Text 11269, 95 rader
Skriven 2013-11-17 11:28:15 av Lee Lofaso (2:203/2)
Ärende: National Anthems
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Hello Everybody,

Every country in the world has a national anthem, and the United
States of America is no exception.  However, what sets our national
anthem apart from others is that we have one that is a parody - a
parody of a British drinking song known as "To Anacreon in Heaven"
- which is difficult enough to sing while sober.

Americans love to poke fun at themselves.  Especially loyal and
obedient Americans such as Homer Simpson, whose version of our
national anthem went something like this -

       "Oh say can you see
       back in row double-Z
       that the team sucks out loud
       and you fans are all plowed"

There are some who would call Homer un-American for having sung
that song, but the Simpsons are not alone when it comes to singing
this song, as shown in another episode -

       "Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
       Oh, say can you, I'm askin', can you seeeee
       by the dawn's .....
       ... And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
       Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there
       ... an the home of the brave?"

Yep.  That was Bleeding Gums Murphy who sung that.  Took him
some 25 minutes or so just to get through the first stanza ...

Simpson's episode "Dancin' Homer" - gotta love it.

Cartoon characters are not the only ones who love to sing our
national anthem in strange ways.  Take a look at this original
version found on the web -

"Oh, say can you see by the cow's early flight,
What so proudly we moved at the cow's flight's last parting?
Whose black spots and white bods thru the terrible fight,
O'er the benches we watched were so happily flying?
And the cow's bright white flare, the cows bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our cows were still there.
Oh, say does that cow-spotted flag yet wave
O'er the land of hungry and the home of the cows"
- Anon

I can't say I blame him/her for choosing to be anonymous ...

Here is one of the most famous parodies of our national anthem
that some folks consider un-American (but never say why) -

       Jose Can You See?
       New lyrics by Tony Polito and Steve Bryant
       (The last National Anthem you'll ever need.)

  Jose can you see, there is no fence in sight?
  Once we get there, I hear, they will never send us back.
  We won't pay any tax; they won't put up a fight.
  Send all our kids to school, even though it's just not right.

  We can go on welfare; we'll have money to spare.
  Cause Congress is blind and George Bush doesn't care.
  We walked across the border, we didn't need any boats.
  Now the Liberals love us, politicians want our votes.

  Source:
  http://phillytalk.com/funny-stuff/steve-bryant/new-anthem.html

This kind of stuff has been around for a very long time.  And
will continue for as long as man continues to walk this Earth.

Perhaps we should start by asking ourselves a few questions -

Is it un-American for Americans to poke fun at themselves?

Is it un-American for Americans (and others) to claim those
who write and/or sing parodies of our national anthem as being
un-American?

Who are we, as a people, if we cannot laugh at ourselves?

Who are we, as a people, if we cannot accept criticism of others,
especially people from other lands?

       Oh say can you see
       Any bedbugs on me
       If you do, take a few
       And I'll fry them for you!
       - Los Angeles, 1950's-60's

--Lee

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