The Anacreontic Song-18c. Source Tune for U.S. National Anthem

"The Anacreontic Song"
Soloist: Jacob Wright
Conducted by Jerry Blackstone
From recording Poets & Patriots: A Tuneful History of "The Star-Spangled Banner," see starspangledmus...
Chorus: Justin Berkowitz, George Case, Mark Clague, Nicholas Davis, Stephen Gusukuma, Phillip Harris, John Hummel, Tim Keeler, Jonathan King, Nicholas Nestorak, Brandon Pemberton, Glen Thomas, and Scott Walters
Music edited by Mark Clague
Produced by Andrew Kuster
Audio and video engineering and production by Dave Schall
"The Anacreontic Song," or "To Anacreon in Heaven" with words by Ralph Tomlinson and music by John Stafford Smith is the source for the tune Francis Scott Key had in mind when he composed the lyric "In Defence of Fort McHenry" to celebrate the victory of American troops and the people of Baltimore against the British Fleet on 14 September 1814.
The precise date this club anthem of London's Anacreontic Society was written is unknown, but it was likely written in 1775/76. This performance is realized from first 1779 imprint, published by Longman and Broderip [London], a copy of which is held by the University of Michigan's Clements Library.
See osaycanyouhear.... for more on the history of the United States National Anthem or visit www.starspangle...
Lyrics by Ralph Tomlinson
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 would be;
When this answer arrived from the jolly old Grecian --
Voice, fiddle and flute, no longer be mute.
I'll lend ye my name, and inspire you to boot,
And, besides, I'll instruct you, like me, to entwine,
The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine.
-- CHORUS --
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 entwine,
The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine.
-- CHORUS --
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 biforked hill a mere desert will be.
My Thunder, no fear on't shall soon do its errand,
And dam'me! I'll swing the ringleaders, I warrant.
I'll trim the young dogs for thus daring to twine,
The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine.
-- CHORUS --
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.
-- CHORUS --
Next Momus got up, with his risible phiz;
And swore with Apollo he'd cheerfully join --
The full tide of harmony still shall be his,
But the song, and the catch, and the laugh shall be mine;
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.
-- CHORUS --
Ye sons of Anacreon, then, join hand in hand;
Preserve unanimity, friends and love.
'Tis your's to support what's so happily plan'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 entwine,
The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine.
-- CHORUS --
The Star Spangled Music Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that needs your support, please donate at starspangledmus...

[@carterhaughbooks4333]

Certain people think everybody is supposed to stand now when they hear this tune; but you know damn well that when it was first being played, everybody was lying flat on the floor under a table.

[@RealJPMcGrath]

Still I tune that makes me want to stand🇺🇸

[@orangepekoe5243]

Most occasions Americans are still drunk when the anthems plays, why would anyone be sober at a baseball or football game?

[@afuzzycreature8387]

Preakness.... that is all

[@dianekrisanda217]

UM

[@benywidodo]

Not everybody, someone is bound to intwine the myrtle of Venus with Bacchus' vine. Or intwine Bacchus' vines, if it happened at gentlemen's club 👀

[@Tmanaz480]

Debauchery was so much classier back then. They had Latin and Greek, we have Urban Dictionary.

[@yc.r.6961]

Life changing

[@NeelLLumi-AnCatDubh]

That was rich people debauchery. Plus, this is just the anthem; they eventually dissolved after the Duchess of Devonshire came to visit these men and they didn’t bother to show discretion with their lyrics.

[@Flammifleure]

May I recommend the Song of Songs... In Greek or Laitn, English translations suck.

[@mohammedcohen]

Capital Observation!!! Capital!!! Capital!!!

[@SantaFe19484]

Just like the Star-Spangled Banner, every stanza ends with the same set of words. Whenever you sing "the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave" you are secretly singing "the myrtle of Venus and Bacchus' vine."

[@pierre9694]

It's so weird. It sounds like the Star Spangled Banner and We Wish You A Merry Christmas had a child.

[@Gustavo-vk5nd]

Omg I totally hear that

[@martinaller-stead3898]

Well put! I hear 'em both.

