[Intro] (Slow clean guitar arpeggios building into power chords, spoken softly then rising) Through the smoke and the fire, on the Chesapeake shore… America stands tall… forevermore! [Verse 1] 1812, the young republic’s pride, British impressment, sailors dragged from our side. Madison declares war, June the eighteenth day, To defend our rights, we’ll make ’em pay. Invade from the north, Detroit falls too soon, General Hull surrenders under the harvest moon. But Perry on Lake Erie, September ’13, “We have met the enemy and they are ours,” the victory scream. [Pre-Chorus] (Slow build with soaring harmonies) From the Great Lakes to the Gulf, the fight rages on, Native brothers with Tecumseh, till he’s gone. Creek War in the south, Jackson earns his name, Horseshoe Bend breaks the Red Stick flame. [Chorus] Ohhh, Star-Spangled Glory… burnin’ in the night! Rockets’ red glare, bombs burstin’ in flight! Fort McHenry stands, through the rain and the storm, Our flag still waves… proud and reborn! Star-Spangled Glory… freedom’s endless fight! America rises… into the dawn’s early light! [Verse 2] August ’14, the British sail up the bay, Bladensburg rout, militia runs away. Washington burns, the Capitol in flames, White House torched, but Dolly saves the famous frame. Then Baltimore calls, Fort McHenry holds strong, September thirteenth, the bombardment all night long. Francis Scott Key on a truce ship, watches through the haze, Dawn reveals the banner, inspires his praise. [Pre-Chorus] (Drums and bass build tension) Down in New Orleans, the final stand awaits, Jackson behind cotton bales, seals the British fate. January eighth, 1815, though the treaty’s already signed, Pakenham falls, British lose two thousand lives. [Chorus] Ohhh, Star-Spangled Glory… burnin’ in the night! Rockets’ red glare, bombs burstin’ in flight! Fort McHenry stands, through the rain and the storm, Our flag still waves… proud and reborn! Star-Spangled Glory… freedom’s endless fight! America rises… into the dawn’s early light! [Bridge] (Epic guitar solo over slow heartbeat drums, then full band enters) Treaty of Ghent, Christmas Eve ’14, Peace restored, borders stay the same. But the war proved our nation could stand alone, No longer a child, full grown. Second War of Independence, the era of good feelings begins, United we rise… America wins! [Verse 3] From the Anthem we sing to the pride in our hearts, The War of 1812 tore the doubts apart. Free trade and sailors’ rights, the causes we bore, Earned respect on the waves, forevermore. [Chorus] Ohhh, Star-Spangled Glory… burnin’ in the night! Rockets’ red glare, bombs burstin’ in flight! Fort McHenry stands, through the rain and the storm, Our flag still waves… proud and reborn! Star-Spangled Glory… freedom’s endless fight! America rises… into the dawn’s early light! [Outro] (Soft then building to full power with ad-libs) Star-Spangled Glory… ohhh, through the perilous fight… O’er the land of the free… yeah! And the home of the brave… Star-Spangled Glory… eternal light!
