist society to have a ruling class.

Edit: Wait... I just realized that if the commie U.S. becomes (for literary purposes) an analogue of OTL Soviet Union, it could start out with "Solidarity Forever" as an anthem, but then the second or third leader after the original frontman for that communist movement could replace it with a new song that includes egotistical sentiments about himself.
 
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Believe it or not, that video was already bookmarked as one of my favorites. :D

With that said, I think that the ATL commie U.S. would still pick "This Land Is Your Land" over "Solidarity Forever". "Solidarity Forever", while quite inspiring and message-appropriate for the communist government, makes no specific references to people, places, or events in America.

Also, I think that the main problem is that it's too anti-authoritarian to be a nationalistic symbol. I hate to say it, but the commie U.S. isn't going to be any more classless and anarchistic than any of the communist countries OTL. "This Land Is Your Land" is radically egalitarian, but it's not anywhere near as out-and-out subversive as "Solidarity Forever". "Solidarity Forever" drives home the point too well, and whenever people of the commie U.S. would sing it, they'd be reminded of how ridiculous it is for a nominally communist society to have a ruling class.

Edit: Wait... I just realized that if the commie U.S. becomes (for literary purposes) an analogue of OTL Soviet Union, it could start out with "Solidarity Forever" as an anthem, but then the second or third leader after the original frontman for that communist movement could replace it with a new song that includes egotistical sentiments about himself.

You know, I actually read something in The Nation about a year ago arguing that "This Land Is Your Land" should be the national anthem.
 
Battle hymn of the Republic

A problem here is that the Battle Hymn was a very specifically Northern song during the Civil War. A truly national anthem should not be so closely associated with one cause or region. At least one verse is also extremely Christian in tone and content.. "as He died to make us holy, let us died to make men free". This doesn't bother me, but it would not be appropriate in the anthem for the whole country.
 
You know, I actually read something in The Nation about a year ago arguing that "This Land Is Your Land" should be the national anthem.

I really like Guthrie's first two verses, but one thing you notice is the complete absence of pronouns such as "us" or "we". It is all about "I', and "me" - with one or two "yous" . I think a national anthem should focus more on collective expressions.
 
I think had reconstruction been done properly, the former slaves compensated and the economic base of those who engaged in the greates act of treason in US history been destroyed well The Battle Hymn of the Republic might well have been the anthem.

Another interesting idea is "The House I live in"
 
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