[@dcritelli11]

well it is the insperation for the star spangled banner but ye

[@Corvette.Ronnie]

Francis Scott Key wrote the words to the National Anthem and set it to the tune “To Anacreon in Heaven”.

[@peterwarner358]

Bus the version we sing 8s a hymnal version reharmonization.

[@moldefan3544]

As a music nerd I love that they kept the natural 4th in the melody here, as it was originally written/performed. When the melody was adopted to become the U.S. national anthem, they raised that 4th. To go full on nerd, I should also mention that I couldn't help but notice that the solo singer went slightly sharp on that 4th in his last solo verse. It's hard to unlearn years of singing a melody in a particular way.

[@Hecatonicosachoron]

But he sang it so beautifully!... I’m sure it’s not wrong intonation, but it’s microtonal embellishment ;)

[@thetickedoffpianoplayer4193]

The natural fourth sounds really odd to me. I have audio/tactile synesthesia, and that natural fourth gives me a sensation in the pit of my stomach like I'm walking downstairs and I've missed a step.

[@GenAvAviation]

where exactly? I listened and can’t seem to notice the slight sharp

[@ruthking7884]

@@GenAvAviation HA...all I can picture is; This is what happens when you let Monty Python pick the US national anthem. LOL

[@emmapowell3488]

As a lay person that grew up with music, I too, noticed that he missed that note ever so slightly. Yes, he was a tad sharp; but, I think he got tickled at the lyrics of the song, and he couldn't contain the mirth anymore. Good thing that was the end of the song. I don't think he would have been able to hold back laughing out loud, if there had been one more verse to it! 🤣🤣🤣

[@AlanTuringWannabe]

The soloist is fantastic!😊

[@eljaguar4789]

I wish someone would sing this before a game instead of the national anthem just to scare everyone

[@the.rogue.roman.77]

That song was written by someone educated and highly intelligent. Even silly songs back then were substantive.

[@MCDreng]

Look at something like XCXD Comics for a similar kind of "educated people using their education to be silly" in the modern day; it's not dead at all in this day. This was much the same crowd. College educated people. Just what you learn is different these days. A lot less emphasis on classics and Latin, a lot more emphasis on STEM or maybe social science depending on how you run your electives, or indeed what your major is.

[@centeravenue]

A most impressive performance - of the whole thing. What a pleasure to hear such excellence.

[@zacharywilson9596]

Francis Scott Key: Hold my beer

[@johne6081]

FSK was reportedly tone deaf and simply selected a popular song whose meter matched that of his poem, and we've been stuck with it ever since.

[@Flammifleure]

@@johne6081 Ah, so his popular nickname of Francis "Off" Key isn't so far wrong?

[@elanxx]

Thank you for this rendition. I've been looking for a proper full verse performance of this song for a long time. Very well done. - From the UK.

[@sallymj8957]

Yours is the best version I've heard! My favorite part is when everyone sings the chorus a second time with the Ritz harmony. I love, love, love this! Excellent job.

[@johnfargher99]

So proud to be British.

[@mikiroony]

They turned a pub song into their anthem... Bloody brilliant, I reckon.

[@fenderstratADHD]

mikiroony we turned UR SONG into "My Country 'Tis Of Thee" so there

[@lcs684]

@@mikiroony your guys's Anthem was originally a French song in the 16th century.

[@mckernan603]

Thanks for “My Country Tis of Thee” too ;)

[@teviottilehurst]

@@lcs684 wrong. This tune is British. It was composed by the very French sounding name of John Stafford Smith. 😆 🤣 😂

[@sallymj8957]

This is awesome! Especially the chorus. That harmony sounds like more than 4 parts.

