All Terrain Thinking

A Compendium of things I think are Important

The "Star Spangled Banner"

Comparison of 1919 Spanish translation and the Original by Francis Scott Keys

Re-translation of Spanish version (1919)

Original English version

Do you see arising, by the light of the dawn, That which we hailed so much when the night fell? Its stars, its stripes yesterday streamed In the fierce combat, as a sign of victory, The glory of battle, in step with freedom, Throughout the night they proclaimed: "It is defending itself!" Oh say you! Is it still waving, beautiful, star-covered, Over the land of the free, the sacred flag? Its stars, its stripes, liberty, we are the same. We are brothers in our anthem. In the fierce combat, as a sign of victory, In the fierce combat... (My people, keep fighting!) ...in step with freedom, (Now is the time to break the chains!) Throughout the night they proclaimed: "It is defending itself!" Oh say you! Is it still waving, beautiful, star-covered, Over the land of the free, the sacred flag?

O' 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, through the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming! And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there: O' say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

While it is easy to see differences, both convey the feelings and emotions of the original.

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