To Anacreon in Heaven

To Anacreon in Heaven was the drinking song of the Anacreontic Society, a club formed in honor of the Greek poet Anacreon (6th century BCE), whose poems, "anacreontics", consisting mainly of eroticism and drinking songs, became popular in Britain and the United States during the 18th century.

The tune was composed by a member of the Society, John Stafford Smith with lyrics by Ralph Tomlinson. The melody, if not the lyrics, became well-known after Francis Scott Key, an attorney wrote In Defense of Fort McHenry while detained on a British ship during the night of September 13, 1814 as the British forces bombarded the American fort. Key set the poem to the Society's tune. It was later retitled The Star-Spangled Banner and officially became the U.S. national anthem.

Lyrics

I.

To Anacreon in Heav'n,

Where he sat in full glee,

A few Sons of Harmony

Sent a petition

That he their Inspirer

And Patron would be;

When this answer arrived

From the Jolly Old Grecian:

"Voice, Fiddle, and Flute,

No longer be mute,

I'll lend you my name

And inspire you to boot,

Chorus:

And besides I'll instruct you,

Like me, to intwine

The Myrtle of Venus

With Bacchus's Vine."

II.

The news through Olympus

Immediately flew;

When Old Thunder pretended

To give himself airs.

"If these Mortals are suffered

Their scheme to pursue,

The devil a Goddess,

Will stay above stairs.

Hark, already they cry,

In transports of joy,

'Away to the Sons

Of Anacreon we'll fly,

Chorus:

And there with good fellows,

We'll learn to intwine

The Myrtle of Venus

With Bacchus' Vine.

III.

"The Yellow-Haired God

And his nine fusty Maids

From Helicon's banks

Will incontinent flee,

Idalia will boast

But of tenantless shades,

And the bi-forked hill

A mere desert will be.

My Thunder no fear on't,

Shall soon do its errand,

And dam'me I'll swing

The Ringleaders I warrant.

Chorus:

I'll trim the young dogs,

For thus daring to twine

The Myrtle of Venus

With Bacchus's Vine."

IV.

Apollo rose up,

And said, "Pry'thee ne'er quarrel,

Good King of the Gods,

With My Vot'ries below:

Your Thunder is useless"--

Then showing his laurel,

Cry'd "Sic evitabile

Fulmen, you know!

Then over each head,

My laurels I'll spread,

So my sons from your Crackers

No mischief shall dread,

Chorus:

While, snug in their clubroom,

They jovially twine

The Myrtle of Venus

With Bacchus's Vine."

V.

Next Momus got up

With his risible Phiz

And swore with Apollo

He'd cheerfully join --

"The full tide of Harmony

Still shall be his,

But the Song, and the Catch,

And the Laugh shall be mine.

Then, Jove, be not jealous

Of these honest fellows."

Cry'd Jove, "We relent,

Since the truth you now tell us:

Chorus:

And swear by Old Styx,

That they long shall intwine

The Myrtle of Venus

With Bacchus's Vine."

VI.

Ye Sons of Anacreon,

Then join hand in hand;

Preserve Unanimity,

Friendship, and Love!

'Tis yours to support

What's so happily plann'd;

You've the sanction of Gods,

And the Fiat of Jove.

While thus we agree,

Our toast let it be:

"May our Club flourish Happy,

United, and Free!

Chorus:

And long may the Sons

Of Anacreon intwine

The Myrtle of Venus

With Bacchus's Vine."

External links

• Sons of Anacreon (http://glyfix.com/soa/lyrics/anacreon_theme.html)
• UVa Library: Exhibits: Lift Every Voice: Patriotic Odes (http://www.lib.virginia.edu/speccol/exhibits/music/patriotic.html)
  • To Anacreon in Heaven (http://www.lib.virginia.edu/speccol/exhibits/music/audio/mp3/anachreon.mp3)(MP3, 0:46)
• Smithsonian: The Star-Sprangled Banner: The Story of the Flag: From Poem to National Anthem (http://web8.si.edu/nmah/htdocs/ssb-old/6_thestory/6b_osay/fs6b.html)
  • To Anacreon in Heaven (http://web8.si.edu/nmah/htdocs/ssb-old/6_thestory/gfx/song.anac.dsl.ra)(MP3, 1:08)