There's a Star-Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere
"There's A Star-Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere" is a patriotic anthem written in 1942 by Paul Roberts and Shelby Darnell (a pseudonym for producer Bob Miller). The song was completed, along with other tunes, on Swan's Island, Maine, where Paul Roberts visited and performed with his soon to become wife, Annie Marrithew, during World War II. The song enjoyed its greatest popularity during the war years. The somewhere in the title of the song refers to an idealistic version of heaven reserved for the brave U.S. soldiers fighting the Axis Powers, somewhat akin to the concept of Valhalla. The verses are a narrative of a young man who is crippled, but still yearns to fight and earn his place in this patriotic afterlife.
Other lyrics to this melody have been recorded by Red River Dave in 1960 and called Ballad of Francis Powers. This is a song about the U.S. flier, Francis Gary Powers, who has been shot down on a spy mission over Soviet territory and taken POW; he is shown singing There's A Star-Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere in prison.
Numerous performers have recorded "There's a Star-Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere" through the years. One of the most successful versions was recorded by country music artist Elton Britt, whose version reached No. 7 on the Billboard magazine's pop chart in 1942. Also recorded in 1968 by country singer, Wynn Stewart, on his Capitol records album, In Love.[1]
In 1990, another rendition of the song was recorded by Bert Southwood, in cooperation with Playtown Sound Audio Services. Outsider musician Peter Grudzien recorded a gay-themed version of the song on his album The Unicorn in 1974; this recording was featured on the 2000 compilation Songs in the Key of Z.
References
- Bibliography
- Wolfe, Charles K.; Akenson, James Edward (2005). Country music goes to war. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0813123089. OCLC 56421871.