The curious history of America’s national anthem
Mark Clague explores its meaning and music in “O Say Can You Hear”
In july 1814 an unsigned magazine article bemoaned the state of patriotic music and poetry in America. “Our national songs are full of ridiculous exaggeration, and frothy rant, and commonplace bloated up into fustian,” complained the writer, thought to be Washington Irving. When would someone produce an anthem worthy of the new republic?
This article appeared in the Culture section of the print edition under the headline “Proof through the night”
Culture June 25th 2022
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