Slight - ironic - tangent: The US's national anthem was composed by an Englishman in England. 📂 Archived Message Posted by Jim_Carlucci on July 17, 2021, 1:29 am, in reply to "American patriotic song" John Stafford Smith - born in Gloucester and Gloucester Cathedral organist from 1743-1782. Very ironically the star-spangled lyrics were written by an American in America - Francis Scott Key - in 1814 who was inspired by a victory over the British in 1812. He nicked the Englishman's / Gloucestrian's melody - though he wasn't the first American to do so. See: https://amhistory.si.edu/starspangledbanner/ "On September 14, 1814, U.S. soldiers at Baltimore’s Fort McHenry raised a huge American flag to celebrate a crucial victory over British forces during the War of 1812. The sight of those “broad stripes and bright stars” inspired Francis Scott Key to write a song that eventually became the United States national anthem. Key’s words gave new significance to a national symbol and started a tradition through which generations of Americans have invested the flag with their own meanings and memories". Message Thread: American patriotic song - Shyaku July 16, 2021, 11:49 am Slight - ironic - tangent: The US's national anthem was composed by an Englishman in England. - Jim_Carlucci July 17, 2021, 1:29 am ..unsurprisingly not many Americans/Brits/people know that. Hm - I wonder why.. - Jim_Carlucci July 17, 2021, 1:51 am Re: ..unsurprisingly not many Americans/Brits/people know that. Hm - I wonder why.. - scrabb July 17, 2021, 1:51 pm Ben Franklin was born in Northants. nm. - Shyaku July 17, 2021, 5:33 pm Re: American patriotic song - Ian M July 17, 2021, 5:25 pm Re: American patriotic song - Shyaku July 17, 2021, 6:18 pm « Index   Searching