by Marsha Ward
For some reason, I've been waking up lately with a song going through my head.
You know, the sort of annoying thing that stays with you throughout the day?
Yes. That kind of thing. Well, I noticed it right away when the song was "Bringing in the Sheaves." I know this is a hymn sung by various Christian denominations, but I never really learned it, as it's not commonly used in LDS services. I thought maybe it was because I recently had seen the film, 3 Amigos, which features the song in one of the final scenes.
The next day, the same song floated through my head with the rising sun.
And the next day.
And the next.
I tried to think if it had any significance in my life. Was I going to be called on a mission? Did I need to upgrade my food storage?
The next day the song changed. Now it was "We Thank Thee, O God, For a Prophet." In light of the recent change in LDS Church leadership due to the death of President Gordon B. Hinckley, I figured that was appropriate.
The song changed again. Yesterday. "The Star Spangled Banner."
Let's see. What is the nearest patriotic holiday? Flag Day is in June, but that's a couple of months away. Then there's the Fourth of July after that. But Francis Scott Key's poem, "Defence of Fort McHenry," was written in September, during the War of 1812.
Aha! Someone sent me an email claiming that Barack Obama doesn't like our current national anthem and would change it--if he had his druthers--to something less . . . patriotic, like, "I Want to Teach the World to Sing." Yikes!
I did find out the fact is that was a creation of a humorous columnist, so I got hoaxed. The mere thought of changing out a song dear to the heart of the majority of Americans (even though it's difficult to sing) must have sent my brain into spasms.
At any rate, I want to let you all know how much I revere this beautiful anthem. Whether it's sung in a ballpark or stadium, at a picnic, at a display of fireworks, or in a church service, the majesty of its music and profound words touches my heart and brings out deep emotion. It is my fondest hope that we, as Americans, will do our part so that ever and ever, until the Lord shall come, "the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!"
Amen, to your conclusion, Marsha. And thanks for the wonderful links embedded in your post!
ReplyDeleteWow! I want to learn how to do that. (embed links in my post)
ReplyDeleteI have days like that where songs seem to spring up from the depths of my subconsciousness and keep jingling my brain until I pay attention.
I have heard other discussions of possibly changing the National Anthem to something like America, or America the Beautiful. I love those songs also, but I don't think after having grown up singing the Star Spangled Banner and hearing it played at the olympics and feeling proud of my country even though all I'm doing is listening or watching that I could accept any other piece of music in it's revered spot.
I agree! My heart swells with emotion when I have the opportunity to stand at attention and sing our national anthem. Remember how we used to be taught in school to stop everything we were doing, remove our hats, and stand quietly in respect when the anthem was played? I was at a school recently where the adults just kept doing their thing. I wanted to scream!..oh, and then there is the gentleman I heard on the radio a number of months ago who ranted about going to his child's school to take him another shirt because the principal considered a red, white, and blue shirt...no flag mind you...just the colors...was too inflammatory. There's even more to the story...but this isn't the proper forum!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Marsha. I think I'm going to sing our anthem all day!
As a military brat, my favorite way to hear it is a single trumpet. It always brings a tear to my eye.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments, everyone. Today I woke up to another tune, "I Sing the Mighty Power of God," from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's CD Consider the Lilies (I had to go to my CDs to find the title, but I knew it was something I'd heard the MTC sing). Yesterday there was a conversation going on in my head when I awoke. This just gets weirder and weirder.
ReplyDeleteI love the poem that became the national anthem--especially the third verse.
ReplyDeleteKeep us abreast on what you learn from the conversations that wake you up. It may be fodder for your next novel.