4th Nor Cal Rabble Burns Night Supper (photos & videos)

[Mrs. Farlander]

If I was singing the Star Spangled Banner for a bunch of non-English speakers I would be glad to have the images you mention illustrated. What's the point if the audience don't understand?

I'd probably also have to mention that the tune came from an English drinking song called To Anacreon In Heaven.


The Star Spangled Banner
by Francis Scott Key

Oh! say can you see, (hold up image of eyes)
by the dawn's early light, (hold up a lighter)
What so proudly we hailed (hold up image of taxi)
at the twilight's last gleaming;
Whose broad (hold up image of big woman)
stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, (hold up image of boxers)
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming? (throw streamer)
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, (pop a popper)
Gave proof through the night(hold up image of starry sky)
that our flag was still there;
Oh, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave (hold up image of people waving)
O'er the land(hold up image of dirt)
of the free
and the home of the brave?(hold up image of Native American Brave)[/QUOTE]

[Panache]

Elise,

Actually Robertson's visual plays on words wouldn't clarify the song like Star's did to explain the meaning of Burns' language. The hurdies, the pig, the nit, the sned limbs, "kites bent like drums", and such are actually in Burns' poem.

I also have to think that there might be a difference in tone between our national anthem and Burns' poem about a haggis.

Cheers

Jamie