It would take quite a few years for the song to build its legacy, however. O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave The song’s name came about due to a brave music printer who took the liberty of changing the title to “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The rest, of course, is history. included the heroic verses in their copies. It was printed under the title of “Defence of Fort McHenry,” and newspapers all over the U.S. Odd, no?ĭespite the strange nature of the accompanying music, the song quickly became a hit. What may be strange about the accompanying tune is that it was a familiar drinking song composed by a British composer. The song was linked to the Anacreontic Society, an amateur musician’s and singer’s club named after the Greek poet Anacreon. The historic lyrics started as a poem called “The Defence of Fort McHenry” and were later set to a tune called “The Anacreontic Song,” composed in the late 1700s by a man named John Stafford Smith. Key found inspiration in the large United States flag, known as the Star-Spangled Banner, flying triumphantly above the fort after the U.S. The War of 1812 had just begun, and lawyer/amateur poet Francis Scott Key had just witnessed the destruction of Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore. But how did the song come to be known as the United States’ national anthem? Raising their hands to their hearts, everyone proudly recites the beloved song from long-instilled memory. We’ve heard Francis Scott Key’s “Star Spangled Banner” millions of times – opening at sports events, at patriotic celebrations, and more. What is it exactly that makes an anthem? Is it the lyrics, the music, the writer? When you think of anthems, one really big one probably comes to mind.

Words to the star spangled banner song