Bawdy national anthem?

[Brian Ellis]

I've just discovered that the tune of the Star Spangled Banner started out life as a rather bawdy song in England. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Anacreon_in_Heaven - the Myrtle of Venus being the feminine pudenda and Bacchus's Vine being a prominent part of the masculine anatomy.

One learns, even at 82!

[KRSESQ]

Performed on the piano (.mid file). Interesting interpretation of the melody.

(Actually a fairly well-known "secret" among us yanks )
(And the original is no easier to sing!)

[UtwigMU]

I recall when I was reading an english translation of a renaissance architectural book (1600's) by Sebastiano Serlio, there was a section on theatre scennery. There was a section on grotesque, where scenery was based on Corinthian column order. Quote: There must especially not want a brothel or a bawdy house.

[Dr Mordrid]

We were taught the history of 'The Star Spangled Banner' in junior high including the siege, Key's poem and Smith's comosition. And 'God Save The Queen' is very similar to 1700's dance tunes.

[Umfriend]

And 'God Save The Queen' is very similar to 1700's dance tunes.

They were dancing the pogo in the 1700s?

[Jammrock]

Lots of songs have roots in other music. "Battle Hymn of the Republic" is a collection of two songs. One of them, "John Brown's Body," is a bawdy Union soldier song about a dead brother in arms and defeating the Confederates.