A version of the lyrics that Woody wrote is my favorite:
As I went walking I saw a sign there
And on the sign it said “No Trespassing.”
But on the other side it didn’t say nothing,
That side was made for you and me.
For Daughters of the American Revolution, a New Chapter
By SARAH MASLIN NIR
Published: July 3, 2012
Olivia Cousins can trace her family in the United States to a soldier who joined the rebelling colonists when he was just 17. But when a friend suggested she join the Daughters of the American Revolution, an organization whose members can prove they are related to someone who aided the rebels in 1776, Dr. Cousins nearly laughed
Dr. Cousins is black. And the D.A.R., as it is commonly called, is a historically white organization with a record of excluding blacks so ugly that Eleanor Roosevelt renounced her membership in protest.
Yet last week, in a circa-1857 stone chapel in Jamaica, Queens, Dr. Cousins was named an officer in a small ceremony establishing a new chapter. Her daughter took photos. The pictures documented a singular moment for the D.A.R., founded in 1890: 5 of the 13 members of the new chapter are black.
Perhaps more strikingly, the Queens chapter is one of the first in the organization’s nearly 122-year history that was started by a black woman: Wilhelmena Rhodes Kelly, from Rosedale, who is also its regent, or president. Ms. Kelly traces her origins to the relationship between a slaveholder and a slave, who appear to have considered themselves married, and her new position is part of a remarkable journey for both her family and the organization.
The guitar needs the “this machine kills fascists” on it, but otherwise they got it just right.
20.
PurpleGirl
@the Conster: In 2001, Pete Seeger was the special entertainment guest at the Opening Meeting (think rally) of The NYC School Volunteer Program. Laura Bush was the special speaker. Seeger sang that verse of the song.
Today’s Google doodle uses the title.
21.
taylormattd
@Slugger: I was gonna say. Not sure I disagree with DougJ, but honestly, Whitney gives Marvin a run for his money.
His voice was such an exceptional musical instrument..
never even went sharp on this…simply beautiful.
and I usually hate hate hate when people change the notes..they all seem to think it is suppose to be some kind of babtisty spiritual hymn and NOT in a good way
but his was just so very pretty..and a capella…not easy by any stretch with all the background noise
28.
gnomedad
@PurpleGirl:
I’m so used to embedded search and going straight to the various tools that I never see the Google Doodle any more unless someone calls attention to it.
29.
PurpleGirl
@gnomedad: I have several friends who bypass Goggle completely and I need to tell them when to look for logo doodle. So I figure it makes sense to call it out in comments.
30.
burnspbesq
I wonder if it pisses wingnuts off that the best rock’n’roll band this country has ever produced is made up of four Mexicans and a Jew.
Q:
What did Marvin Gaye Sr. say to Marvin Gaye Jr. just before he shot him to death?
A:
“Son, there’s a 45 I want you to hear.”
34.
JWL
@Hunter Gathers: You mistyped. Marvin’s version is the runner up, it’s Hendrix by a nose.
Hendrix version was performed at the height of the Vietnam protests. He reclaimed the anthem for an entire generation, which were then being told that because they were anti-war, they were anti-America.
35.
JWL
@Julia Grey: Damn near anything this side of the Horst Wessel song has got our national anthem beat (up to and including “Chopsticks”).
36.
Argive
Let’s not forget what happened on this day 149 years ago. Take it away, General Grant:
This news, with the victory at Gettysburg won the same day, lifted a great load of anxiety from the minds of the President, his Cabinet and the loyal people all over the North. The fate of the Confederacy was sealed when Vicksburg fell. Much hard fighting was to be done afterwards and many precious lives were to be sacrificed; but the MORALE was with the supporters of the Union ever after.
37.
JWL
@Argive: As well, Confederate General Pemberton, who surrendered Vicksburg, was a West Pointer from Pennsylvania. He believed that if he surrendered on the 4th, Grant’s terms would be more lenient. He was quickly disabused of that notion. Still, Grant did parole his army, rather than send then North into the prison camps.
38.
Suzan
Does anyone know if there is a “clean” version of this song. It would be great to play at an event (like tonight’s bbq) but it is odd with the cheering and the guy who won’t stop talking at the beginning. Ugh.
Chills, tears . . . I vote someone post this every July 4.
Hunter Gathers
Hendrix’s is a close second. You can’t go wrong with Marvin.
DougJ
@Hunter Gathers:
I agree. There’s also a good version by Jose Feliciano.
Linda Featheringill
Just chilling with The Old Man [elderly cat], taking in music and looking at a modern marvel, the internets [a series of tubes, I think].
Have a happy holiday, everyone. Don’t let the sun get you.
Slugger
What about Whitney Houston? She actually hits all of the notes in this hard to sing song.
gnomedad
Amidst all the BBQ and fireworks, let’s not forget that this is the day Jesus gave “Atlas Shrugged” to George Washington.
Linda Featheringill
@gnomedad:
Smart Alec! :-)
geg6
Um, no. Marvin’s version is very fine but Hendrix’s is the best EVER.
Sly
I’d put Whitney at the 1991 Superbowl over Hendrix, but nobody will ever beat Marvin.
Also… Enrico Pallazzo!
gnomedad
@Linda Featheringill:
I no longer participate in ALEC.