[@ToddSF]

It makes for a good story to say that the tune from the U.S. national anthem was derived from a drinking song, but that's not exactly true. The Anacreontic Society in London was more respectable than that. Their purpose was to hold concerts of good music while the audience listened to that music while enjoying some wine. The club was based on poems written by the Greek poet Anacreon, and the song tells the story of some people wanting to from that club who sent a letter to Anacreon in heaven, asking if he would please be their inspiration and patron. The "jolly old Grecian" replied in the affirmative, approving of the idea, while Zeus responded in jealousy. The six verses of the Anacreontic song tell the mythical, made up story, with a happy ended, and the refrain in each verse talks about entwining the myrtle of Venus -- the ancient Greeks considered myrtle to be sacred to Venus, goddess of love -- with the grapevine of Bacchus who was the God of wine. In other words, the myrtle stood for the love in friendship among members of the society and the vine stood for the convivial wine they drank while listening to music being performed. What they didn't do was meet so they could sit around and get drunk. In fact, when the composer Franz Josef Haydn came to London, he'd heard of the Anacreontic Society and liked the idea of a musical club so much that he attended their meetings to hear the music and have a glass or two of wine himself. So the club's signature song really wasn't the drinking song so many have made it out to be.

[@CharlesB-UNITEUS]

Myrtle is a bush. Get it bush. The Anacreon Society were members of Gentleman's club, where they went to get drunk and laid.

[@charlesthebeagle4989]

It’s a drinking song tho they would drink to this song and sing it so technically yes the US anthem took the time from an drinking song

[@weirdofromhalo]

You do realize that Haydn loved innuendo, right? It's clearly a song all about sex. After all, Jove (Zeus) was horny as fuck in the myths.

[@richhowell6386]

That is correct, the music was set to a classical type. It was as respecable gentlemens society, not a tavern. More myths denegrate our history as opposed to what many were lead to believe.

[@lindam7429]

It sounds very American...Also Ripley's Believe it or Not column was a huge factor in getting the anthem passed..... A drinking song and Ripley's Believe it or Not have got to be the most American things!

[@AvaT42]

I love this original version!! I can see how it was a gentlemans club drinking song.

[@PianoDreams]

So basically they just sharpened some of 4ths and made the US anthem. Lol.

[@moldefan3544]

Hehe yes. ;) I noticed the soloist was a little sharp on one of the 4ths in his final solo-verse, around 4:15 . Not quite a raised 4th, but nearly.

[@Midnight_Nihilist]

Yep.

[@archdukebigdogkoopa3821]

I imagine this anthem having that rhythm-a-chord progression, rather than the progression I hear nowadays, if you know what I mean. Like, taking the 1779 sheet (or any other sheet like that) and raising up what seems to be series and series of 4th octaves!

[@archdukebigdogkoopa3821]

I imagine the anthem having an arrangement akin this to this imprint, with sharpened notes, keeping the same rhythm.

[@archdukebigdogkoopa3821]

Show me all the 4ths in order of timestamps!!!!!!!!!!! Please!!!!

[@granskare]

this shows why the song is too difficult to sing for most of us...our politicians would not dare suggest a change but perhaps it should be a requirement that the leaders of the congress ought to be forced to sing this...that would be fun :)

[@manic5378]

I like the caveat of "usually" in there, otherwise it would bring into question what they were thinking when they had Roseanne Barr sing it in 1990. Though, I think she was self-aware of how disastrous it went.

[@MCDreng]

​@@manic5378that's on the organizer for organizing a comedian instead of a singer just as much as it's on Roseanne for not saying "uh, I'm not a singer, I'm a comedian. If you want me to do comedy then book me, but seriously, I'm not the right person."

[@AllTheWeirdestProject]

The fighter in the party sings the Star Spangled Banner. The bard sings The Anacreontic Song.

[@ruthking7884]

Sounds more like a Monty Python skit to me LOL

[@giuseppegnazzo3154]

Am I the only one that thinks this is amazing

[@pintificate]

No, you're not. The United States is an English creation. Check out the names of the signatories of the Declaration of Independence. English to a man. It's funny when you think about it... I just can't work out exactly why it is that the Americans speak English... Maybe... because... the founders were all English... .

[@e889.]

@@pintificate of course usa is just extended England All pure Americans have english heritage and this is the reason USA developed so much it is because people living over there were british and german and had inherited their intelligence

[@BTinSF]

No

[@swarthyjake4433]

one of the original verses goes "o hear canst thou see , from the top of a tree , it goes up , it goes down , it goes forewards and backwards" , another verse goes thus "o see canst thou hear , from the end of the pier , it goes up" etc. , etc. .

