Why do we only sing the first verse of the "Star Spangled Banner"?

[innerSpaceman]

I really like the second verse.


So I'll say they dropped the 3rd and 4th because they were gruesome and dismal and stretched beyond rhyme-singing possibility.




But the second verse is awesome and inspiring and, frankly, better at conveying what I thought as the historical essence of the piece than the part we all actually sing. I don't know why we dropped it, but I wish we hadn't.

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by Moonliner

How long do you want to wait before a ball game?

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

Agree with Moonliner. It's just too long.

Agree with them. Besides, it's way to hard to retrain everyone to start cheering after 3 more verses.

Originally Posted by blueerica

I should iterate that it's a question she thought of - not one in prep for the test. I just feel it's my job as a citizen to actually have some knowledge of these things! Eek!

Eh, my mom knew more American history when she became a citizen than I remembered.