The Sailor
@Slugger: If you’re talking about Whitney at the Super Bowl, she recorded it IIRC the day before in the empty stadium and lip synched it.
Hendrix was the best of a bad song. Seriously, the song sucks big time.
skjellyfetti
I remember Lou Rawls back in the ’70s doing some amazing anthems at Rams games.
Ahhh… Nixon, how we miss thee
Chad
In Obama’s America you can make love to the sounds of the national anthem sung by Marvin Gaye nightly.
the Conster
The national anthem as far as I’m concerned is This Land is Made For You and Me.
A version of the lyrics that Woody wrote is my favorite:
As I went walking I saw a sign there
And on the sign it said “No Trespassing.”
But on the other side it didn’t say nothing,
That side was made for you and me.
RIP you subversive real American.
rikyrah
Marvin Gaye is the only singer I know that would make women wanna throw their panties after hearing the national anthem.
LOL
rikyrah
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/04/nyregion/for-daughters-of-the-american-revolution-more-black-members.html?_r=3&nl=nyregion&emc=edit_ur_20120704
HRA
Whitney Houston was the best rendition ever IMO.
SiubhanDuinne
@the Conster:
Be sure to check out today’s Google Doodle!
shortstop
@Chad: Sweet, sweet love.
the Conster
@SiubhanDuinne:
The guitar needs the “this machine kills fascists” on it, but otherwise they got it just right.
PurpleGirl
@the Conster: In 2001, Pete Seeger was the special entertainment guest at the Opening Meeting (think rally) of The NYC School Volunteer Program. Laura Bush was the special speaker. Seeger sang that verse of the song.
Today’s Google doodle uses the title.
taylormattd
@Slugger: I was gonna say. Not sure I disagree with DougJ, but honestly, Whitney gives Marvin a run for his money.
http://youtu.be/wupsPg5H6aE
No One of Consequence
Make me wanna holler…
Hill Dweller
A different song, but I’d take Ray Charles’ version of “America the Beautiful” over any rendition of the national anthem.
the Conster
@PurpleGirl:
If I had been Pete Seeger I would have seriously contemplated using my guitar for something other than playing.
sb
I vividly remember that performance and vividly remember the letters to the editor in the Los Angeles Times decrying it as un-American.
He was killed a few years later, IIRC. I was the game when they replayed the anthem in his memory and I cried. God, what a voice and what a performer.
Bruce S
@the Conster:
Here’s Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings version of “This Land…” for those who fancy that song the “real” national anthem. “The best ever” IMHO.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9E86xHKop4
elftx
@sb:
I am sooo with you…it made me cry again!!
His voice was such an exceptional musical instrument..
never even went sharp on this…simply beautiful.
and I usually hate hate hate when people change the notes..they all seem to think it is suppose to be some kind of babtisty spiritual hymn and NOT in a good way
but his was just so very pretty..and a capella…not easy by any stretch with all the background noise
gnomedad
@PurpleGirl:
I’m so used to embedded search and going straight to the various tools that I never see the Google Doodle any more unless someone calls attention to it.
PurpleGirl
@gnomedad: I have several friends who bypass Goggle completely and I need to tell them when to look for logo doodle. So I figure it makes sense to call it out in comments.
burnspbesq
I wonder if it pisses wingnuts off that the best rock’n’roll band this country has ever produced is made up of four Mexicans and a Jew.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqQ-FiiJMg4
Julia Grey
Oh, yes. Gives me goose bumps just to think of it.
I’m with those who would like to see the anthem changed to the peaceful “Beautiful” from the exploding bombs of the “Banner.”
the Conster
@Bruce S:
Whoa, that’s killer. Woody would love that!
Blue Shark
Q:
What did Marvin Gaye Sr. say to Marvin Gaye Jr. just before he shot him to death?
A:
“Son, there’s a 45 I want you to hear.”
JWL
@Hunter Gathers: You mistyped. Marvin’s version is the runner up, it’s Hendrix by a nose.
Hendrix version was performed at the height of the Vietnam protests. He reclaimed the anthem for an entire generation, which were then being told that because they were anti-war, they were anti-America.
JWL
@Julia Grey: Damn near anything this side of the Horst Wessel song has got our national anthem beat (up to and including “Chopsticks”).
Argive
Let’s not forget what happened on this day 149 years ago. Take it away, General Grant:
JWL
@Argive: As well, Confederate General Pemberton, who surrendered Vicksburg, was a West Pointer from Pennsylvania. He believed that if he surrendered on the 4th, Grant’s terms would be more lenient. He was quickly disabused of that notion. Still, Grant did parole his army, rather than send then North into the prison camps.
Suzan
Does anyone know if there is a “clean” version of this song. It would be great to play at an event (like tonight’s bbq) but it is odd with the cheering and the guy who won’t stop talking at the beginning. Ugh.
Chills, tears . . . I vote someone post this every July 4.
Bruce S
@burnspbesq:
Some would argue that the best rock and roll band this country has ever produced was made up of four Canadians and one Arkansas redneck.
stinger
The Dixie Chicks for me.
Paul in KY
@Bruce S: Saw Ms. Jones & the DAP-Kings at Bonnaroo. What a performer! Thanks for the kink.
Paul in KY
@burnspbesq: They’re good, but not ‘best ever produced’ good (IMO).