[@Blitterchips]

Excellent rendition. Thanks for uploading.

[@helenclements766]

Priceless! Somehow it's fitting that the national anthem of our beloved country is based on an 18th-century drinking song. Compatriots, let us think of creativity, learning from our ancestors, a sense of our history, AND our senses of humor....

[@supersamsquared8055]

"We Wish You a Merry Christmas"

[@andrewwigglesworth3030]

So follow me, follow, down to the hollow And there let us wallow in glorious mud

[@archdukebigdogkoopa3821]

Parody Version: "Wild, Wild Untamed" Set to the same tune as "Star-Spangled Banner" For the Spyro the Dragon fans. I imagine it in a slow 6/8 time signature keeping the 19-semitone range. (Rather than a 3/4 one.) O Gosh, what a legend it's been for Spyro To go on more adventures than ever before. The time has come now to travel on a new road. When in anger there came a real brute Gnasty Gnorc. And with courage in hand, Spyro made a big trance! Challenged him in a duel, for his family and friends! Say, say, does the Dragon World ever stay safe From the villains of evil and the wild, wild untamed?

[@dannyvegasman]

Wonderful singing

[@thomaschinn6344]

perfect english rendition

[@SWLinPHX]

I'm glad Key wrote that poem. Can you imagine if they decided we needed an anthem for our new nation so they just chose this song and KEPT the original lyrics (which we all then later had to learn and sing)??

[@GraesonBat]

Imagine singing like that for six straight minutes

[@nmg2002]

Drachen Saft thats we do in the US, with the four verses of the Star Spangled Banner

[@ChapeauRouge921]

Bravo!!!

[@chesslerbooks]

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 would 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 persue, "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,[28] "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,[29] "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, "Pry'thee 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,[30] 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 chearfully join- "The full Tide of Harmony still shall be his, "But the Song, and the Catch, and the Laugh shall be mine. "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 intwine "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.

[@davidslife989]

Thanks for this.

[@galeocean4182]

Now I'd love to hear them sing it after they have a few pints! Cheers!!

[@hungadunga523]

There's a good reason why the video features this very able men's choir. This song covers an octave and a fifth, and it is a bitch to sing. Only well-trained voices should even attempt to sing it.

[@Robert-fq5wx]

yeah, like a bunch of English drunks in a pub! ;-)

[@RogerBarraud]

Crimea River - Ivan Rebroff [5.5 octave range - RIP :'( ]

[@RogersRamblings]

@@Robert-fq5wx Please, a number of tired and emotional gentlemen in their club. 😉😉🤣🤣

[@thetickedoffpianoplayer4193]

@Mary Schwartz I agree, but a lot of times it's performed by a soloist. If you're singing in a crowd and you ball it up that's okay, but it's pretty embarrassing if you're singing a solo in front of a huge crowd and you butcher it.

[@hankkingsley9300]

I don't know every ballgame I've heard it the crowd gets it right

[@felicitywright791]

Here's the Wikipedia page about the gentlemen's club where the song originated (not bearded blokes in a sweaty bar, as Arctic IceFox imagined). en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anacreontic_Society

[@alfredthegreatkingofwessex6838]

We sampled a drinking song like we were fuckin Daft Punk 😅

[@fgmike2947]

An excellent performance. Shoulda given the accompanist some credit, tho. ;-)

[@SuziQ.]

See the credits.

[@kman5475]

They sound WAAAY too formal to be singing lyrics like this! How can you keep a straight face with lyrics like, "If these mortals are suffered their themes to pursue, the Devil a Goddess will stay above stairs"? Jove's whole reason for putting up such a fuss is because he's afraid he won't get laid. But at the end of the song EVERYBODY, whether gods, mortals--heck, probably even the neighbor's cats!--are sanctioned to "entwine the myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine". And we all, of course, know what that means. ;-)

[@starspangledmusic]

Kenneth Redmer Hi Kenneth-the Anacreontic Society was an elite gentleman's club in London, so while this performance might well be a bit too formal, it's probably closer to the source than you might think. Certainly you're right that interest in carnal pleasures is there, but its hidden under a scrim of respectability and classical learning. The club did not allow women to be members, for example, so this allowed for some off color humor to be voiced, but only in an environment of propriety.

