Our National Anthems

“The Star-Spangled Banner,” as we sing it, meaning only the first verse, is quite a remarkable anthem. It consists of two rhetorical questions (“Oh, say, can you see…” and “Oh, say, does that….”) and partially answers one by asserting that with the “rockets’ red glare” and the “bombs bursting,” of course we can see the flag. That’s it. The flag is visible in the midst of battle, but the questions remain unanswered, assumed to be true.

But those are only the words. Often criticized as difficult to sing, “The Star-Spangled Banner” nonetheless uses melody perfectly — where the music soars is also the most dramatic part, those same “rockets” and “bombs” that give “proof through the night.”

And through those words and music, it forces us to see our flag in all of its glory. Internalize Francis Scott Key’s verses and having a physical flag to stare at while we sing them almost seems superfluous.

I really enjoy anthems, at least ones that fit my own definition. I am partial to songs that rouse my emotions through both words and music. Put simply, for me, an anthem urges. It urges us to do something, see something, be something, move toward something for a higher purpose than what we living under before we heard the song. It is about moving from place to place, either literally, metaphorically, spiritually, nationally, psychological. And it does so with the music as well as the lyrics.

So an iconic song like “Hotel California” is no anthem while “Born To Run” is. “Hotel California” merely calls attention to a cynical, hedonistic lifestyle and state of mind, but there is no movement, in fact, “you can never leave.” Even though the music often soars.

“Born To Run”, from the propulsive drumming at the start to the urgency of the lyrics (“We gotta get out while we’re young”) to the characterization of despair (“Baby, this town rips the bones of your back/ It’s a death trap, it’s a suicide rap”) and the offer of a way out (“Someday, girl, I don’t know when/We can get to that place where we really want to go”) to the frenetic sax solo to the acknowledgement that the journey will not be easy (“The highway’s jammed with broken heroes on a last-chance power drive”) and that many will fail make it a nearly-perfect anthem. I withhold A+ status simply because I always like to believe that there is still a chance for those of us who are older and haven’t gotten out yet. My gosh, yes, this song should be the state song of New Jersey!

I don’t know what anthems are like in modern music. Kanye’s “Jesus Walks” kind of has that feel to me, but the majority of popular songs have always focused on satisfying immediate pleasures, which leaves little to serve the soul as an anthem can. And, of course, we can’t listen to only anthems; it would overwhelm us. But the right one at the right time can truly make your spirit soar.

FOR YOUR PLAYLIST: “Dreams” by the Bodeans always had that anthemic feel to me. What do you think?

IDEAL LISTENING: This is must-have road trip music.