h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

In one of many reports regarding the recent teapot tempest (aka: furor) over a new Spanish language version of the American national anthem, it was revealed that there are several additional verses to the poem virtually unknown and unsung by Yankee fans anywhere.

In translating from Spanish back to English, many reporters took exception to the new Latino version as being too bloodthirsty, too gung-ho, too militaristic.

Then someone realised that the Spanish writer had actually gone back to the original Francis Scott Key text and included all the verses, even those now usually omitted in the standard English version.


~jwf~

Google has failed me . It won't get me anything with more than four verses. How many do the USA'ans usually sing?

I like the approach of the Scottish national anthem, which mildly advises the opposing army to go back and think again .

(Bit like the profanity filter. You know it might offend less if it actually said 'Now you know that's naughty, just go back and think again.')

"Sent them hamewards, tae think again"

Followed by Billy Connolly's famous coda:

"So they did go hamewards, had a think, decided to come back and kicked the s**t out of us!"

Yep there are four verses as seen here:

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0194015.html

They only sing the first verse. It only seems longer.

So of course all the other stuff in the original poem is alien to them. Imagine their reaction after this has been translated to Spanish and then back to English:

"...And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash'd out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave..."

It's enough to make a poor working illegal alien feel unwelcome.


~jwf~