Star-Spangled Banner, Battle Cry of Freedom or Battle Hymn of the Republic? What’s your favorite patriotic song that’s national anthem-worthy?

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ShimorEgypt4227@reddit

I like When Johnny Comes Marching Home. And Hail To The Chief

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AmericanMinotaur@reddit

Favorite is “Over There” but I don’t know if it would make a good national anthem. Maybe “Grand Old Flag?”

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RainbowCrown71@reddit (OP)

Grand Old Flag is a great one (and isn’t as popular as it used to be). I’m partial to the original lyrics: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/You%27re_a_Grand_Old_Flag

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alloy1028@reddit

You’re a Grand ol’ Flag gets me pumped!

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CupBeEmpty@reddit

Made by NAACP civil rights activist James Weldon Johnson and his brother John Rosamond. It has been called “the black national anthem.”

Solid choice and underrated.

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PhysicsEagle@reddit

Personally, I’ve always thought that “My Country, Tis of Thee” would make an excellent national anthem.

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PhysicsEagle@reddit

A few lesser known songs for your consideration:

“Hail, Columbia” - the de facto national anthem until the Star Spangled Banner was adopted in the early 20th century. “Firm, united let us be; rallying round our liberty. As a band of brothers joined, peace and safety we shall find!”

“Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean” - a popular patriotic song back in the day. “Thy mandates make heroes assemble when Liberty’s form stands in view; thy banners make tyranny tremble when borne by the Red, White and Blue!”

“Chester” - a revolutionary war era song from New England. “Let tyrants shake their iron rod, and slavery bare her galling chains. We fear them not, we trust in God: New England’s God forever reigns!”

“Free America” - another revolution song, to the tune of “British Grenadiers.” “That seat of science Athens, And earth’s proud mistress, Rome, Where now are all their glories, We scarce can find a tomb. Then guard your rights, Americans, Nor stoop to lawless sway, Huzzah huzzah huzzah huzza For Free America!”

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Adept_Thanks_6993@reddit

Battle Hymn, but only when they do the "let us die" verse correctly.

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RainbowCrown71@reddit (OP)

“Let us live to make men free” makes no sense at all. I don’t know why they even considered it.

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cryptoengineer@reddit

The goal of a soldier is not to die for his country.

Its to make the SOBs on the other side die for their country.

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IHaveALittleNeck@reddit

I hate that change. Ruins a song about willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice.

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ByzantineBomb@reddit

PREACH

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cryptoengineer@reddit

"America the Beautiful"

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RioTheLeoo@reddit

Battle Hymn of the Republic for sure. It just has a really nice melody that lends itself to many different versions and sets of lyrics (John Browns Body, Solidarity Forever, etc) that all really seam to capture the spirit of liberation and justice that I think US ideals strive for, even if not yet delivering

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Phil_ODendron@reddit

Battle Hymn of the Republic for sure. It just has a really nice melody that lends itself to many different versions and sets of lyrics (John Browns Body,

Battle Hymn of the Republic was actually an adaptation of John Brown's Body.

John Brown's Body was adapted from a much older folk song.

It's a great song with many different versions.

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n00bca1e99@reddit

If I remember correctly, some troops were singing John Brown’s Body as they passed by General Howe. He turned to his wife, who was among other things a poet, and said something along the lines of ‘beautiful melody but horrible words,’ so his wife wrote Battle Hymn of the Republic.

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undreamedgore@reddit

If I remeber correctly it was supposidly a Wisconsin regiment.

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WaldenFont@reddit

And, according to her, the lyrics popped into her head fully formed all at once, and she had to rush to write them down.

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n00bca1e99@reddit

Didn’t know that part

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WaldenFont@reddit

I misremembered it somewhat. In her own words:

“I went to bed that night as usual, and slept, according to my wont, quite soundly. I awoke in the gray of the morning twilight; and as I lay waiting for the dawn, the long lines of the desired poem began to twine themselves in my mind. Having thought out all the stanzas, I said to myself, “I must get up and write these verses down, lest I fall asleep again and forget them.” So, with a sudden effort, I sprang out of bed, and found in the dimness an old stump of a pencil which I remembered to have used the day before. I scrawled the verses almost without looking at the paper.”

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sakima147@reddit

Beat me to it.

