No subject

And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave."

Since the U.S. was drafting people in WWII, it was a bit awkward to have a
verse about how volunteers (the free) can whup draftees (slaves) any time.
It was also offensive to our British allies, so it was dropped. 

As for the religious angle, the Star Spangled Banner is also a hymn, but
better written and more devout:  

"Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: 'In God is our trust...'"

The tune, "To Anacreon In Heaven," was the club song of a drinking society
in London.  The composer of what is now "God Save the Queen" was a member
and presumably wrote both tunes.  The lyrics are on line at 
http://www.acronet.net/~robokopp/english/toanacre.html
and other sites, and they are not exactly morally uplifting.

The mark of a good anthem is not necessarily that it is singable.  If it
sounds good played by a military band, and can be belted out lustily by
tipsy soldiers, there's a lot to be said for it.  Really, can you imagine
marching off to war to the smarmy strains of "God Bless America?"  Yeesh!
"To Anacreon In Heaven" is catchy and distinctive, which is more than you
can say for most other countries' anthems (France and England being notable
exceptions).

There's one other point that might be worth mentioning.  In the War of 1812,
when the regular army pulled back to defend Washington, Baltimore was
defended by what could charitably be called "militia" -- local yokels with
small arms.  They manned Fort McHenry and survived a bombardment from the
high-tech weapons of a superpower.  It has always been a point of pride to
gun nuts in America that the national anthem celebrates what armed civilians
can do to defend the nation.  I have to wonder if the proposal to change the
anthem is connected obliquely with the gun control debate.

-BT

"The hobnail boot ascends the stair, and the silken slipper descends the
stair."  - Voltaire