'Star-Spangled'? Try mangled

[TexasStooge]

When it comes to knowing national anthem, many can't earn stripes

By KATIE MENZER / The Dallas Morning News

Oh say, can you sing the national anthem?

If you're like most Americans, you can't.

A recent Harris Interactive survey showed that two out of three Americans don't know the words to "The Star-Spangled Banner."

And a thoroughly unscientific and arguably unfair poll by The Dallas Morning News of local and state celebrities indicated that our favorite North Texans are as ignorant as the rest of the nation when it comes to those "broad stripes and bright stars."

"Oh great, now it's going to be on the front page that George Vaeth from Anchor Flag doesn't know the words to the national anthem," said the local flag company owner, who struggled with a few lines when asked over the phone to sing on the spot.

"I know all the Beatles' songs, does that count? They're British. We were fighting them during that war."

A national movement is under way to re-teach Americans their song, and a group of democracy do-gooders is coming to Dallas next week to do just that. But it's hard to blame anyone who hasn't perfected the anthem, which has taken down a fair share of professionals – think Carl Lewis or Roseanne Barr.

The song spans nearly two octaves and uses words that haven't flourished in the lexicon since a young George Washington chopped down the cherry tree.

"If you ask an adult, 'What are ramparts?' – they have no idea," said music instructor Paula O'Bannion, who teaches the song to her students at Dallas' J.N. Ervin Elementary School. "What does 'gallantly streaming' mean?"

The lyrics are a poem penned by Francis Scott Key in 1814 as he watched an American flag flying high despite a brutal bombardment by the British of Fort McHenry in Baltimore.

The verse was set to music and became the national anthem in 1931. It can be considered a catchy history lesson, as well as the kickoff to major sporting events.

According to the poll, paid for by the National Association of Music Educators, even those who claimed to know the song – the first verse only – faltered when pressed. Only 39 percent of those who said they knew the anthem knew the words that follow "whose broad stripes and bright stars."

Thirty-four percent incorrectly said "were so gallantly streaming." Another 19 percent sang "gave proof through the night." Wrong.

The answer: "Through the perilous fight."

Many Texans also began to lose it on the third line. Some said "through the perilous sight." Others chose "perilous flight ."

"You mean it's not 'perilous night?' I have been singing it wrong all these years," said Dallas resident and national Spam recipe winner Cathy Hamm, also ambushed over the phone.

While they stumbled over the "ramparts," most finished strong at the "rocket's red glare" and on to "the home of the brave."

"We sing the national anthem at bouts," said Dallas roller derby bruiser Kym Wilson, whose rendition rated about a B in bell-curve grading. "With all the people singing around you, it just flows."

Tommy Donahue, manager of the Milo Butterfingers sports bar off Greenville Avenue, claimed to know the song. But the surprise of a reporter's phone call requesting that he sing without musical accompaniment was too much to ask. He slipped midway.

"If you had a karaoke machine and played the song, I think people would do a lot better," he said.

Sgt. 1st Class Gerald Lorance, a member of Wylie's award-winning Army National Guard recruiting team, also said he knew the words.

"I know it, but I don't feel comfortable singing it to you over the phone," he said.

They'll all get another chance to perfect their patriotic pitch when the National Anthem Project, a coast-to-coast campaign to reteach the nation it's anthem, arrives in Dallas next week.

The project is part of the teacher association's efforts to bolster music education in schools.

Ms. O'Bannion's school choir is one of many local groups that will participate in the activities at the Dallas Zoo on Wednesday and Thursday. Her kids will chant the song – all four verses.

"Most people don't even know there are four verses," said John Mahlmann, executive director of the National Association for Music Education. "The Star-Spangled Banner is a song people should be able to sing."

He said we have become a nation that lets others – a rock band, for example – belt out the anthem for us.

"Nationals anthems are meant to be sung – not watched," he said.

Suzie Riddle, a Lakewood librarian and former drummer of mommy-band Frump, said words don't necessarily define a patriot.

"It's nice when people know the words, but it would be more important to understand the issues and know who your representatives are," said Ms. Riddle, who gave a better-than-average performance when asked to sing.

Local comedian Mike Boucher, jazz singer Gordon Pope and avid Texas Rangers fan Frances Evans all knew the words on cue, although Sister Frances asked for a 30-minute delay so she could write them out first.

The nun, who has been attending Rangers games for 34 years, was taken at her word.

"I don't have any place to look it up," Sister Frances said. "I'm 79 years old."