Lost in translation

Repost from (July 4th, 2008)

I was in the mood to sing. La La La Laaaaaaa…. Ok ok, I'll spare you my glass breaking, ear drum bursting solo. Geesh, you people just don't know how to appreciate talent! But having said that, it doesn't mean I'm not going to sing in the shower nor should it prevent anyone else from doing the same. Why not right, considering it's the 4th of July and all Americans should lower their hats and lay hand to heart, eh?

So what are we going to sing? We could belt out our national anthem, the Star Spangled Banner…if we only knew the how but considering it's actually an English drinking song with new words and since, hell, most of us are going to be tanked anyway on this wondrous day, it seems almost inappropriate, am I correct? Let's take a poll as to how many of us actually know the words. I'm not seeing any raised hands… Wait wait wait! I believe I see one gentlemen leaning up against the wall all the way in the back. No? Oh never mind he was just helping the wall stay upright and ordering another beer…Oooh we have a volunteer! Actually we have several!! Everyone welcome to the stage the Spanish-American, Russian-American, Japanese-American, and the Rest-American translator that is going to sing the American national anthem!

*golf clap…crowd goes…not so wild!*

*crickets*

Hate to say it but I couldn't understand a word they said, why don't we just hum it? At least the melody will make our hearts swell with pride, right? Being politically correct is rather difficult when it comes down to the simple things like translating a song. Of course it's not just any song, it's the national anthem! Why don't we just agree to disagree, throw out all the political bull-ogna and just sing it in the American language? Don't know how to? Well…learn to.

In my humble opinion, if you so choose to immigrate to this country, you should by all means learn its language. Not saying you would have assimilate and lose all cultural identity but at least show a conscientious effort to learn the language of a country you have chosen to become a citizen of, abide it's laws and reap the benefits of. Not only that but to fully understand the character of The Star Spangled Banner, the American flag and the ideals of freedom that they represent, being lost in translation isn't going to help anything but to give way to even more stereotypical segregation (self imposed or imposed) and racism.

*crickets*

I know there are quite a few out there that would slam a vote down in a campaign to change the national anthem, and I'm not embarrassed to comply but know that it would be fruitless in any and all effort and I'm sure the money spent to do so could feed quite a lot of starving individuals as long as it wasn't being spent for gold plated toilet seats in the White House. Quite frankly The Star Spangled Banner is difficult to sing with its big words and octaves only Pavarotti or Celine Dion could accomplish but slap my mouth considering neither one are American citizens. We could possibly go for a much more simple and user friendly version or something completely different and not based upon a beer song; something original, heart felt and sort of patriotic like "This land is Your Land" as long as we left out the last two verses. Yet how many of us would automatically go straight into singing "You Are My Sunshine"? I got my hand raised.

We could wrangle up "America The Beautiful" but I'm afraid it would be ripped to shreds by every atheist and religious bigot. "My Country Tis of Thee" is yet another English song converted and once again would be torn apart by the masses saying it was an affront the Native Americans not to mention woman as well with all the brotherhood getting thrown around. There isn't much left unless someone wants to step up to the plate and pen a new song worth of this great nation we call home but I'm certain there isn't one person willing to do so with all the politically bull-ogna constraints now a days. Why don't we just go back to the one that we've teared up to, placed hand to heart to, stood in pride to and sang out of tune to since 1931? Sounds fine to me. How about you?

*crickets*

Fine! I'm going sing it anyway…Cover your ears, this might hurt…



"The Star Spangled Banner"
by Francis Scott Key

O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.O say, does that star-spangled banner yet waveO'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen thro' 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 on the stream:'Tis the star-spangled banner: O, long may it waveO'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly sworeThat the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,A home and a country should leave us no more?Their blood has wash'd out their foul footsteps' pollution.No refuge could save the hireling and slaveFrom the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave:And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth waveO'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O thus be it ever when free-men shall standBetween their lov'd home and the war's desolation;Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued landPraise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd 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 waveO'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!


*I do apologise for any fowl exploding whilst I sang, not my intention so sorry*