Why do we only sing the first verse of the "Star Spangled Banner"? - Page 2

Alex · 03-27-2009, 08:44 AM

I suspect there really isn't a good factual answer beyond, "that's just the way it is settled out over time."

The full version generally takes more than 6 minutes to sing which I suspect is simply longer than most people want to spend on it. And most people suck at singing it anyway so why lengthen the pain. Plus, when engaging in vacuous acts of pseudo-patriotism being too lazy to actually finish it is a nice damning touch. Finally, it would be rude to make old people stand that long, in the hot sun with their hats off, at baseball games.

Ghoulish Delight · 03-27-2009, 08:44 AM

I gotta imagine it's a length thing. No one wants to spend that much time singing an anthem.

Not Afraid · 03-27-2009, 08:58 AM

My relatives came over on the Mayflower. I'm exempt from know these things.

Strangler Lewis · 03-27-2009, 08:58 AM

That's a good question. As a follow-up, you might ask your friend why she doesn't go back to wherever the hell she came from.

innerSpaceman · 03-27-2009, 09:33 AM

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 · 03-27-2009, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moonliner

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

Quote:

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.

Quote:

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.

Morrigoon · 03-27-2009, 11:03 AM

Dude, iSm... the Average Joe has a hard enough time remembering the words to the first verse, and you want them to master the entire song? I think it's a simple matter of expediency.

Just like the rest of the words for America the Beautiful are cool but nobody knows them:

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for halcyon skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the enameled plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till souls wax fair as earth and air
And music-hearted sea!

O beautiful for pilgrims feet,
Whose stem impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till paths be wrought through
wilds of thought
By pilgrim foot and knee!

O beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife
When once and twice,
for man's avail
Men lavished precious life!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain
The banner of the free!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till nobler men keep once again
Thy whiter jubilee!

Awesome... but who can remember all that? Certainly not your "average" Joe.

Prudence · 03-27-2009, 11:12 AM

We generally don't sing additional verses to Jingle Bells either. Which is a pity.

innerSpaceman · 03-27-2009, 11:25 AM

Now, in the great tradition of this thread, you must post them.

ETA: I knew only one of the additional America the Beautiful verses because it was featured as the finale to Disneyland's CircleVision America the Beautiful.

Morrigoon · 03-27-2009, 11:27 AM

Me too... I knew the "Alabaster cities gleam" part (not memorized, but was aware) and found the rest when I went looking.

03-27-2009, 08:44 AM	#11
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	I suspect there really isn't a good factual answer beyond, "that's just the way it is settled out over time." The full version generally takes more than 6 minutes to sing which I suspect is simply longer than most people want to spend on it. And most people suck at singing it anyway so why lengthen the pain. Plus, when engaging in vacuous acts of pseudo-patriotism being too lazy to actually finish it is a nice damning touch. Finally, it would be rude to make old people stand that long, in the hot sun with their hats off, at baseball games.
	Submit to Quotes

03-27-2009, 08:44 AM	#12
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	I gotta imagine it's a length thing. No one wants to spend that much time singing an anthem. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
	Submit to Quotes

03-27-2009, 08:58 AM	#13
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	My relatives came over on the Mayflower. I'm exempt from know these things.
	Submit to Quotes

03-27-2009, 08:58 AM	#14
Strangler Lewis Doing The Job Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: In a state Posts: 3,956	That's a good question. As a follow-up, you might ask your friend why she doesn't go back to wherever the hell she came from. __________________ Live now-pay later. Diner's Club!
	Submit to Quotes

03-27-2009, 09:33 AM	#15
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	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.
	Submit to Quotes

03-27-2009, 11:03 AM	#17
Morrigoon I throw stones at houses Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Location: Location Posts: 9,534	Dude, iSm... the Average Joe has a hard enough time remembering the words to the first verse, and you want them to master the entire song? I think it's a simple matter of expediency. Just like the rest of the words for America the Beautiful are cool but nobody knows them: O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed his grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea! O beautiful for pilgrim feet Whose stern impassioned stress A thoroughfare of freedom beat Across the wilderness! America! America! God mend thine every flaw, Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law! O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife. Who more than self their country loved And mercy more than life! America! America! May God thy gold refine Till all success be nobleness And every gain divine! O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears! America! America! God shed his grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea! O beautiful for halcyon skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the enameled plain! America! America! God shed his grace on thee Till souls wax fair as earth and air And music-hearted sea! O beautiful for pilgrims feet, Whose stem impassioned stress A thoroughfare for freedom beat Across the wilderness! America! America! God shed his grace on thee Till paths be wrought through wilds of thought By pilgrim foot and knee! O beautiful for glory-tale Of liberating strife When once and twice, for man's avail Men lavished precious life! America! America! God shed his grace on thee Till selfish gain no longer stain The banner of the free! O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears! America! America! God shed his grace on thee Till nobler men keep once again Thy whiter jubilee! Awesome... but who can remember all that? Certainly not your "average" Joe. __________________ http://bash.org/?top "It is useless for sheep to pass a resolution in favor of vegetarianism while wolves remain of a different opinion." -- William Randolph Inge
	Submit to Quotes

03-27-2009, 11:12 AM	#18
Prudence Beelzeboobs, Esq. Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Gavel - I haz it Posts: 6,287	We generally don't sing additional verses to Jingle Bells either. Which is a pity. __________________ traguna macoities tracorum satis de
	Submit to Quotes

03-27-2009, 11:25 AM	#19
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	Now, in the great tradition of this thread, you must post them. ETA: I knew only one of the additional America the Beautiful verses because it was featured as the finale to Disneyland's CircleVision America the Beautiful.
	Submit to Quotes

03-27-2009, 11:27 AM	#20
Morrigoon I throw stones at houses Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Location: Location Posts: 9,534	Me too... I knew the "Alabaster cities gleam" part (not memorized, but was aware) and found the rest when I went looking. __________________ http://bash.org/?top "It is useless for sheep to pass a resolution in favor of vegetarianism while wolves remain of a different opinion." -- William Randolph Inge
	Submit to Quotes