[@TheBoundFenrir]

starspangledmusic I heard it was a sobriety test: if you could manage to sing a stanza, you were sober enough for another glass...

[@ToddSF]

I note that one of the main purposes of the Anacreontic Society was to sponsor concerts of fine music, open to the public. When Franz Joseph Haydn went to London, he'd heard about the Society and attended their concerts, was welcomed as a distinguished visitor (as he ought to have been). He approved -- good music accompanied by a glass of wine was fine with him. The club may not have admitted women (few clubs did in those days), but women could come and hear the music, I believe. I don't think this performance is far from what might have been heard in 1779 -- the song wasn't something people sang while getting drunk and rowdy in a pub.

[@SobrietyandSolace]

Here and there one or two of them are smirking :3

[@thelightofthejedi9811]

Little Wolf Taima yea i love that they are haha

[@randombritishperson.]

When the colony gets independence with the help of nations that hate hate you but only that, they also take one of your pub songs :

[@jramon837]

A beautiful hymn to drink :D

[@Perrygallo]

the Brits from the Anacreontic Society will come claim their royalties one day...

[@julianpichardo5045]

James Kessler wait till the French find out where the UK got the tune and words to “god save the king/queen

[@sagahammer]

@@julianpichardo5045 Wait til the Italian realise where the tune of the Marseillaise comes from.

[@jecarlin]

Cultural appropriation!

[@bryaneagon3059]

Royalty means nothing to us Yanks.

[@randomtask3539]

Intellectual monopoly law shouldn't exist. Copyright and patent law should be abolished.

[@mh605]

You forgot the ficta--the raised note that isn't written in, but is expected to be sung.

[@anthonycalbillo9376]

So, this tune became the US National Anthem....and it comes from a drinking song. Irony, or inspiration?

[@davidslife989]

Yes...

[@shavedape777]

America was built on drinking. Tis a thirsty legacy.

[@pix046]

You've been watching the Ryder Cup golf.

[@houyi3982]

Fucking invalid. This was the tune of a very well off and civilized group of Anacreon, not fucking hicks or street-trash

[@ianconner7034]

Hermann Fegelein The tune is not off.

[@m.scottmckenna1887]

It was essentially a drinking song of what amounted to a rich British fraternity.

[@yiliangliang5694]

Hhhow about the Russians comrade? If you failed to rrecognize dis you hhhave to be sent to the gulag by Gllorrious leader Sttalin!

[@martinbrannan2803]

Original always the best version. I would sit in a tavern around a coal fire and sing.

[@Draggo-zp1jf]

A tavern song. LOL How proud!

[@Jiltedin2007]

After hearing this, I can now understand why Francis Scott Key used the melody of this song to write The Star Spangled Banner when Fort Henry in Baltimore refused to bring down "The Stars and Stripes" when ordered by the British to come down or else feel the wrath of an Entire British Fleet destroying the Fort. Though the Fort was destroyed, The Star Spangled Banner "Yet waved" in the air.

[@qarmatianwarhorse6028]

Should have napalmed it. Mere fabric wouldn't have survived that.

[@bernardwilson9519]

The fort was not destroyed. And Key did not select the music for the anthem. He wrote a poem. That was the end of his role.

[@Jiltedin2007]

@@bernardwilson9519 Francis Scott Key wrote a poem, and used the music of “To Anacreon in Heaven” to complete Our National Anthem.

[@bernardwilson9519]

@@Jiltedin2007 - sorry, no. Key wrote the poem. He didn’t set it to music. He gave it to his brother-in-law, who noticed that the word pattern fit the tune.

[@oliviahoward7314]

thank you drunk history

[@tachikomakusanagi3744]

Someone aught to sing this at the next superbowl

[@KCandFriendsUSA]

This is exactly how I'd perform the national anthem but in C Major and with an outro

[@Tubulous123]

Yes!!! Thank you!!!

