Star-spangled banner - an English view

I know, I know, as Canadian's your probably a bit ambivalant to this, but I've just heard Michael Bolton ruining America's ntional anthem, and I couldnt help but think about the English side of the song...

Right, so my ancestors were bombing the shyte out of this particular harbour....demolishing it, so then some bright spark decides to make the biggest flag youve ever seen in your life (and I mean of football match proportions) and stick it out, just so we could see it...all the while some guy with a poetic lick writes a song about it...bases it on an english pub song of course.....

But the thing that got me thinking, was you know, EVERYTIME someone mentions blowing up somthing in america, Britain, her biggest ally, always gets a mention, for example, we're STILL the only ones to blow up the whitehouse and set fire to new york (Al-queda never came close)....now call this smugness (it's not really honest)...but doesnt it irritate you that A. most of America's songs, when not about indians or the wild west, have at least a little something to do with the old redcoats over the pond?...

it would irritate the pish out of me...."ohhh that Bin Laden's blown up another US building....no-ones done that since...ohhh our allies"!!!.

That was almost 200 years ago, you really need to get over it.

I'm over it honest........

Just thinking of the song dude, just thinking of the song ...see I had to sing my national anthem today "boring as dishwater "god save our gracious queen, long live..blah blah blah"...I bet she gets fed up with it.

that's what got me thinking

Got you thinking about what? The Star Spangled Banner?

Daz, the US and the British Empire went to war twice, one was a revolution and the other was for the impressment of soldiers and "hijacking" our ships. What do you expect the national anthem to be about? The Fall of the Roman Empire?

nah, national anthems that had something to do with the british as a people...as opposed to some old woman...come on, it was a bar song before it, I'm just thinking, perhaps we should have something on Waterloo..no, that wouldnt be allowed, not PC enough (wouldnt please the EU), but you see my point (America's national anthem wasnt the only one I was thinking about....but you cant get much out of Mexico, Canada, Nigeria or Ireland's national anthem dude.

Well the monarchy has ruled the UK for centuries, I think it's appropriate.

Besides, today it's an old woman, tomorrow it will be God Save the King, no?

I hope not.....

I think it should be a new one....dunno what though, thats why I was listening to some other ones.....I heard a great one, but I dont think we can call ourselves Chad!!

did u know "God save the king/queen[delete as inappropriate]" was originally composed as a song called "america"?

nothing makes any sense if u discuss it long enough

He ruins every song...

It's a pity you Yanks can't do the same every 4th July.

The germans tell us to "get over it"...where "it" being the systematic murder of nearly 20 million people after 60 years, so I see your point Blackleaf........for a change

Blackleaf never has a point, he only projects a superiority complex by virtue of being British.

When I say get over it, I mean get over the fact we were the only colony to successfully revolt.

We still love you.

hehe.....

but if "by virtue of being british" makes you an ass...

I'll emigrate...


I'll get me coat

Blackleaf is one of a kind, I have rarely seen such a display of nationalism from a citizen of any country.

The Germans still don't understand that the Second World War ended only 61 years ago. It's not as if it was ancient history. There are millions of people alive today who fought in it and were children during it. The Germans keep saying "Why do you British always talk about the Second World War and still hate the Germans for it?" So I always think "But the war only ended 60 years ago. Two of my grandparents, who were kids at the time, had to be evacuated from the cities and into the countryside to escape the German bombing. Bomb damage is still visible in some of our towns and cities. After only 60 years the British have a right to still have a hatred and loathing of the Germans."

What about the Indians? I think they successfully revolted against us.

And of course I have a superiority complex. If you Americans ever conquer a quarter of the world's landmass - including what is now the world's superpower and also a country of one billion people - and a third of its people then we'll allow you to have a superiority complex, too.

The current American superpower is puny compared to what Britain was at the height of its powers.

Blackleaf - you are a hoot! Always tugging at Uncle Sam's sore spots....

In spite of you....I adore your PM Tony Blair.

DazHockey - The Star Mangled Banner

The American National Anthem has been oblitrated, ruined, emasculated by so many artists, I live for the day one will fall over in a faint trying to hit the high notes.....It's enough to start a war over

The dang song should never be sung by a soloist except a professionally trained classical singer, or unless there is a sturdy choir behind to cover up the "crows"...which in musical lingo is off center hits.

Yes Blackleaf, you guys had the bigger dick. Go stick your head back up your ass now.

Mercy sakes alive, I think I've gotta agree with blackleaf!

Hotshot - which part do you agree with?

The bigger dick

or

The British Empire's superiority, of course we have to include the Royals and the extreme poverty not to mention abject slavery was acceptable.....ahem.....

They still believe in that old saw primogeniture.... which is a crock after what I've seen emerge from the loins of Victoria Regina.

You remember what Miss Howe (remember, from Cheers) said about the english and their sexual prowess....or lack thereof.

