2Nd Verse of the National Anthem

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The second verse starts with: “And where is that band who so vauntingly swore…” Basically, Key is screaming, “Hey, remember those British guys who were talking smack?” It’s less about patriotism and more about trash talk from 1814.

Key goes on to describe the enemy as those who “wash the blood from the murderer’s hands.” Yikes. That’s not exactly a warm, fuzzy “land of the free” vibe. It’s the musical equivalent of flipping a historical bird.

The “Havoc and Woe” Poetry Slam

He continues with “the havoc of war” and “the gloom of the grave.” For a guy who wrote this on the back of an envelope while being held prisoner on a British ship, you can forgive his mood. But still, it’s bleak.

Imagine singing this before the seventh-inning stretch. “Play ball! … And may they wallow in the blood of the vanquished!” The hot dogs would taste different. The crowd would be deeply confused.

It’s a surprising fact: Key originally wrote this poem, “Defence of Fort M’Henry,” with four verses. The one we sing is just the first. The others are like deleted scenes from a movie that didn’t make the director’s cut.