[@sneadh1]

"Too many words" :)

[@ashiko7376]

Only thing missing is a goblet of wine 🍷 in one hand and swaying whilst singing 😂🤣

[@chesslerbooks]

If you think these lyrics are amazing, look up all 4 stanzas to the Star Spangled Banner. Let's fight a war!

[@peterwarner358]

This version is likely scored in a different key then the later US Anthem (which is in D Flat Major. This is also played on a Harpsichord (very Johann Sebastian Back inspired) the time we sing has no repeated coda at the end, it is a hymnal reharmonization, likely Mendelssohn or Mozart or even Handel.) ... I would raise the 5th both from A flat to A national rather than the 4th from G Flat to G Natural. The Lowe harmony works better in the 5th tone here.

[@roycevanbeethoven]

This is the Anacreontic Song. There is no #4 in the Anacreontic Song.

[@trolleytravels]

Huzzah!

[@mikesgoodmann9349]

It sounds so civilized for a drinking song! lol

[@notaname8140]

This was the song of an elite gentleman's club for musicians, "drinking song" is a bit of a misunderstanding, they would probably drink at meetings but it's not exactly a boozy pub song

[@mckernan603]

Have to imagine, no stereo system back then… dudes just sang canons

[@lukecarlson4710]

I like it.

[@boundless-vintage-music]

When I came across this original lyrics , there's bunch of Greek God name and meme's there, making me, quite hard to understand. And also actually.... quite artistic. A blend of casuality and asthetics, can I say?

[@LuficariusRatspeed]

Sounds as drab as Salieri's March in Amadeus.. I want to hear what Mozart would do to spruce it up a bit. ;)

[@keiths81ca]

Had Wolfgang gone to London he would have heard this.

[@Midnight_Metro]

@@CandiceGoddard That's some pretty intense projection right there.

[@Kizzy-qb9si]

“Twinkle twinkle little star”, “abc song”, “bubba black sheep” tune is based on a France song called “o, shall I tell you mother?”

[@virvisquevir3320]

Carol Smith - 'Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star' and 'ABC' are based on a tune by Mozart and I don't know about 'Baa Baa Black Sheep' but that is a different tune...

[@charlesjs123]

@@virvisquevir3320 Mozart wrote a set of variations on "Ah! vous dirai-je, maman", but he wasn't the original author of the melody.

[@superpucc1]

Wonderful!!i didn't Know it!!!!

[@sophelet]

Beautifully performed, if a little too sober! I have some quibbles with pronunciation, though: "whilst" long /aI/ diphthong, not "I" short vowel. Think of the word "while" with "st" at the end. "Shewing" would be sung as "showing," I think. Even with the spelling "shew" this word and others like it are pronounced /o/. Listen to English choirs (and Anglican or Episcopal church choirs) sing the Magnificat ("My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. ... He hath shewn strength..." Shewn is pronounced "shown." (We do the same with the verb "to sew." We sew something but pronounce it "so.")

[@RonaldTrumpOfficial]

Buying a gun before beer. How patriotic of americans

[@brandoncurtis8574]

And there we Good Fellows will learn to entwine...? Hmmm 😍🌈

[@PedroGonzalez-fv5ut]

You left a part.... The Myrtle of VENUS with BACHUS' vine.

[@BluesCat1980]

In other words, with good friends we learn the value of friendship.

[@Rig0r_M0rtis]

@@BluesCat1980 IT'S ABOUT SEX my simple friend

[@Rig0r_M0rtis]

@@CandiceGoddard tl;dr

[@GodSaveTheKing444]

Ah yes originally a British pub song

[@archdukebigdogkoopa3821]

Turns out some of the fourths were sharpened. Show me all of them in timestamp order?

[@petra8396]

😍😍😍😍

[@Reglar_Cat]

This really needs captions.

[@Splattercatgaming]

It's always a wrap for the competition when the squad has the sanction of gods and the fiat of jove. ☠

[@BrianTKessler]

I like Hendrix's Woodstock version better.

[@mr13579100]

I can only imagine this song sang in an 1800's bar with a bunch of drunk sweaty guys with beards...kind of like that one scene in The Hobbit :)

[@houyi3982]

Well then you're a fucking halfwit and you don't understand an inkling about the song.

