James Burke Classic : US National Anthem is Drinking Song

Another James Burke Classic! This one from Connections³ Episode 5 part 3 (of 6). Here Burke reminds us that the Star Spangled Banner, in fact, comes from a rather bawdy and salatious drinking song known as "The Anacreontic Song" (or "To Anacreon in Heaven") - Lyrics by Ralph Tomlison Esq. as an ode to the 6th century Greek poet Anacreon who apparently had similar interests ;)

Here's how it goes:

1
To ANACREON in Heav'n, where he sat in full Glee,
A few Sons of Harmony sent a Petition,
That He their Inspirer and Patron wou'd be;
When this Answer arriv'd from the JOLLY OLD
GRECIAN "Voice, Fiddle, and Flute,
"No longer be mute,
"I'll lend you my Name and inspire you to boot,
"And, besides, I'll instruct you like me, to intwine
"The Myrtle of VENUS with BACCHUS's Vine.


2
The news through OLYMPUS immediately flew;
When OLD THUNDER pretended to give himself Airs_
If these Mortals are suffer'd their Scheme to pursue,
The Devil a Goddess will stay above Stairs.
"Hark! already they cry,
"In Transports of Joy
"Away to the Sons of ANACREON we'll fly,
"And there, with good Fellows, we'll learn to intwine
"The Myrtle of VENUS with BACCHUS'S Vine.


3
"The YELLOW-HAIR'D GOD and his nine fusty Maids
"From HELICON'S Banks will incontinent flee,
"IDALIA will boast but of tenantless Shades,
"And the bi-forked Hill a mere Desart will be
"My Thunder, no fear on't,
"Shall soon do it's Errand,
"And, dam'me! I'll swinge the Ringleaders I warrant,
"I'll trim the young Dogs, for thus daring to twine
"The Myrtle of VENUS with BACCHUS'S Vine.


4
APOLLO rose up; and said, "Pr'ythee ne'er quarrel,
"Good King of the Gods with my Vot'ries below:
"Your Thunder is useless_then, shewing his Laurel,
Cry'd. "Sic evitabile fulmen, you know!
"Then over each Head
"My Laurels I'll spread
"So my Sons from your Crackers no Mischief shall dread,
"Whilst snug in their Club-Room, they Jovially twine
"The Myrtle of VENUS with BACCHUS'S Vine.


5
Next MOMUS got up, with his risible Phiz,
And swore with APOLLO he'd cheerfull join_
"The full Tide of Harmony still shall be his,
"But the Song, and the Catch, & the Laugh shall bemine
"Then, JOVE, be not jealous
Of these honest Fellows,
Cry'd JOVE, "We relent, since the Truth you now tell us;
"And swear, by OLD STYX, that they long shall entwine
"The Myrtle of VENUS with BACCHUS'S Vine.


6
Ye Sons of ANACREON, then, join Hand in Hand;
Preserve Unanimity, Friendship, and Love!
'Tis your's to support what's so happily plann'd;
You've the Sanction of Gods, and the FIAT of JOVE.
While thus we agree
Our Toast let it be.
May our Club flourish happy, united and free!
And long may the Sons of ANACREON intwine
The Myrtle of VENUS with BACCHUS'S Vine.

Not bad eh?

And now I suggest a new adjective: "Anacrenoistic", or noun, "an Anacreonism". Nobody'd notice the vowel switch!

P.S. As you might know I'm compiling a set of "classic" burke videos to create a new feature. If you have any suggestions let me know and I'll include it.

- JBW

Category:

Education

Tags:

• James
• Burke
• Star
• Spangled
• Banner
• Drinking
• USA
• Drunks
• American
• Flag
• Patriotism
• To
• Anacreon
• in
• Heaven
• Bawdy
• Enlish
• Pub
• OLYMPUS
• The
• Devil
• Goddess
• Will
• Stay
• Above
• Stairs
• Anacreontic
• Song
• الولايات
• المتحدة
• نشيد
• وطني
• لأبله
• السكارى

[USASSB4ever]

Thank you for posting this. I've known for some 50 years that the music of our National Anthem started out as a drinking ditty. What I've never did, was hear it performed. I also know that the real who-what-when-why of how Mr. Key's poem got put to this music (with some changes I see now) is a mystery just as deep as who really designed what we call our National Flag.

Thanks for putting this very educational item up.

[JamesBurkeWeb]

You're welcome!

I guess you also noticed that the lyrics are printed out in the video description. And they're quite funny IMHO ;)

- JBW

[dondonp12004]

Fascinating. Yes, our national anthem "The Star-Spangled Banner" is set to the tune of "The Anacreonetic Song." Either way, I find first verse to that, your national anthem "O Canada" and the British national anthem "God Save the Queen," also your royal anthem, so darn easy to sing IMHO. Thanks for uploading! Greetings from "the land of the free and the home of the brave" that is the United States of America.

[JamesBurkeWeb]

I just thought it was funny. The Canadian one, man... just terrible (as I guess I already said). Anyway, I consider myself a citizen of this planet and maintain my nationality merely for convenience (ie. a passport to anywhere); just dumb luck really. Were I born in Cambodia my passport would be something I'd desperately want to get rid of.

BTW. Their anthem, even though I live in Cambodia, is unknown to me. They're not very nationalistic (unlike the Thais say) and I'm not surprised!

- JBW

[yerk3]

@VodkaAce LOL! Anything that questions your sentimental myths about this country's founding is "putting down America" to you. Honesty is better than a million teary eyes or a migration of stomach butterflies. We live in a country initially colonized by a theocratic extremist sect, built by the slave trade, expanded by the longest genocide in history. Stealing an English drinking song is the least of our sins.

[aeternusero]

haha, we sing an English drinking song. hahaha, somehow they still win

[WickedStick39]

how about put the lyrics side by side you unbiased raggamuffin, all americans have heard english accents in movies thats it

[WickedStick39]

WE JUST KICKED YOUR FUCKIN ASS!!!! ill drink to that

[astalivista121]

hahah yankee wankers .. you guys are funny ..

[BeerGogglesReviews]

The fore-fathers loved a beer. That's why they took a detour and landed early. They ran out of beer.

[jagdpanther1944]

I just thought of a good idea for Britain's Got Talent.....

[sploggon]

@USASSB4ever The Washington family coat of arms,Stars and Stripes,

Northamptonshire ... Fawsley Parish Church - The Church of St Mary ... coat of arms upon which the American flag, the 'Stars and Stripes', is undoubtedly based.

[narbagepl0x]

no god damn it, our anthem is set to the tune of the tune of an english drinking song