Originally, the lyrics came from a poem titled "Defence of Fort M’Henry," written by Francis Scott Key in 1814 after he witnessed the bombardment of Fort McHenry during the War of 1812. The sight of the American flag still flying after the battle inspired him.

The poem was printed in newspapers and set to music, but it wasn’t until more than a century later that it officially became the national anthem we know today.

Image: Luke Michael

Most of us only belt out the first one, but did you know "The Star-Spangled Banner" actually has four verses? The other three are rarely heard.

Francis Scott Key wrote additional verses exploring themes of resilience and freedom, but most people have never read those stanzas.

Image: Serena Koi

Contrary to what you might expect from the author of the nation’s most patriotic song, Francis Scott Key wasn’t a musician.

He was a lawyer and an amateur poet. He didn’t collaborate with a composer or choose a melody to set his lyrics to, either. He simply wrote the poem, which was later published nationally by The Analectic Magazine.

Image: Steve Johnson

So how did the anthem get its music, then? A relative of Key realized that the lyrics of his poem fit perfectly with the tune of an already popular song, "To Anacreon in Heaven."

That song was actually a British drinking tune frequently sung in 18th-century gentlemen’s clubs. The melody was catchy, but its origins were anything but patriotic.

Image: Ylanite Koppens

One account claims that the anthem’s first public performance wasn’t at a grand concert or a government event, but in a Baltimore tavern in 1814.

According to the story, just weeks after Key wrote the lyrics, a local actor sang them to the tune of "To Anacreon in Heaven." The crowd loved it, and the song quickly spread.

Image: andrew welch

Believe it or not, "The Star-Spangled Banner" wasn’t America’s first choice for a national anthem. For over a century, songs like "Hail, Columbia" and "My Country, ’Tis of Thee" filled the role. It wasn’t until 1931 that Congress, under President Herbert Hoover, officially designated Key’s anthem as the nation’s song.

Image: Wesley Tingey

The tradition of singing the anthem at sporting events began during the 1918 World Series. The crowd’s emotional response was so powerful that more and more baseball games adopted the practice.

Today, it’s hard to imagine a baseball game without it. Many other sports—including American football, hockey, and basketball—have since followed suit.

Image: Frankie Lopez

Aretha Franklin's rendition of "Star-Spangled Banner" is the longest recorded performance of the national anthem, lasting an impressive 4 minutes and 55 seconds. In contrast, most renditions take under two minutes!

She performed it in 2016 at an NFL game, breaking the previous record set by Alicia Keys three years earlier, whose version lasted 2 minutes and 36 seconds.

Image: Stas Knop

The first known recording of "The Star-Spangled Banner" was made in 1915 by Margaret Woodrow Wilson. Yes, the daughter of President Woodrow Wilson.

Her rendition, though not as polished as modern versions, marked the anthem’s entry into the world of recorded music. Who would have thought the president’s daughter would be a trailblazer?

Image: Sudhith Xavier

Jimi Hendrix’s electric guitar rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Woodstock in 1969 remains one of the most famous—and controversial—performances of the anthem.

His distorted, soulful, and modern interpretation hypnotized the crowds and became a powerful cultural statement amid the turbulence of the 1960s. Some saw it as a protest; others, as a masterpiece. Either way, we still talk about it.

Image: Xie lipton

Originally, "The Star-Spangled Banner" wasn’t intended solely as a national anthem. It was a patriotic song for all occasions—political rallies, public celebrations, and more. The anthem is as popular as it is versatile, and so it has been played in endless scenarios—and in countless versions!

Image: frank mckenna