Francis Scott Key really nailed the experience at the battle of Baltimore, of which Fort McHenry was took the brunt of the British fire. Key was a guest of the British as the battle begun, and because he was privy to too much tactical battle information, we was forced to watch the battle from the decks of the British HMS Tonnant.
His amazement that the American flag was still flying in the morning was all the inspiration that this practicing attorney needed to pen what has become our national anthem. It really does give me chills when I listen closely to the lyrics, and the imagery it represents. "..and the rockets red flare" is a reference to the British continuing experimentation with rockets in battle. Horribly inaccurate, they were introduced in the Peninsular war against the French a few years earlier. Though a terrible weapon, they must have lit up the sky and induced tremendous fear among the American soldiers.
The 'bombs bursting in air' referenced in the poem was likely fused shell cannon fire from the ships at anchor. Cannons typically fired heavy balls of lead used to breach fort walls, or fired fused shells that exploded when reaching their targets (typically human ones). There is also case or grape shot that consisted of hundreds of small lead balls that rendered a cannon to be large shotgun.
It surely overwhelmed Key with emotion to see the Stars and Stripes still flying after a long night of constant bombardment. Even now, when I hear the national anthem played, I get chills at the beautiful, dramatic and terrifying imagery so well writing by Francis Scott Key.
I think many more Americans would find themselves choking back tears if they really listened to the words being sung - a beautifully written first hand account of American tenacity.
His amazement that the American flag was still flying in the morning was all the inspiration that this practicing attorney needed to pen what has become our national anthem. It really does give me chills when I listen closely to the lyrics, and the imagery it represents. "..and the rockets red flare" is a reference to the British continuing experimentation with rockets in battle. Horribly inaccurate, they were introduced in the Peninsular war against the French a few years earlier. Though a terrible weapon, they must have lit up the sky and induced tremendous fear among the American soldiers.
The 'bombs bursting in air' referenced in the poem was likely fused shell cannon fire from the ships at anchor. Cannons typically fired heavy balls of lead used to breach fort walls, or fired fused shells that exploded when reaching their targets (typically human ones). There is also case or grape shot that consisted of hundreds of small lead balls that rendered a cannon to be large shotgun.
It surely overwhelmed Key with emotion to see the Stars and Stripes still flying after a long night of constant bombardment. Even now, when I hear the national anthem played, I get chills at the beautiful, dramatic and terrifying imagery so well writing by Francis Scott Key.
I think many more Americans would find themselves choking back tears if they really listened to the words being sung - a beautifully written first hand account of American tenacity.
I get those chills, too, and not just because the talent sometimes struggles with the "rockets red glare" high notes! But honestly? Celebrating blowing things up... well, I guess there are other things I'd rather glorify in our national anthem. I submit the classic "America the Beautiful" as a lovely (if somewhat churchy) alternative. Brotherhood & fields of grain vs bombs! That said, there's nothing like being away from the US for such a long time to make me grateful and appreciative for home, and get a little extra misty around the 4th.
ReplyDeletepeace out man. ;-)