The Star Spangled Banner
The Star Spangled Banner
By Francis Scott Key
Oh, say can you see by the dawn’s early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
‘Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Powerful Episodes
A couple of weeks ago I watched the season opener of Soul Food on Showtime. Goodness gracious.. Boris Kodjoe. What a wonderful actor he is. Did you see him on Boston Public? I digress. Anyway, the episode focused on a storyline involving Bird and her math teacher, Michael King, whom she had relations with during high school. Michael King returned in Bird’s life by stalking her. I didn’t see the prior season finale, so I’m unaware if the teacher was on a previous episode. Regardless, this season opener had a powerful effect on me.
Thankfully, I’ve never been put in the situation that Bird was forced into. The sick bastard nearly raped her in broad daylight. That scene sent chills down my spine, almost as if I was living the experience.
Speaking of powerful episodes, Monday night’s Boston Public had me on the verge of tears. Buddhism, spirituality, teenage pregnancy, dealing with regret, death, adoption, drugs. The show could not possibly get any better until Tamyra Gray, sang Luther Vandross’ “Dance with my Father.” What a beautiful song:
Back when I was a child
Before life removed all the innocence
My father would lift me high
And dance with my mother and me and then
Spin me around till I fell.. fell asleep
Then up the stairs he would carry me
And I knew for sure, I was loved
If I could get
Another chance
Tears In Heaven
Eric Clapton- Tears In Heaven
(CHORUS)
Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven?
Would it be the same
If I saw you in heaven?
I must be strong
And carry on
‘Cause I know I don’t belong
Here in heavenWould you hold my hand
If I saw you in heaven?
Would you help me stand
If I saw you in heaven?
I’ll find my way
Through night and day
‘Cause I know I just can’t stay
Here in heavenTime can bring you down
Time can bend your knees
Time can break your heart
Have you begging please
Begging pleaseBeyond the door
There’s peace I’m sure
And I know there’ll be no more
Tears in heaven(REPEAT)
Best Rock Song Ever
Sometimes I don’t have my own words to convey what I feel at the moment, but a song often sums it up.
Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody
Is this the real life?
Is this just fantasy?
Caught in a landslide
No escape from reality
Open your eyes
Look up to the skies and see
I’m just a poor boy, I need no sympathy
Because I’m easy come, easy go
A little high, little low
Anyway the wind blows, doesn’t really matter to me, to meMama, just killed a man
Put a gun against his head
Pulled my trigger, now he’s dead
Mama, life had just begun
But now I’ve gone and thrown it all away
Mama, ooo
Didn’t mean to make you cry
If I’m not back again this time tomorrow
Carry on, carry on, as if nothing really mattersToo late, my time has come
Sends shivers down my spine
Body’s aching all the time
Goodbye everybody – I’ve got to go
Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth
Mama, ooo – (anyway the wind blows)
I don’t want to die
I sometimes wish I’d never been born at allI see a little silhouetto of a man
Scaramouch, scaramouch will you do the fandango
Thunderbolt and lightning – very very frightening me
Gallileo, Gallileo,
Gallileo, Gallileo,
Gallileo Figaro – magnificoBut I’m just a poor boy and nobody loves me
He’s just a poor boy from a poor family
Spare him his life from this monstrosity
Easy come easy go – will you let me go
Bismillah! No – we will not let you go – let him go
Bismillah! We will not let you go – let him go
Bismillah! We will not let you go – let me go
Will not let you go – let me go (never)
Never let you go – let me go
Never let me go – ooo
No, no, no, no, no, no, no -
Oh mama mia, mama mia, mama mia let me go
Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me
for me
for meSo you think you can stone me and spit in my eye
So you think you can love me and leave me to die
Oh baby – can’t do this to me baby
Just gotta get out – just gotta get right outta hereOoh yeah, ooh yeah
Nothing really matters
Anyone can see
Nothing really matters – nothing really matters to meAnyway the wind blows…
