Sunday, July 4, 2010

Stars and Stripes forever?

When is a flag mural considered to be graffiti? When it's in California on state land, and after it's been there for 8 1/2 years.

Hey who knew this song had words?

THE STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER
(MUSIC BY JOHN PHILIP SOUSA, 1896
LYRICS BY JOHN PHILIP SOUSA, 1898)

Let martial note in triumph float
And liberty extend its mighty hand
A flag appears 'mid thunderous cheers,
The banner of the Western land.
The emblem of the brave and true
Its folds protect no tyrant crew;
The red and white and starry blue
Is freedom's shield and hope.

Other nations may deem their flags the best
And cheer them with fervid elation
But the flag of the North and South and West
Is the flag of flags, the flag of Freedom's nation.

Hurrah for the flag of the free!
May it wave as our standard forever,
The gem of the land and the sea,
The banner of the right.
Let despots remember the day
When our fathers with mighty endeavor
Proclaimed as they marched to the fray
That by their might and by their right
It waves forever.

Let eagle shriek from lofty peak
The never-ending watchword of our land;
Let summer breeze waft through the trees
The echo of the chorus grand.
Sing out for liberty and light,
Sing out for freedom and the right.
Sing out for Union and its might,
O patriotic sons.

Other nations may deem their flags the best
And cheer them with fervid elation,
But the flag of the North and South and West
Is the flag of flags, the flag of Freedom's nation.

Hurrah for the flag of the free.
May it wave as our standard forever
The gem of the land and the sea,
The banner of the right.
Let despots remember the day
When our fathers with might endeavor
Proclaimed as they marched to the fray,
That by their might and by their right
It waves forever.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

"When is a flag mural considered to be graffiti? When it's in California on state land, and after it's been there for 8 1/2 years."

You forgot.... and when its a couple of days before July 4.

Anonymous said...

Victoria Jackson , former S.N.L/comedian has a hit song,"THERE IS A COMMUNIST LIVING IN THE WHITE HOUSE "

Anonymous said...

FRormer comedian is the right expression. Even the gang at Fox seemed compelled to distance themselves from her.

Then again, she wasn't funny on SNL, either.