This Fourth of July, sing the star-spangled drinking hymn

In America, today is Independence Day, which prompts a lot of firework detonation and patriotic chanting. This year, consider adding the Anacreontic Hymn to your repertoire.

Why? Because it’s the tune we use for the Star-Spangled Banner. Written in 1780, it’s a drinking tune that was adapted into the anthem in 1814, just after the War of 1812. Francis Scott Key’s ode to the War of 1812 worked well with the Anacreontic tune. At the time, it was common to write poems to other tunes, and poet Robert Paine had already done so in honor of John Adams and Spain.

Anacreon was a Greek poet who enjoyed love and wine. The song itself isn’t particularly outlandish, but there is a lot of wine.

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Did you know the anthem's origin?