4th Verse Star Spangle Banner – The Meaning behind the Words
“O thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation.
Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the Heav’n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave”
-4th Verse Star Spangled Banner
Being the national anthem of the United States, The Star-Spangled Banner exudes patriotism at its finest. Initially a poem titled “Defense of Fort McHenry,” The Star-Spangled Banner was penned by a 35-year old lawyer and amateur poet named Francis Scott Key after he witnessed the bombardment of Fort McHenry by British forces in the year 1812.
The fourth verse is perhaps the most powerful of the four verses in the song. It tells a concise story. It talks about the hopes, aspirations, and values of the American people. The song suggests that free men will always have the courage to stand against the chains of tyranny and oppression. Americans are close to their homes and for them the time will come that they’ll choose between home or war’s desolation.
Peace is a blessing. War is never an answer. War only gives birth to another war. War is not desirable and never will be, but it can be accepted as a form of defense against oppressors who want to enslave the people of America.
America was founded by men who praise the reign of God. This God is the God of love, truth, and morality. This God is neither the God of national power nor a God of war. The power that people need to praise is the virtue of truth, love, and morality since it brings and preserves a nation’s freedom. This power aided the country against lengthy historical odds and has defended the country from tyranny and foreign oppressors.
The people of the United States believe that conquest is only necessary when there are just reasons to justify it. Americans are the people of God and in God they trust. It doesn’t imply that people wait and expect God to help them each and every step of the way but rather, to believe in His power to give them strength and character to succeed. To see a heartwarming video of a marine stunning the crowd with his rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner, watch this video:
Americans manage to rise above the odds and become triumphant so their freedom is and will be preserved now and in the years to come. By continuing to do so, America will always be the land of the free and the home of the brave.