Which in this sense, the answer is ‘No’ again. Or, he could be asking is this the land of the free and the home of the brave. He could be asking if we can see that this is the land of the free and the home of the brave. In the first line it does ask, “O say, can you see?” He could be glorifying the hard fought fight America has overcame to break free from British rule. Francis Scott Key, may have genuinely been asking a question. It can mean that the writer of the Star Spangled Banner, Mr. There is a question mark at the end of the first verse. The most interesting thing about this stanza is the punctuation choices. As we take a closer look, the National Anthem is more interesting than many may think.Īccording to the National Museum of American History, in the official lyrics of the Star Spangled Banner, in the first verse on the last line it reads, “O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?” It is clear that this country prides itself on the freedom and bravery of the citizens here yet it is falling below the bar as far as fulfilling what its citizens attentively stand for. But in the recent weeks, many have rebelled and have since sat or kneeled until the anthem was over. At least, that is what many were taught to do. Before amusement park openings and sporting events, The Star Spangled Banner blares out of the speakers and the citizens of the United States stand at attention.

And the home of the brave