Time for a Change of Tune

Christina Aguilera’s bomb
At halftime in the Super Bowl
Once more’s a storm before the calm.
We’ll waive her lack of self-control
While yodeling the national song
And getting stilted lyrics wrong.

It roams an octave and a half,
Which makes it difficult to sing.
Performers then commit the gaffe
Of thinking it’s a thing to wing
And sometimes even change Key’s words.
That’s—for an anthem— for the birds.

At NHL games I decry
That someone sings or plays the chords
And U.S. fans don’t even try.
O Canada—top row to boards—
From lone Canucks gets louder voice
And smug cause to, no doubt, rejoice.

We’re fortunate with other picks.
God Bless America’s serene.
My Country, ‘Tis of Thee conflicts;
It sounds just like God Save the Queen.
America the BeautifulIs my choice as most suitable:

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!