1931 resolution so we can get the official punctuation I am very interested in this as well I had heard a theory that the mark at the end of the first stanza was not Key asking the people around him if they saw the flag but asking them and everyone in the future if the flag that they were all looking at would stand for the freedom and bravery in this land basically if we were man and woman enough to continue on with the promise of the declaration and consitiution again not saying this is indeed the fact but it is a theory I have heard The text of his original is at the end of the first stanza which I am going to amend to that I will also be interested if someone can indeed find a copy of the original Act of Congress Thanks and interested in others opinions I don t really know what I m doing But what does Spangled mean This isn t vandalism it s serious question 1 a small piece of bright metal esp any of a number of these sewn on fabric for decoration 2 any small bright object that glitters Performances and adaptations section Is anyone in agreement with my thinking thinking that this section is slightly silly in its set up surely 90 of this should be in the main article Performances and adaptations of The Star Spangled Banner That article only has one short paragraph in it which should probably make up the majority of the section in this one Thoughts anyone and i believe the section should then also mention Jimi Hendrix rendition The preceding unsigned comment was added by Jimi Hendrix s rendition was not mentioned until I saw your comment It should be not only mentioned but in the context that the The Star Spangled Banner represents the American people foremost even as it represents the idea and the country as a united idea that it is not even mentioned is wrong Not only is this version necessary it also represents the close of an era and not withstanding the fact the song goes on for each generation thereafter many of those whose anthem it was then the Viet Nam vets the end of the 60 s 70 s naivety the birth of the modern suburban America that this is a generation unlike the World War II generation that is forever indelibly etched in our conscience spiritually as the greatest modern generation that the tumultuous late 60 s 70 s generation is fast fading both physically and spiritually from our current conscientiousness We must endeavor in our consideration that each and every generation of Americans are important and each have there own totems if I may Potent each generations was indeed in that we are still standing united and strong by virtue of each and every generation as it passes We are not a one single thing standing in the great halls of time we are a passing season by season dependent on the past for the future so should the past be be honored by the present Get it up there please ellison847 yahoo com Preceding unsigned comment added by The Origin if the Tune Should there not be some explanation of the fact that this anthem is sung to the same tune as God Save the Queen Surely relevant considering that this was the mother country that American nationalists was seeking to distinguish herself from The Star Spangled Banner is sung to the tune of To Anacreon in Heaven God Save the South is indeed sung to God Save the Queen I suspect the OP was referring to My Country Tis of Thee Quite frankly God Save the South is not sung to the tune of God Save the Queen but sung to its own tune instead I already found out what The Star Spangled Banner and God Save the Queen have in common Both anthems were in 3 4 time and yes the tune of The Star Spangled Banner was borrowed from the British drinking song To Anacreon in Heaven and the tune of God Save the Queen was used for America or My Country Tis of Thee one of our nations secon