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HopelessNegativism@reddit

My favorite version is Blood on the Risers

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SyndicalistHR@reddit

Also, Go Dawgs baby

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igwaltney3@reddit

My biggest problem with battle hymn is that the mutts appropriated it. Go Jackets

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IHaveALittleNeck@reddit

“As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free.” Gives me chills.

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Subvet98@reddit

No country in the world will deliver on the ideals we en spouse. But it gives a goal to strive for.

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blusluver@reddit

*espouse

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sakima147@reddit

You mean John Brown’s Body lends itself to multiple versions. Battle Hymn is a derivative of John Brown’s Body not the other way around.

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Away-Ad-8053@reddit

Yeah that may be true but you really can't dance to it.

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GodzillaDrinks@reddit

Battle Hymn of the Republic is a good and bad. On one hand, its far too religious to ever be the national anthem. But I do like that its come to be synonymous with denouncing the Confederacy and its fetid legecy.

Star-Spangled Banner is probably the pick for the same reason we do everything else: it's no one's favorite, but it's not objectionable to anyone.

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Redbird9346@reddit

The fourth verse of The Star-Spangled Banner (yes, there is more than one verse.), turns slightly religious:

Oh, thus be it ever, when free men shall stand / Between their lov’d home and the war’s desolation! // Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the heav’n-rescued land / Praise the pow’r 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!

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RodeoBoss66@reddit

The National Anthem is pretty national anthem-worthy in my book.

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197708156EQUJ5@reddit

National Anthem

That’s a generic term for the song a country has as its national song. Do you mean The Star Spangle Banner?

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RodeoBoss66@reddit

I didn’t say “a national anthem is pretty national anthem-worthy,” I said “the National Anthem is pretty national anthem-worthy.”

I didn’t capitalize “National Anthem” just for laughs. I’m referring to the specific song that already is this country’s national anthem.

The actual National Anthem of the United States, the title of which is “The Star Spangled Banner,” is pretty worthy of being the national anthem. Fortunately, it already is, so there’s no need for me to choose.

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197708156EQUJ5@reddit

So here I am thinking your first language wasn’t English and I was trying to be helpful. So your reply is to downvote me and then berate me for trying to help out and explain, as gently as I could, something you might not have understand.

I’ve been here for 14 years and this use to be such a better platform. I’m done with this nonsense.

Have a good one and I hope you don’t treat everyone like this

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CyclopsLobsterRobot@reddit

This is nonsense. There’s no point in Reddit history where whining about downvotes didn’t get you more downvotes.

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197708156EQUJ5@reddit

Don’t focus on the fact that I mentioned them downvoting me. That was one of my points of their terrible reply

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RodeoBoss66@reddit

Actually I didn’t downvote you. I didn’t upvote you either. I just left that alone. If someone downvoted you, it wasn’t me, I assure you.

I also didn’t berate you. I was simply making myself clear, since you didn’t seem to comprehend the intent of my original comment. I’m sorry if you assumed an insulting tone when you read my words but unfortunately I cannot control the voice in your head. There was no disrespect in my words. You simply took it that way.

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Skrumdilla@reddit

If it’s not “Party in the USA” I’m not standing for it

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slugo17@reddit

Born in the USA by Bruce Springsteen is absolutely worthy.

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197708156EQUJ5@reddit

No. That’s a terrible song for national pride. Read the lyrics. Love the song, but it doesn’t mean what you think it means

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CyclopsLobsterRobot@reddit

What’s more American than having a national anthem about how much we suck but half the country misunderstands? One of our defining traits is loving America too much while also hating everything about America.

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SadAdeptness6287@reddit

There is nothing more patriotic than Born in the USA. And yes, I will die on this hill.

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Hot_Frosty0807@reddit

Lee Greenwood would be spinning in his grave, if he were dead.

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slugo17@reddit

I know the words by heart and understand it's meaning. It's a snapshot of US history and nothing to be ashamed of.

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Substantial-Fish-652@reddit

“This Land” by Woody Guthrie

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TheBimpo@reddit

I am genuinely surprised how often the topic of these ancient traditional songs comes up in this forum.

I will forever promote “This Land is Your Land” to be our true national anthem.

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SquashDue502@reddit

I feel like it’s much more relatable to people today as well compared to some revolutionary poems lol

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OldTechnician@reddit

I can't see it at the Olympics. People be square dancing and shit

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SquashDue502@reddit

How is it square dancing music 😂

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zugabdu@reddit

I love how inclusive it is.