[@leonheartgaming6356]

Hermann... it's a drinking song, you know that, right?

[@ljmiller96]

Best scene in The Hobbit

[@PhillyFrank1]

That phrasing is murder!

[@tolin6438]

It is awesomely weird to hear this song! pix046 you are so funny!

[@chlorhexidine2506]

I can picture some english men chanting this at a pub whilst drinking

[@Species-rj9si]

They forgot "Play Ball!" at tje emd.

[@granskare]

we in USA MUST CHANGE THE NATIONAL ANTHEM- WE HAVE SOME GOOD SONGS TO REPLACE THIS

[@ruthking7884]

HA HA....This is what happens when Monty Python is allowed to pick the US national anthem LOL

[@ioannispolemarkhos7364]

Hail, Columbia, Happy Land!

[@carolemerckel3461]

Why not an old pub tune? After all it is said that some of the hymn tunes by Martin Luther were conceived in the same way?

[@wachamcaulid]

i've been long enough on youtube to notice a famous video i like get deleted NOOOOOOOO (not the first tie but one of the times when it took me a while to realize) but anyway banger from 18th century much better than muricas anthem

[@charlesdalmas6534]

The National Anthem should be "Columbia, Gem of the Ocean," which was written by American actor David Shaw, is rousing as hell, easy to sing, and even mentions the star-spangled banner in its words.

[@elenapietrantonio8610]

+Charles Dalmas Before you throw out the Star Spangled Banner, take a look at why the poem was written. The British bombed Ft Sumner for hours on end in an effort to break the American will. Prisoners were held on the British fleet and were only to be released after the fort was demolished and the Americans surrendered. The flag never fell because patriots one after another held it up. When one man fell another took his place, knowing the bombs were aiming at the flag post. That is patriotism, That is what America stands for. While Columbia, Gem of the Ocean is a moving and beautiful song, it does not reflect the spirit of America's patriots.

[@charlesdalmas6534]

And a beer-drinking song about Apillo having sex with nine fusty maids does?

[@elenapietrantonio8610]

+Charles Dalmas Really? that's funny, that's not what I learned after watching the History Channel. Francis Scott Key wrote the poem, he did not write the music! Thomas Carr adapted it to the music "To Anacreon in Heaven"- which was the official song of the Anacreontic Society, an 18th-century gentlemen's club of amateur musicians in London.So where did you find it was a beer drinking song?

[@sirisaacbrock798]

@@elenapietrantonio8610 Fort McHenry* Sumter was the Civil War.

[@fernsong8558]

I think you got the US anthem lyrics wrong. Funny how it still fits, though.

[@tonygutierrez5083]

¿Quiénes son los que mueren por su patria en los campos de batalla, no importa cuan lejos estén esos escenarios bélicos, sino es el pueblo? Las guerras las deciden las personas humildes del pueblo, no los ricos, que casi nunca tiene sentido del suelo patrio. Y ahí siempre han estado los grandes poetas épicos, como lo fue Homero. Pues así nacieron el texto y la música del Himno Nacional de Estados Unidos. De ahí se grandeza y su popularidad.

[@jonnycando]

Bravo!

[@lvillasenor20]

Muy bien dicho

[@mikiroony]

Pues Tony, lamento llevarte la contraria: Con ese pueblo norteramericano primigenio estuvo su primer presidente, combatiendo por lo que sentía su patria, frente al opresor inglés. Sí, un pueblo puede ser muy noble, pero sin guía, no es más que una masa embrutecida. En cambio un ideal, un propósito, un sentir histórico da sentido a ese pueblo. «A los pueblos no los han movido nunca más que los poetas, y ¡ay del que no sepa levantar, frente a la poesía que destruye, la poesía que promete!» -/ José Antonio Primo de Rivera.

[@granskare]

This is the source song for our national anthem - this must be changed to Hail Columbia!

[@ralphheimburger1447]

It was Hail Columbia until 1931 when congress made key's song official.

[@OberstTeuton]

"Columbia, Gem of the Ocean" is better.

