Star Spangled Banner – On the Rocks

Frances Scott Key USA 1779-1843. Born in Frederick County, MD, and educated at St. John’s College, Annapolis, MD, a devout Episcopalian, he practiced law in Washington, DC for four decades. He was U.S. District Attorney for the District of Columbia until his death. He argued some of his cases at the Supreme Court. Key served briefly in a Georgetown militia unit. He married Mary Tayloe Lloyd in 1802, and they had eleven children: Elizabeth, Maria, Francis, John, Anna. Edward, Daniel, Philip, Ellen, Maria, and Charles. He also wrote a few hymn lyrics. During the War of 1812, which Key was against, the British invaded the U.S. and burned the White House, Capitol Building, and Library of Congress. One of Key’s friends, Dr. William

[G7]
O [C] say, can you [Am] see, by the [C] dawn’s early [G] light,
[G7] What so [C] proudly we [G] hailed at the [C] twilight’s last gleaming,
[G7] Whose broad [C] stripes and [Em] bright [Am] stars,
through the [C] perilous [G] fight.
O’er the [C] ramparts we [G] watched, were so [C] gallantly streaming?

And the [C] rockets’ red glare, the bombs [G] bursting in air,
Gave [C] proof through the [G] night that our [C] flag [Am] was [D] still [G] there.
O [C] say, does that [F] star spangled [Dm] banner yet [C] [G] wave
O’er the [C] land of the [Am] free and the [C] home [G] of the [C] brave?

O thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation!
Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the Pow’r that has made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto, “In God is our trust.”
And the star spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!