Matt Pearson wrote:
>All this discussion of the Star-Spangled Banner reminded me of Laurie
Anderson, who
>summed up the lyrics as "a bunch of questions asked during a fire":
>
> "What's that over there?"
> "Do you see anything?"
> "Is that a flag?"
> "Do you smell something burning?"
>
>I'm *hardly* what you would call an American patriot, but I must say I do
love the
>American national anthem. Most national anthems are in the imperative mode
("We're
>number one, and don't forget it!"), but the US is the only country I know
whose anthem
>is in the interrogative mode ("Do you see the flag? Is it still there? Are
we number
>one or aren't we?").>
Although my world-wide survey is not complete, so far it appears that "The
Star-Spangled Banner" is the only national anthem in 3/4 (waltz-time.)