The Stars and Stripes Forever " 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 . 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 . 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 a dotted , playful melody . Its trio is the most famous part of the march . Piccolo players play the famous obbligato in the first repeat of the trio ( the one after the breakstrain ) . In the final repeat of the trio ( grandioso ) , the low brass joins the piccolo players with a prominent countermelody . The official version , as played by the United States Marine Band , is performed in the key of E - flat . 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 . < poem > [ " 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 . [ " 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 . [ " Repeat of the First Strain " ] 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 . [ " 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 . < / poem > 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 . Other lyrics . Many other sets of lyrics , patriotic and otherwise , have been written for the last strain ( trio / grandioso ) . Two of the most widely known such sets begin with the words " Three cheers for the red , white and blue " and " Be kind to your web - footed friends " . The " web - footed friends " parody , was sung at the end of every episode of the popular 1960s TV series " Sing Along with Mitch " . It was recorded by Homer and Jethro in 1955 as " Crazy Mixed Up Song " . It was also heard in the " Tiny Toon Adventures " episode " Hollywood Plucky " , and an episode of " Sesame Street " ; these parody lyrics themselves are well - known enough to have spawned many other parodies of their own . < br > Variations and notable uses . " The Stars and Stripes Forever " is featured in many U . S . musical performances : Notes . < div class = " references " >