[@paulaharrisbaca4851]

They should be hoisting steins of beer or flagons of wine!! Especially with their arms around some comely wenches' waists! No wonder we wound up using this as our nation's theme tune, even though we made the lyrics a bit less boozy....

[@pix046]

I like your realistic imagery.

[@paulaharrisbaca4851]

well, I thank you. =) (staggering through the door)

[@willowtatus6159]

And it's not just a drinking song - the god in question promises to teach the boys how to get women drunk so they can have their way with them. "I'll teach you to entwine the myrtle of Venus with Bacchus' wine..."

[@carterhaughbooks4333]

Well spotted! More relevant than ever under the current administration!

[@Pinkfloydisme63]

So true ! 😂

[@Tmanaz480]

Have some Madiera my dear....

[@The-Aion]

The Star Spangled banner is based off this tune. The Anacreontic Song is from the era when academics were deciphering all sorts if Greek texts. The United States was founded upon polytheistic, democratic ideals from the Enlightenment. The true course of the US has been lost because of greed and religious dogma.

[@archdukebigdogkoopa3821]

This is my style parody which I believe will be titled "Red King Bowser Flag (Beyond Darkness Of Despair)". Oh, say, can you see, by the dark of the skies, What so frightenedly it is to be here with my princess, Dressed in Pink, White, and Blue, with blue eyes on her face, Resisting Bowser's army but without enough resistance? She's been scorned! Flimflammed! Framed! Swindled! Hoaxed, yet never tamed! Victimized, yet once claimed "future wife" for all her days! And once the Red King Bowser Flag's raised, may it wave - Beyond Darkness of Despair and o'er lands of disgrace!!!!!!!!! To King Smithy the One Being of all that was, A new bodyguard - he just sent a petition That if Bowser and Smithy would cooperate, They would make a bigger corps than anyone vicious Enough for all days! We know that one saying! "Out with the old, In with the New!" Don't lose nada but chains! And - oh my goodness gracious - let us all maintain All the Darkness of Despair and our lands of Disgrace!!! When our land is illumined with Destiny's smile, If a foe from outside strikes a blow at her terror, Down, down, goes the plumber that tries to defile, The flag of the King and the page of his Ember! By the millions unchained, Where our birthright have gained, Through the seasons we brave and we will not be tamed! O Red King Bowser Flag, may you always ever wave - Beyond Darkness of Despair, and o'er lands of disgrace!

[@StubMyToe]

Lol bowser

[@Mark-xh8md]

The guy to the right of the singer is struggling to keep a straight face 🤣

[@archdukebigdogkoopa3821]

Can you make Onaga Koopa and the Bullet Bill in Mario Party 8 as replacements for Ballyhoo and Big Top?

[@welderman1263]

These days Francis Scott Key would be subjected to a major plagiarist lawsuit.

[@thelightofthejedi9811]

@5:27

[@TL8311-j6x]

This song is so F'ing 🌈

[@attygarland6909]

I think we finally have found the person that wrote the Bible .. Better look more closely into this Tomlinson dude. :-D

[@7989ccye]

MEN!!!!

[@TL8311-j6x]

Hahaha, MEN!!!!!

[@TL8311-j6x]

MEENNNNN!!!!!!!

[@IamAWESOME3980]

Vulgarism was so high standard back then. Who knows a song about drinking and sex can be this poetic? Nowadays we have illiterate rapper singing all sorts of words you wouldnt speak in front of a child.

[@Tokkemon]

Where's the figured bass?

[@helmsdeep84]

what the hell was America thinking when prohibition was legalized?! lol

[@pintificate]

I think you might mean when prohibition was _implemented_ ... .

[@davidl5037]

This wasn't a drinking song. People who isist it was a drinking song are historically ignorant.

[@JamesL42]

It wasn't written as one necessarily, it was simply written as a song for the Anacreontic Society. But given what the Anacreontic Society was known for and the content of the lyrics it became a popular drinking song, and this popularity as a drinking song is why it became the tune for US National Anthem. But if you think it has nothing to do with drinking do explain what you think the "Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus' Wine" refers to...

[@greenbanana311]

I knew this was the original name for the nationsl anthem. How? from a book I read while sitting on the toilet.