A Short History of U.S. National Anthems

Though it did seem kind of funny for me, or for anyone for that matter, to pledge an allegiance to a flag, or a loyalty oath while addressing a flag, singing the Star-Spangled Banner didn't seem like an inspiration for glory or lyricism.  It was sung at baseball games, basketball, football, and hockey games, so that context helped to seal its refrain as a of tradition but not one that actually connected me to the origins of this country.  It connected me to the traditions of the post-war U.S., and not to the traditions or origins of the 200+ year history of the country.

The chronology looks like this:

1745, "God Save the King."

1789, "Hail Columbia," the official national anthem for America from 1789-1931.

1812, "Hail to the Chief," a personal anthem exclusive to the president.  Adopted in 1954.

1831, "My Country 'Tis of Thee," or "America."

1931, "Star-Spangled Banner."

I don't think I've ever heard "Hail Columbia," 1789.  I like it. Lyrics are here.  Wikipedia explains that the anthem was composed by Philip Phile, a German-American.

The music was composed by Philip Phile in 1789 for the first inauguration of George Washington and titled "The President's March". It became the song "Hail, Columbia" when arranged with lyrics by Joseph Hopkinson in 1798. The song gained popularity during the XYZ Affair and subsequent Quasi-War with France. The song was used in the United States as a de facto national anthem throughout the 19th century. However, the song lost popularity after World War I until it was replaced by "The Star-Spangled Banner" in 1931.

It was the personal anthem of George Washington until that was replaced by "Hail to the Chief," published in 1812, and adopted in 1954.  This gets played at any event or ceremony where the president physically appears.

This Country 'Tis of Thee" has an interesting history.  Wikipedia explains that 

"My Country, 'Tis of Thee", also known as simply "America", is an American patriotic song, the lyrics [that] were written by Samuel Francis Smith. The song served as one of the de facto national anthems of the United States (along with songs like "Hail, Columbia") before the adoption of "The Star-Spangled Banner" as the official U.S. national anthem in 1931. The melody used is the same as that of the national anthem of the United Kingdom, "God Save the King".

Give it a listen.  Our national hymn, "My Country 'Tis of Thee," is sung to the melody of Britain's "God Save the King."  What happened!  

"My Country 'Tis of Thee" sounds like the most gentle, heartfelt phrase that I could develop a love for, because saying that this country is of thee, means that it is our country and therefore we have a responsibility to preserve its principles and values.  It almost sounds like a church hymn.  Here are the lyrics.

My country, 'tis of thee,
sweet land of liberty,
of thee I sing:
land where my fathers died,
land of the pilgrims' pride,
from every mountainside
let freedom ring!

My native country, thee,
land of the noble free,
thy name I love;
I love thy rocks and rills,
thy woods and templed hills;
my heart with rapture thrills
like that above.

Let music swell the breeze,
and ring from all the trees
sweet freedom's song:
let mortal tongues awake,
let all that breathe partake;
let rocks their silence break,
the sound prolong.

Who is the author of "My Country 'Tis of Thee"? 

Samuel Francis Smith wrote the lyrics to "America" in 1831 while a student at the Andover Theological Seminary in Andover, Massachusetts. The use of the same melody as the British royal anthem can be described as a contrafactum which reworks this symbol of British monarchy to make a statement about American democracy