The Stars and Stripes Forever – The United States Army Field Band and Soldiers Chorus perform John Philip Sousa s most famous march, The Stars and Stripes Forever. In 1896, John Philip Sousa, respectfully known worldwide as the “March King” was on a European vacation with his wife. As they were enjoying the sites and sounds of Europe they learned of the death of Mr. Sousa’s band manager, David Blakely, a few days earlier. This prompted Mr. Sousa and his wife to get on a ship and head home to New York. During the voyage home, Mr. Sousa started hearing “The rhythmic beat of a band playing with in my brain. It kept on ceaselessly, playing, playing, playing. Throughout the whole tense voyage, that imaginary band continued to unfold the same themes, echoing and re-echoing the most distinct melody.“ When the couple got home Mr. Sousa wrote down the music on paper for what later the world would know as the “Stars and Stripes Forever”. The March, being a special musical genre was in its heyday from the mid 1850’s to approximately the 1940s and saw many great composers such as: Patrick Gilmore, Edwin Franko Goldman, Henry Fillmore to name but a few, contribute their talents, but none had the public attention quite like that of John Philip Sousa. ( note – I had to use a special recording software)
Everyone has heard the music but not the lyrics see Below
First strain
Let martial note in triumph float
And liberty extend its mighty hand
A flag appears ‘mid thunderous cheers,
The banner of the Western land.
The emblem of the brave and true
Its folds protect no tyrant crew;
The red and white and starry blue
Is freedom’s shield and hope.
Let eagle shriek from lofty peak
The never-ending watchword of our land;
Let summer breeze waft through the trees
The echo of the chorus grand.
Sing out for liberty and light,
Sing out for freedom and the right.
Sing out for Union and its might,
O patriotic sons.
Second strain
???? Other nations may deem their flags the best
And cheer them with fervid elation
But the flag of the North and South and West
Is the flag of flags, the flag of Freedom’s nation. ????
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Trio
Hurrah for the flag of the free!
May it wave as our standard forever,
The gem of the land and the sea,
The banner of the right.
Let tyrants remember the day
When our fathers with mighty endeavor
Proclaimed as they marched to the fray
That by their might and by their right
It waves forever.
Grandioso
Hurrah for the flag of the free.
May it wave as our standard forever
The gem of the land and the sea,
The banner of the right.
Let tyrants remember the day
When our fathers with mighty endeavor
Proclaimed as they marched to the fray,
That by their might and by their right
It waves forever.