Page:The Riverside song book.djvu/38

 THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER. Francis Scott Key.

Maestoso.

1. O! say can you see, by the dawn's ear - ly light,

2. On the shore dim - ly seen thro' the mists of the deep,

3. And where is that band who so vaunt - ing - ly swore

4. O! thus be it e'er when free - men shall stand

What so proud - ly we hail'd at the twi - light's last gleaming,

Where the foe's haugh-ty host in dread si - lence re - pos - es,

That the hav - oc of war and the bat - tle's con - fu - sion

Be - tween their lov'd homes and the war's des - o - la - tion;

Whose broad stripes and bright stars thro' the per - il - ous fight,

What is that which the breeze, o'er the tow - er - ing steep,

A home and a coun - try should leave us no more?

Blest with vic - t'ry and peace, may the Heav'n-res - cued land

O'er the ram - parts we watch'd were so gal- lant-ly streaming?

As it fit - ful - ly blows, half con - ceals, half dis - clos - es?

Their blood has wash'd out their foul foot - steps'pol - lu - tion! Praise the Pow'r that hath made and pre - serv'd us a na - tion!