The Stars and Stripes Forever - wikipedia The Stars and Stripes Forever For other uses, see Stars and Stripes Forever ( disambiguation ). The Stars and Stripes Forever National march of the United States Lyrics John Philip Sousa, May 1897 ( 1897 - 05 ) Music John Philip Sousa, December 1896 ( 1896 - 12 ) Adopted 1987 ; 31 years ago ( 1987 ) Audio sample `` The Stars and Stripes Forever '' ( instrumental ) file help `` The Stars and Stripes Forever '' is a patriotic American march widely considered to be the magnum opus of composer John Philip Sousa. By a 1987 act of the U.S. Congress, it is the official National March of the United States of America. Contents 1 History 2 Music 3 Lyrics 3.1 Sousa 's lyrics 3.2 Tidmarsh 's additional lyrics 3.3 Nonsense lyrics 4 Media 5 See also 6 References 7 Bibliography 8 External links History In his autobiography, Marching Along, Sousa wrote that he composed the march on Christmas Day, 1896. He was on an ocean liner on his way home from a vacation with his wife in Europe and had just learned of the recent death of David Blakely, the manager of the Sousa Band. He composed the march in his head and committed the notes to paper on arrival in the United States. It was first performed at Willow Grove Park, just outside Philadelphia, on May 14, 1897, and was immediately greeted with enthusiasm. Following an Act of Congress in 1987, it was officially adopted as the national march of the United States of America. Historically, in show business and particularly in theater and the circus, this piece is called `` the Disaster March. '' In the early 20th century, when it was common for theaters and circuses to have house bands, this march was a traditional code signaling a life - threatening emergency. It subtly notified personnel of emergency situations and ideally allowed them to organize the audience 's exit without causing the chaos and panic that an overt declaration might. Circus bands would never play the tune under circumstances other than impending disaster. One memorable, if heartbreaking, example of its use was during the Hartford circus fire of July 6, 1944. At least 168 people were killed, though some estimates are much higher. Numerous bodies burned so badly that they were either unrecognizable or completely incinerated. Music `` The Stars and Stripes Forever '' follows the standard American military march form. The march begins with a four - bar introduction, which is followed by the first strain and the second strain, which are repeated, the famous trio which is repeated with the obbligato piccolos, the break strain, the final strain, and then the break strain is repeated again. In the final repeat of the trio ( grandioso ), the low brass joins the piccolo players with a prominent countermelody. Sousa explained to the press that the three themes of the final trio were intended to represent the three regions of the United States. The broad melody, or main theme, represents the North. The South is represented by the famous piccolo obbligato, and the West by the bold countermelody of the trombones. The three come together in the climax, representing the Union itself. Lyrics Sousa wrote lyrics to the piece, although they are not as familiar as the music itself. The typical pairing of Sousa 's lyrics with the various sections of the march is noted in the square brackets. Sousa 's lyrics ( First strain ) 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. 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. ( Second strain ) 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. ( repeats ) 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. ( Trio ) 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. ( Grandioso ) 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. Tidmarsh 's additional lyrics In 1942 the John Church Company published a four - part choral version of the march with a piano arrangement by Elmer Arthur Tidmarsh. This arrangement has additional lyrics written by Tidmarsh for the Breakstrain section of the march. Nonsense lyrics In 1954, Charles Grean and Joan Javits composed `` Crazy Mixed Up Song '', using the theme from Stars and Stripes Forever, with lyrics beginning `` Be kind to your web - footed friends ''. It was made somewhat popular by Peter Lind Hayes & Mary Healy in that year. In the early 1960s, it reached a wider audience as a part of a nationally syndicated sing - along show, `` Mitch Miller and the Gang ''. This version has perhaps the best known lyrics, which were used to end every show : Be kind to your web - footed friends, For a duck may be somebody 's mother. Be kind to your friends in the swamp, Where the weather is very, very damp, Now you may think that this is the end, Well it is ! Media `` The Stars and Stripes Forever '' A 1909 Edison Records recording of Sousa 's Band performing `` Stars and Stripes Forever ''. This performance follows the following form : Introduction, first strain, second strain, trio, breakstrain, grandioso, repeat of breakstrain and grandioso, da capo repeat of introduction, first strain, second strain, trio, breakstrain, and grandioso. `` The Stars and Stripes Forever '' The United States Marine Band performing `` The Stars and Stripes Forever ''. This performance follows the more traditional military march form. Problems listening to the files ? See media help. See also Music portal `` You 're a Grand Old Flag '' References Jump up ^ `` 36 U.S. Code § 304 - National march ''. United States Code. United States : Cornell Law School. August 12, 1998. Retrieved November 2, 2006. The composition by John Philip Sousa entitled ' The Stars and Stripes Forever ' is the national march. Jump up ^ `` The Story of `` Stars and Stripes Forever '' ``. Public Broadcasting Service. Archived from the original on 6 June 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2012. Jump up ^ Van Outryve, Karen. `` Appreciating An Old Favorite : Sousa 's All - Time Hit. '' Music Educators Journal 92.3 ( 2006 ) : 15. Academic Search Complete. Web. 19 April 2012. Jump up ^ `` To designate `` The Stars and Stripes Forever '' as the national march of the United States of America '' ( PDF ). United States Government Publishing Office. 