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On Septemthat inspired 35-year old, poet-lawyer Francis Scott Key to write the It was the valiant defense of Fort McHenry by American forces during the British attack When the Warrior Returns in honor of an American naval victory over the Barbary pirates. Most prominent American song prior to The Star-Spangled Banner.Īs early as 1806 Francis Scott Key adapted the tune to an earlier poem he wrote entitled As earlyĪs 1798 the tune of The Anacreontic Song appeared in American papers with various lyrics,Īmong these was Robert Treat Paine's (1731-1814) popular Adams and Liberty, perhaps the Set to different lyrics here in the US which we know as My Country T'is of Thee). Smith (1750-1836), a court musician and member of the society, was probably the drivingįorce (he is also the composer of the British national anthem - God Save the Queen - a tune Perhaps even probable, that the song was a collective effort by the members. President of the Society, Ralph Tomlinson, Esquire. The first four words of which are 'To Anacreon in Heaven.

Was dedicated to 'wit, harmony, and the god of wine.' The lyrics of the Anacreontic Song, Lived in the fifth century B.C., the 'convivial bard of Greece'). Was a popular gentlemen's club in London (named after a Greek poet, Anacreon, who The drinking song that Francis Scott Key used was from the Anacreontic Society, which

Following this custom, Francis Scott Key used a popular English drinking song as ForĮxample, Maryland, My Maryland is sung to the same tune as O Tanenbaum ( Oh Christmas The Star Spangled Banner The Star Spangled Bannerĭuring the 1800's, the tunes of popular songs often were used for another set of lyrics.

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