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TheManWhoWasNotShort@reddit

“America, Fuck Yeah” from Team America, World Police

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Strike_Thanatos@reddit

Compromise: we use John Brown's Body when we're at war.

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droozer@reddit

Compromise: we use John Brown’s Body ~~when we’re at war~~ all the time

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03zx3@reddit

I will forever promote “This Land is Your Land” to be our true national anthem.

I could get on board with that.

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scaredofmyownshadow@reddit

It’s my favorite too and was the first one I learned as a kid.

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Adept_Thanks_6993@reddit

Especially the anti-property verse

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WeridThinker@reddit

America the Beautiful for a tranquil day. America Fuck Yeah for an upbeating day.

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SnowblindAlbino@reddit

None of those. Our national anthem should be Woody Guthrie's This Land is Your Land, which was written as a repsonse to Irving Berlin's God Bless America. It's a much better song, more inclusive, and not militaristic. Plus it's easy to sing.

I would make sure everyone knew the 4th verse, which isn't often included in public performances because Reasons.

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To-RB@reddit

Dixie

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ShoddyCharlatan@reddit

Battle Cry of Freedom for me.

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panic_bread@reddit

“This Land is Your Land” because fuck the fascists.

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No-Coyote914@reddit

America the Beautiful. I love the song for its positivity and serenity.

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mradamj111@reddit

Oh for me it's gotta be Yankee Doodle. It's insulting, self depricating, AND patriotic all at the same time.

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197708156EQUJ5@reddit

It’s not self-deprecating, it was written my the bloody British to make fun of us Yankees

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mradamj111@reddit

It's an insulting little diddy about Yanks, that was adopted by those very Yanks as a symbol of honour and rebellion against those who used it in the 1st place. That's why it's self depricating, the song and it's history of adoption by Colonials. If it had never been taken as a beloved American icon it would've probably just been a footnote of British injustice along with flogging and hard labour.

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SquashDue502@reddit

The true American way 😂

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Spinelli-Wuz-My-Idol@reddit

Lift Every Voice and Sing

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tvkyle@reddit

IDK how you would put lyrics to this, but Stars and Stripes Forever

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RRNolan@reddit

Lift Every Voice and Sing by James Weldon Johnson is considered the Black national anthem here in America.

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SquashDue502@reddit

Rolling Thunder March. Imagine winning a gold medal at the Olympics and that absolute banger starts playing 😂

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CupBeEmpty@reddit

Fanfare for the Common man would suit our gold medalists better

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ColossusOfChoads@reddit

What about the Rocky theme?

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catiebug@reddit

Battle Hymn of the Republic and it's not even close. The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong just did a whole episode about this (ep is called "Everyone Can Sing").

As a vocalist, the Star-Spangled Banner can shove it. Even if it were a thematically good anthem (which it's not), it's so hard to sing that it's not even fun. There is a reason that almost everyone's favorite version is sung by Whitney, the literal greatest vocalist of all time. You have to be that good to handle that song. Which makes it a bad national anthem, imo. I'm proud that I've been able to sing it at some events, but I'm always relieved it's over.

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ColossusOfChoads@reddit

The world likes soccer, which anyone can play. Whereas with our favorite sports, you pretty much have to be a genetic monstrosity if you want to be a pro.

I think it's only fitting that you have to be a trained singer to pull our national anthem off. It wasn't composed for no schoolchildren, I tell you what!

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RatioLivid3320@reddit

Battle hymn of the Republic it’s in a story format, and at the end of the story is victory which makes it so beautiful! Also the gravitas of a situation among the individual allows it to be uniting!

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CalmRip@reddit

Musically, I like Battle Hymn of the Republic. For lyrics, I'll stick with good old Star Spangled Banner, as it's more about pride than either deprecating a specific group of Americans (Battle Cry) or espousing a religion I don't practice (Battle Hymn).

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TheMainEffort@reddit

Yeah, I wish there was a way to make Battle hymn less religious, but then who is bringing forth the lighting of the terrible swift sword? Who has writ a fiery gospel in burnished rows of steel?

Who is my soul swift, my feet jubilant, to answer?

Just doesn’t make sense smh.

