State Of Independence

I can do this, because although it's nearly over at this side of the Atlantic Ocean, somewhere over in that direction (points vaguely Westward), it's still the 4th of July... So...

Happy Independence Day, America!

What actually brought it to mind today is that it was our store Flunky's birthday... and let's just say it was a kind of depressing landmark one... And that brought us on to Independence Day... and all 3 of us agreed how good the American national anthem was as an anthem (if it's sung right, without Mariah / Whitney-esque warblings) - and then we had to confess that none of us actually knew the words properly! (I knew the most, because I knew the bits about "the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air")...

So I've spent a while looking on YouTube for a decent version... and finally I found this one, sung by The Dixie Chicks at a Super Bowl or something like that...

So, what are the words? Well, the first verse goes like so...

O! say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming.
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming.
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?