He is an Associate Professor of Music, American Culture, and African American Studies as well as the Director of Entrepreneurship and Career Services. Mark Clague is part of the University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theater, and Dance. Ford Presidential Library on March 7, 2017. Because it is absolute genius.Musicologist Mark Clague presented a lecture on “Banner Ballards: The Many Lyrics of the Star-Spangled Banner” at the Gerald R. It was, and remains to this day, the most brutal and breathtakingly honest reflection on our national character I had ever experienced. Every bereaved mother's tears, every shattered widow's sobs. With every shrieking missile, every exploding bomb, every burst of napalm, every spray of bullets. What's more, he didn't just create a song to protest the war.

Jimi Hendrix had transformed the Star Spangled Banner into a protest song, and I would never think of the national anthem in the same way again. It gave me chills and stirred my soul in a way that that song never had before. I recognized it as the national anthem, but didn't yet fully understand why it was so different. (This was back before my parents had fully embarked on the path that led to Talibangelical Fox News Hell they still listened to rock music). When I first heard this version it was playing on the radio in my parents car. Either way, quit complaining you ingrate. That it's so difficult for ordinary people to sing exemplifies the attitude that if you can't do it, (whatever it may be), well, too bad for you. The song speaks to our culture's glorification of conflict, violence, and the joy of blowing sh!t up. Given our pathological national obsession with weapons and violence, and the fact that while we like to celebrate the ideas of freedom and equality for everyone in all things, the reality falls rather short. On the other hand, that might make it a good choice for this country. It's nearly impossible for anyone who's not a trained vocalist (and that's the vast majority of us) to sing properly. The tune is unwieldy and the lyrics are crammed with violent imagery. I'll admit up front that I'm not a big fan of the American national anthem.

The song star spangle banner lyrics