To help our President

[xiphias]

So, the President of the United States has said that he's upset by a version of the National Anthem sung in Spanish.

He feels that it should only be done in the original, which is English.

I want to help him in this endeavor, so I've transcribed the original, English lyrics for you all to learn. Let's remember to sing them, instead of any later, degenerate versions.


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 arrived
From the Jolly Old Grecian:
"Voice, Fiddle, and Flute,
No longer be mute,
I'll lend you my name
And inspire you to boot,

Chorus:
|: 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 suffered
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,

Chorus:
|: And there with good fellows,
We'll learn to intwine
The Myrtle of Venus
With Bacchus' Vine. :|

3. "The Yellow-Haired 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 desert will be.
My Thunder no fear on't,
Shall soon do its errand,
And dam'me I'll swing
The Ringleaders I warrant.

Chorus:
|: 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 showing 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,

Chorus:
|: While, snug in their clubroom,
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 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:

Chorus:
|: 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 yours 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!

Chorus:
|: And long may the Sons
Of Anacreon intwine
The Myrtle of Venus
With Bacchus's Vine." :|

Comments

[jehanna.livejournal.com]

I'm certain it's been noted elsewhere, but it's all pretty rich coming from a president who can barely speak English himself.

[cheshyre]

On the other hand, what could be more appropriate for him than a drinking song?

[(Anonymous)]

Whatever the opposite of Edwin Starr's 'War' is?

[ailsaek.livejournal.com]

Bush!
What is he good for?
Absolutely nothing.

[elynne.livejournal.com]

Say it again?

[supergee.livejournal.com]

H.P. Lovecraft used to sing that whilst everyone else was singing the bombastic words Francis Scott Key inflicted on us.

YES!

[dakiwiboid.livejournal.com]

I've always wanted to get together a group of people who can sing as I do (loudly, and on key, if not outstandingly) so that we could sing it at public events, preferably political ones. I'd settle for the ball game, however.

[sethg]

Jack Balkin passes along the Yiddish translation of our national anthem:

O'zog, kenstu sehn, wen bagin licht dervacht,
Vos mir hoben bagrist in farnachtigen glihen?
Die shtreifen un shtern, durch shreklicher nacht,
Oif festung zich hoiben galant un zich tsein?
Yeder blitz fun rocket, yeder knal fun kanon,
Hot bawizen durch nacht: az mir halten die Fohn!
O, zog, tzi der "Star Spangled Banner" flatert in roim,
Ueber land fun die freie, fun brave die heim!

Look at all the pagan gods

[fibro-witch.livejournal.com]

I don't read or speak spanish any more. (something about not using it for many many years) But, as I remember, the state department versions are word for word translations.

The new spanish language versions are not word for word. If you were to listen to the new version, and translate it back to English you would not be reading about a battle for a fort.

So I'm cool with word for word in any language, but not for changing the words and still calling it the anthem.

[rebmommy.livejournal.com]

You are very funny! (Must take after your mother.) Where did this song come from, and can you really sing it to the same melody as "The Star-Spangled Banner"? I couldn't get it to work - and, yes, I did try. You knew I would, didn't you? And what is a "spangle" anyway? I thought it was a shiny decoration sewn onto a stripper's costume.

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

That's the song which Francis Scott Key took the melody FROM. It's not that you can sing "To Anacreon in Heav'n" to the tune of "The Star Spangled Banner" -- it's that you sing "The Star Spangled Banner" to the tune of "To Anacreon in Heav'n".

I'll phone you up and sing it at you.

[rebmommy.livejournal.com]

Thanks for singing it on my phone. Well done. You have a nice, deep singing voice. (Must take after your mother.)

I like the last chorus: "And long may the Sons / Of Anacreon intwine / The Myrtle of Venus / With Bacchus's Vine." You should teach it to both President Clinton and President Bush II (the wee bush) because they each have taken on a part of the work to fulfill the chorus. I'd love to hear them sing this together. The Executive Branch that sings together, swings together.

[dolmena.livejournal.com]

Beautiful!