2. To Anacreon in Heav’n, Where He Sat in Full Glee

The melody of the United States national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” has a fascinating origin that traces back to an 18th-century British gentlemen’s club drinking song. Specifically, the tune was adapted from “To Anacreon in Heaven,” a song composed by John Stafford Smith for the Anacreontic Society, a London social club for amateur musicians.

This society was known for its convivial gatherings, where music and poetry were enjoyed alongside wine. The song’s melody, initially intended to accompany verses celebrating wine and fellowship, was later repurposed to carry the weighty words of Francis Scott Key’s poem, “Defence of Fort M’Henry.”