For some reason the Star Strangled Banner dropped to the turntable of my internal jukebox, followed by the original Anacreon. In 70 years of hearing and singing the newer version, I never stopped to count the beats. It’s a completely screwed-up rhythm, with a new pattern for almost every word. The original is a smooth regular waltz. You could dance to it, and the drinkers probably did.
If we switched back to the original with ALL its verses, I’d gladly stand and sing it. Would be wonderful to have a national hymn devoted to bawdy love and cheerful roistering instead of imperial war and genocide.
Polistra's Mill 