它的歌詞來自一首名為《保衛麥克亨利堡》（Defence of Fort M'Henry）的詩，美國詩人法蘭西斯·史考特·基在巴爾的摩戰役中親眼目睹發生於麥克亨利堡的激戰後，於1814年9月14日寫下這首詩。[4][5]它的曲調改編自英國作曲家約翰·斯塔福德·史密斯（John Stafford Smith）為倫敦一家名為「阿那克里翁社」（Anacreontic Society）的紳士俱樂部所作的歌曲《致天上的阿那克里翁》（To Anacreon in Heaven，或稱《阿那克里翁之歌》（The Anacreontic Song））。這首歌的音域跨越了19個半音[6]，有多種歌詞，並流行於美國。以法蘭西斯·基的詩句為詞的版本很快的就由巴爾的摩傳遍美國全國各地，成為廣受歡迎的愛國歌曲[7]。美國內戰時期，這首歌受聯邦軍採納，此後更加流行。自1890年代左右，它陸續成為美國陸軍和海軍的儀式歌曲。1931年，美國國會表決通過以此歌曲作為美國國歌[8]。[6]在此之前，此曲就已經成為美國職業棒球大聯盟世界大賽等場合中重要的一部份[8]。雖然原先有四個詩節，但現在只有第一節被廣泛傳唱。[6]
根據南達科他州米德堡博物館前展出的一塊牌匾，讓这首歌曲成為國歌的想法始於1892年，駐當地的第八騎兵團指揮官凱萊布·卡爾頓（Caleb Carlton）上校確立了在收哨、閱兵和音樂會結束時演奏這首歌的傳統，並要求所有人在奏樂時肅立致敬。卡爾頓上校其後向到訪的南達科他州州長查爾斯·謝爾頓（Charles H. Sheldon）解釋這一傳統，稍後又在哈里斯堡的賓夕法尼亞州州長官邸宴會中與州長丹尼爾·黑斯廷斯（Daniel H. Hastings）談及此事，黑斯廷斯承諾嘗試在州民兵中推廣這一習慣。不久後，戰爭部長丹尼爾·拉蒙特（Daniel S. Lamont）命令每個駐紮地在每晚收哨時都要演奏此曲。[17]
1918年4月10日，美國國會議員约翰·查尔斯·林西克姆（英语：John Charles Linthicum）提出了一項正式承認《星條旗》為國歌的法案，但是沒有獲得通過。[21]1929年4月15日，林西克姆第6次重複該提案。[21]1929年11月3日，罗伯特·李普利在他的《信不信由你！》（Ripley's Believe it or Not!）漫畫專欄上畫了一幅漫畫，寫道：「信不信由你，美國沒有國歌」（英語：Believe It or Not, America has no national anthem）。[22]
O say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight
O'er the ramparts we watch'd were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there,
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
Ⅱ
On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream,
'Tis the star-spangled banner - O long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Ⅲ
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore,
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a Country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash'd out their foul footstep's pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Ⅳ
O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
Between their lov'd home and the war's desolation!
Blest with vict'ry and peace may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the power that hath made and preserv'd us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto - "In God is our trust,"
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
When our land is illumined with Liberty's smile,
If a foe from within strike a blow at her glory,
Down, down with the traitor that dares to defile
The flag of her stars and the page of her story!
By the millions unchained who our birthright have gained,
We will keep her bright blazon forever unstained!
And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave
While the land of the free is the home of the brave.