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RainbowCrown71@reddit (OP)

Maybe the personification of America (like Miss Columbia or Lady Liberty)?

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bloobityblu@reddit

Okay, but we're naming her Lenore for rhyming reasons:

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of Lenore

She is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored

She hath loosed the fateful lightning of Her terrible swift sword

Her truth is marching on

Lenore, Lenore, Hallelujah! (3X) Her truth is marching on!

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spork_o_rama@reddit

This got a literal lol out of me.

The Poe/Battle Hymn mashup I didn't know I needed!

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bloobityblu@reddit

Holy crap that was actually unintentional lol! Shhh don't tell anyone about my lack of Poe reference in there.

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RainbowCrown71@reddit (OP)

I was thinking Eeyore at first, but yeah Lenore sounds better.

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TheMainEffort@reddit

You could probably get away with that by removing that verse about Jesus, without that you get closer to saying “god” in the song is not the Christian god but more of a nebulous concept of universal will or something.

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CalmRip@reddit

Yeah, it is a hymn after all. I do like the song--love singing it--I just like Banner's lyrics better as the national anthem.

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FrenchFreedom888@reddit

I agree. The Hymn is just too religious to represent a diverse country with no official one religion

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HailMi@reddit

Battle Hymn of the Republic. Hands down, because fuck those southern traitors.

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TheMainEffort@reddit

1) kill traitors 2) kill slave owners 3) kill traitorous slave owners

10/10

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HailMi@reddit

Hell yeah, brother.

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TheMainEffort@reddit

That being said, I’m not big on the overt religious themes. We shouldn’t need god to tell us that drivers of our fellow humans deserve nothing but the fire and blood.

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HailMi@reddit

Same. I just love General Sherman.

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TheMainEffort@reddit

That’s a nice sea you have there. Be a shame if someone… marched to it.

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n00bca1e99@reddit

Atlanta? Never heard of her.

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CupBeEmpty@reddit

You forgot love Jesus in a militaristic crusade type of way

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TheMainEffort@reddit

Imagine hacksaw ridge, when Doss says “okay, I hear you.” Like that, but instead of saving more soldiers raising an entire army and proceeding to be the sword God wields to expunge a great evil from the world.

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CupBeEmpty@reddit

I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of steel: “As ye deal with My contemners, so with you My grace shall deal”; Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with His heel, Since God is marching on.

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TechnologyDragon6973@reddit

I’m fond of The Battle Hymn of the Republic if I had to pick something else for the national anthem - especially with its final verse.

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Jeveran@reddit

I'm a big fan of To Anacreon in Heaven which FS Key adapted for the Star Spangled Banner.

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TopperMadeline@reddit

I’ve said before that Ray Charles’ version of America the Beautiful would be the national anthem.

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Pinwurm@reddit

James Brown - Living in America.

I will die on this hill - this song deserves to be our national anthem. It’s iconic, it’s patriotic, it’s catchy, you can’t help but dance to it! Brown is arguably the most influential and iconic American musician of the last 100 years.

It’s already played at every 4th of July Celebration. It was in the Rocky IV soundtrack - which prophesized America’s Cold War victory over the Soviets. Most importantly, Stevie Ray Vaughan - the greatest electric guitar player in history (and quintessentially American), recorded leads on it.

It’s a 40 year song and remains as timeless as ever.

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Meilingcrusader@reddit

Honestly they are all pretty good. I played the Star Spangled Banner, God Bless America, God Bless the USA, and Battle Hymn of the Republic this morning on my keyboard. It helps a bit with the homesickness

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Strange_Frenzy@reddit

America The Beautiful

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Squirrel179@reddit

I like the song well enough, but I could never get behind America the Beautiful or Battle Hymn of the Republic as anthems, due to their religious nature.

Battle Cry of Freedom and This Land is Your Land are both great options that don't espouse religion.

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hamiltrash52@reddit

This Land is Your Land lyrics are questionable at best. Was not made for us, and in light of current conversations about Native Land rights and climate change, not sure the reinforcement of our claim over the land is something we want.

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Ihasknees936@reddit

That's the thing, This Land is Your Land isn't about claiming land, it advocates for abolishing private property. Woodie Guthrie wrote it as a response to America the Beautiful and the song is pretty much saying "yeah America is beautiful, but not everyone can experience it because so much of it is privately owned." I will say that's a more unique reasoning for being against the songs use compared to the usual "that song is bad to use because it was written by a communist supporting abolishing private property" that I usually hear whenever the song comes up in these kinds of discussions.

