Stars And Stripes Forever

"Stars and Stripes Forever" is a march composed by John Philip Sousa, on Christmas Day in 1896, about the American flag, or "Stars and Stripes." It is generally considered Sousa's greatest work and he himself played it at almost all of his performances. "Stars and Stripes Forever" is the official march of the United States, as declared by Congress.^[1]

Sousa composed lyrics for it, but the music itself—along with several parody and substitute lyrics—is better known than Sousa's lyrics.

Sousa's Lyrics[edit]

Let martial note in triumph float

And liberty extend its mighty hand

A flag appears 'mid thunderous cheers,

The banner of the Western land.

The emblem of the brave and true

Its folds protect no tyrant crew;

The red and white and starry blue

Is freedom's shield and hope.

Other nations may deem their flags the best

And cheer them with fervid elation

But the flag of the North and South and West

Is the flag of flags, the flag of Freedom's nation.

Hurrah for the flag of the free!

May it wave as our standard forever,

The gem of the land and the sea,

The banner of the right.

Let despots remember the day

When our fathers with mighty endeavor

Proclaimed as they marched to the fray

That by their might and by their right

It waves forever.

Let eagle shriek from lofty peak

The never-ending watchword of our land;

Let summer breeze waft through the trees

The echo of the chorus grand.

Sing out for liberty and light,

Sing out for freedom and the right.

Sing out for Union and its might,

O patriotic sons.

Other nations may deem their flags the best

And cheer them with fervid elation,

But the flag of the North and South and West

Is the flag of flags, the flag of Freedom's nation.

Hurrah for the flag of the free.

May it wave as our standard forever

The gem of the land and the sea,

The banner of the right.

Let despots remember the day

When our fathers with might endeavor

Proclaimed as they marched to the fray,

That by their might and by their right

It waves forever.

References[edit]

1. ↑ http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode36/usc_sec_36_00000304----000-.html