Heap o' Links Fri Nov 14, 2025

All Four Stanzas of The Star Spangled Banner
Written by the late Isaac Asimov, in March 1991. Asimov was born in Russia, and emigrated in 1923 with his parents when he was a young child. He became an American citizen in 1928.

I have a weakness – I am crazy, absolutely nuts, about our national anthem. The words are difficult, and the tune is almost impossible, but frequently when I'm taking a shower, I sing it with as much power and emotion as I can. It shakes me up every time. I was once asked to speak at a luncheon. Taking my life in my hands, I announced I was going to sing our national anthem – all four stanzas. This was greeted with loud groans. One man closed the door to the kitchen, where the noise of dishes and cutlery was loud and distracting. “Thanks, Herb,” I said. “That's all right,” he said. “It was at the request of the kitchen staff.…”

h/t Claudia, IOTWreport

[I searched YouTube but could not find a satisfactory version of the full anthem. Several were choirs that made the lyrics muddy, at least on my speakers. One was a fellow clearly singing but he kept changing key. One had all the lyrics, no vocal. I gave up. —mw]

Posted by: gp on A♠