The songs are antiquated and the words no longer have the same meaning. For example take Yankee Doodle. -- The earliest lyrics are as such:

Yankee Doodle

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Yankee Doodle" is a well-known --, often sung -- today (although originally satirical). It is the -- of --.
The first verse and refrain, as often sung today, run thus:

Yankee Doodle went to town, A-Riding on a pony;
He stuck a feather in his hat, And called it --. --
Yankee Doodle, keep it up, Yankee Doodle dandy;
Mind the music and the step, And with the girls be handy!

The tune has become synonymous with the United States. The Voice of America begins and ends all broadcasts with the -- of "Yankee Doodle".

//


History and lyrics

The song's origins were in a pre--- song originally sung by -- military officers to mock the disheveled, unorganized colonial "--" with whom they served in the --. At the time, the most common meaning of the word -- had the meaning of "simpleton" or "fool". It is believed that the tune comes from the -- --. One version of the Yankee Doodle lyrics is attributed to Doctor Richard Shuckburgh, a -- surgeon.
The -- Journal of the Times wrote about a British band declaring "that Yankee Doodle song was the Capital Piece of their band music."


The earliest known version of the lyrics comes from --:
Brother Ephraim sold his Cow And bought him a Commission; And then he went to Canada To fight for the Nation; But when Ephraim he came home He proved an arrant Coward, He wouldn't fight the Frenchmen there For fear of being devour'd. (Note that the sheet music which accompanies these lyrics reads, "The Words to be Sung through the Nose, & in the West Country drawl & dialect.")
The Ephraim referenced here was --, a popularly known Colonel in the -- militia who was killed in the --. He left his land and property to the founding of a school in Western Massachusetts, now known as --.
During the Revolutionary War, the Americans embraced the song and made it their own, turning it back on those who had used it to mock them. A newspaper account after the --, a Boston newspaper reported, "Upon their return to Boston [pursued by the Minutemen], one [Briton] asked his brother officer how he liked the tune now,-- 'Damn them,' returned he, 'they made us dance it till we were tired.' -- Since which Yankee Doodle sounds less sweet to their ears."
The British responded with another set of lyrics following the --:

The seventeen of June, at Break of Day,
The Rebels they supriz'd us,
With their strong Works,
which they'd thrown up,
To burn the Town and drive us.


It's all about perspective.

"Blackleaf spewed: It's a pity you Yanks can't do the same every 4th July.

And he continued: What about the Indians? I think they successfully revolted against us.
And of course I have a superiority complex. If you Americans ever conquer a quarter of the world's landmass - including what is now the world's superpower and also a country of one billion people - and a third of its people then we'll allow you to have a superiority complex, too.
The current American superpower is puny compared to what Britain was at the height of its powers."

Thats what I grudgingly agree with.

I don't care to know about the size of their dicks.

China are the most powerful country in the world. America just like to think they are.

Even Bush would not dare to cross the Chinese.

That's very true actually, China is a HUGE beast in itself, if you look through history, this Anglo-dominance for what?, 3 hundred years has been a mere blip on what is a actually a Chinese megapower world, order will be restored shortly though.

The sleeping dragon will arise once more.

I wouldn't say that... I loved his rendition of "Walk the Distance" (or something like that) as the theme song of Hercules...

"The sleeping dragon will arise once more."

It never went to sleep! About 2 years ago, an Ameriacn fighter jet was causght flying in Chinese airspace. So they shot it down. Captured the pilots. Called the US and told Mr Bush that they had 2 of their pilots and one of their planes. Mr Bush did nothing.

The Chinese continued for about 2 weeks to question the pilots about the plane, and took the remains of the plane to pieces and made the plans that they needed to make their own.

After they had done this, as promised, they put the pilots back on a plane totally unharmed and well fed back to the US, and called Mr Bush and told him that the remains of his plane were available for collection whenever they wanted to pick it up.

To this day, Bush has not had the guts to retaliate, or to collect the pieces of his plane.

Thats power.

MattUK

Where is your link to this anecdotal post?

If you are making accusations you might want to provide substantive information other than what you "heard".

I told a story, I was not intending it as an accusation. The source of which I am more than happy to believe as its a relative of mine that knew the navigator on board. Close to the horses mouth as I am going to get - but as you say - still something I "heard".

But, in all honesty, do you really think that Bush would admit to this? He would have to be more stupid that we give him credit for.

It's not an accusation actually, it's fact.

Britain went to war with China at the very PEAK of it's power, managed to take a couple of islands from some drugged up warlords, nothing more. If the US were to dare cross China, they'd know what they'd get.

Why do you think MacArthur was recalled SOOO quickly, the idiot wanted to take on China as well, which Truman knew VERY well was an idiot thing to do. No, China, if they wanted to be, would be the most powerful country in the world.

That is a FACT, not an Accusation.