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TheBimpo@reddit

Ray Charles version please.

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FlyingFrog99@reddit

Should be the national anthem

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the_owl_syndicate@reddit

Stars and Stripes Forever by John Phillip Sousa

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bladel@reddit

This is the one.

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prometheus_winced@reddit

Any one that Ray Charles sings.

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thabonch@reddit

Battle Hymn of the Republic is my personal favorite, but it's too Christian to be a good national anthem. I'd keep the Star-Spangled Banner for that.

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Techialo@reddit

If U Seek Amy by Britney Spears beats all of them.

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FlyJunior172@reddit

Hail Columbia

Outside of what I would call “anthem worthy”, Johnny Freedom

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Gr8-Lks@reddit

“The song of the Patriot” - Sung by Johnny Cash and Marty Robbins.

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Infinite-Surprise-53@reddit

America the Beautiful should have always been the national anthem

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Reverse2057@reddit

Battle hymn of the republic however the "Blood upon the risers" version for paratroopers instead is my fave.

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TheDwarvenGuy@reddit

My personal favorite as a song? Battle Hymn of the Republic, it gives me shivers every time at the "Let us Die to Make Men Free" part. It's not good for being a national anthem though, since it's very very Christian.

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hamiltrash52@reddit

América the Beautiful

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ThePenIslands@reddit

Seriously? Bruce Springsteen - Born in the USA

As a joke? America, Fuck Yeah - Team America

As something that make me cry at an air show? - God Bless the USA - Lee Greenwood

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sakima147@reddit

Was wrapping my mind for some other choices one of the best I could come up with was ‘Make them hear you’ from Ragtime.

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Lucky-Royal-6156@reddit

Star Spangled banner

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Nottacod@reddit

As a Marylander, it can only be Star Spangled Banner.

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listenstowhales@reddit

Free bird.

The guitar solo can be adapted for any situation, be it charging an enemy, making a long drive when you’re down by 6 at the end of the fourth, fixing a car, or firing up the grill for the neighborhood cook out.

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Charliegirl121@reddit

I love our national anthem because it's based on Francis Scott key poem and if you've never seen or heard the poem check youtube because they would have it. It brings tears to my eyes. He wrote it based on fort Henry being attacked.

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nemo_sum@reddit

"American the Beautiful" should be the anthem, IMO.

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SkepticalJohn@reddit

This land is your land, this land is my land.

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Dinocop1234@reddit

Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition.

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TimeVortex161@reddit

América the Beautiful

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MaggieMae68@reddit

This Land is Your Land.

There is no other answer.

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dangleicious13@reddit

Star Spangled Banner is trash. Never heard of the Battle Cry of Freedom.

I'm partial to 'Merican by Descendents.

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CupBeEmpty@reddit

Cool to be You, you’re too punk rock for the sub I think

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dangleicious13@reddit

I wanna be stereotyped. I wanna be classified.

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CupBeEmpty@reddit

Sickest joke I know

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dangleicious13@reddit

Never been into that type of music.

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HailMi@reddit

Found the Merkin!

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machagogo@reddit

Anthems aren't pop songs and don't need to be changed for... reasons...

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NotTheMariner@reddit

I’m personally a fan of “Lift Every Voice,” but I’d consider Battle Hymn of the Republic a close second.

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Coolio1014@reddit

God Bless the USA always hits

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justdisa@reddit

"This Land is Your Land"

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southpark808@reddit

Imperial March! Hands down

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_S1syphus@reddit

Not national anthem worthy but the Union Dixie is a classic

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TheRedmanCometh@reddit

Battle hymn of the republic for sure!

"He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword"

Are kinda metal lyrics

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ialwaysforget44@reddit

I’m good with the Star Spangled Banner 🤷🏼‍♀️

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HailMi@reddit

Found the southerner.

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ialwaysforget44@reddit

I’m actually from Michigan lol

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HailMi@reddit

Michigan can be a lot like Florida, the further north you go, the deeper south you get.

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MagnumForce24@reddit

I would argue the far southern tier of counties is right there. Family is from Monroe County, grew up in Hillsdale County and my first place was in Lenawee County.

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