11 December 1987. Jump up ^ Michael Skidgell, The Hartford Circus Fire : Tragedy Under the Big Top ( Charleston, South Carolina : The History Press, 2014 ) p. 43 ISBN 978 - 1 - 625 - 84522 - 1. Jump up ^ Paul E. Bierley, The Works of John Philip Sousa ( Westerville, Ohio : Integrity Press, 1984 ), p. 43, as cited in `` The Stars and Stripes Forever '' ( 1896 ). Jump up ^ Bierley, Paul E., `` The Works of John Philip Sousa '' Integrity Press, Westerville, OH, 1984. ^ Jump up to : Sousa, John Philip, & Tidmarsh, Elmer A. ( 1942. ) `` The Stars and Stripes Forever. '' USA : The John Church Company. Jump up ^ `` 1954 HITS ARCHIVE : Crazy Mixed Up Song ( Be Kind To Your Web - Footed Friends ) - Peter and Mary ''. 1954. Jump up ^ Jennifer Gavin ( July 23, 2009 ). `` Be Kind to Your Web - Posting Friends ''. United States Library of Congress. Jump up ^ Scott Deveaux and Gary Giddins. Jazz. W.W. Norton & Company ; Second edition ( February 1, 2015 ). p. 70. ISBN 978 - 0393937060. Jump up ^ Gale, Emily Margot ( 2014 ). Sounding Sentimental : American Popular Song From Nineteenth - Century Ballads to 1970s Soft Rock ( PDF ) ( PhD ). University of Virgina. Jump up ^ `` Be Kind to Your Web Footed Friends ''. Sony. 1958. Bibliography Bierley, Paul E. John Philip Sousa : American Phenomenon. Miami, FL : Warner Bros. Publications, 2001. Sousa, John Philip, & Tidmarsh, Elmer A. ( 1942. ) `` The Stars and Stripes Forever. '' USA : The John Church Company. Skidgell, Michael. `` The Hartford Circus Fire : Tragedy Under the Big Top. '' Stroud, U.K. : The History Press, 2014. External links Wikisource has original text related to this article : Stars and Stripes Forever Wikimedia Commons has media related to John Philip Sousa Stars and Stripes Forever. Sousa Band ( Gramofono ) John Philip Sousa Musical compositions `` The Fairest of the Fair '' `` The Gallant Seventh '' `` The Gladiator March '' `` Hands Across the Sea '' `` High School Cadets '' `` Kansas Wildcats '' `` King Cotton '' `` The Liberty Bell '' `` Manhattan Beach '' `` Minnesota March '' `` The Royal Welch Fusiliers '' `` Semper Fidelis '' `` The Stars and Stripes Forever '' `` The Thunderer '' `` Transit of Venus March '' `` U.S. Field Artillery '' `` The Washington Post '' Operettas Chris and the Wonderful Lamp Désirée El Capitan The Charlatan Other performing arts `` The Army Goes Rolling Along '' Stars and Stripes Stars and Stripes Forever Other List of compositions by John Philip Sousa John Philip Sousa House United States Marine Band Honoraria John Philip Sousa Bridge John Philip Sousa Foundation John Philip Sousa Junior High School ( Bronx ) John Philip Sousa Junior High School National symbols of the United States Symbols Flag of the United States Seal of the United States Bald eagle Uncle Sam Columbia General Grant ( tree ) American 's Creed Pledge of Allegiance Rose Oak American bison Phrygian cap Songs `` The Star - Spangled Banner '' `` Dixie '' `` America the Beautiful '' `` The Stars and Stripes Forever '' `` Hail to the Chief '' `` Hail, Columbia '' `` My Country, ' Tis of Thee '' `` God Bless America '' `` Lift Every Voice and Sing '' `` The Army Goes Rolling Along '' `` Anchors Aweigh '' `` Marines ' Hymn '' `` Semper Fidelis '' `` The Air Force Song '' `` Semper Paratus '' `` National Emblem '' `` The Washington Post March '' `` Battle Hymn of the Republic '' `` Yankee Doodle '' `` You 're a Grand Old Flag '' `` When Johnny Comes Marching Home '' `` This Land Is Your Land '' Mottos In God We Trust E Pluribus Unum Novus ordo seclorum Annuit cœptis Landmarks Statue of Liberty ( Liberty Enlightening the World ) Liberty Bell Mount Rushmore National Mall West Potomac Park BNF : cb139195090 ( data ) GND : 300151411 LCCN : n80036251 VIAF : 178212486 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Stars_and_Stripes_Forever&oldid=852026558 '' Categories : American patriotic songs Sousa marches American military marches 1897 compositions United States National Recording Registry recordings Compositions in E-flat major Hidden categories : Articles with hAudio microformats All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from July 2018 Articles with unsourced statements from April 2018 Commons category with local link different than on Wikidata Wikipedia articles with BNF identifiers Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Bân - lâm - gú Dansk Deutsch Español Euskara Français 한국어 Bahasa Indonesia Italiano Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Русский Simple English Suomi Svenska ไทย Tiếng Việt 中文 10 more Edit links This page was last edited on 26 July 2018, at 04 : 12 ( UTC ). 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Question: when did john philip sousa write the stars and stripes forever
Answer: Christmas Day, 1896