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"The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of America. It is named after the American flag, which is also called "The Star-Spanged Banner". It is a great song. Its themes can apply to any country. But it's also a very complicated song. Even native English speakers can have a hard time understanding it. So here I have re-written the lyrics to be much simpler. I hope that it helps people learn more English, and learn more about America!

The lyrics were written by Francis Scott Key, after he saw the enemy navy attack an American fort during the War of 1812. The story of the song starts in the morning after that attack.

Hey, can you see our flag this morning?
The same flag that we saw last evening?
It waved so bravely over the fort during the fight.
And the explosions of rockets and bombs
Showed us that our flag was still there in the night.
So does our Star-Spangled Banner still wave
Over our land of free and brave people?

On the shore, there's a thick fog,
And the enemy forces are quiet.
What flag is that? On top of the fort?
Now the morning light shines on it,
And now we see it in its full glory.
It's the Star-Spangled Banner! O long may it wave
Over our land of free and brave people!

And where is the enemy, who said
They will take our home and our country in this war?
Their blood has washed out their dirty footsteps.
Nothing has saved them from death and defeat.
And the Star-Spangled Banner waves in victory
Over our land of free and brave people!

And it will always be this way,
When free men stand to protect their homes from war.
Our land will be blessed with victory and peace,
And we will praise God, who made and saved our nation.
So we must fight when it is right, and we will trust in God.
And the Star-Spangled Banner will wave in victory
Over our land of free and brave people!