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closeJust because school is out, that doesn't give anyone a free pass on using their noggin. Today we are having a quiz.
Two years ago, we dedicated this space to a quiz on historical American documents, and last year we tested your knowledge on Independence Day itself.
Today, we're singing a different tune, pun intended.
We'll give you the lyrics and you come up with the patriotic song that they're from. (Bonus points if you can come up with the composer as well.)
1) "I'd thank my lucky stars to be living here today"
OK, maybe that was too easy. It is from Lee Greenwood's God Bless the U.S.A.
2) Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
Again, an easy one. You probably came up with the tune pretty quickly, but do you know the title? It's America The Beautiful, by Katharine Lee Bates.
3) Here's wishing you a happy voyage home.
The questions are starting to get a little more difficult. Anchors Aweigh is the Navy theme song. It was composed in 1906 by Charles A. Zimmerman with lyrics by Alfred Hart Miles.
Zimmerman was bandmaster of the U.S. Naval Academy Band. Miles, a midshipman at the academy, asked to assist Zimmerman to compose a song for the Class of 1907 -- one "with a swing to it so it could be used as a football marching song," according to the Navy's official history.
4) We will fight our country's battles
In the air, on land and sea.
The Marines Hymn is the oldest official song in the U.S. military. If you think you know who wrote it, you should tell it to the Marines. Their official history lists the author as unknown.
The verse we quoted was updated in 1942 in recognition of the growing importance of aviation. The original line was, "We will fight our country's battle, On the land as on the sea."
5) As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
You might claim that we're cheating now, but we didn't promise we were going to stick to well-known verses. This line describes our nation's flag and is in the second verse of The Star-Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key.
6) Day is done
Gone the sun
From the lakes
From the hills
From the sky.
Even if you don't recognize the words, you would most certainly recognize the 24 notes that make up taps. Its haunting melody is a fitting call to the close of the day.
Speculation about who wrote the music and lyrics varies, but Gen. Dan Butterfield is credited with first using taps during the Civil War to order lights out.
7) There was Captain Washington
Upon a slapping stallion,
Verses and variations of Yankee Doodle abound. The British used it as a marching song to mock the revolutionaries. The colonists liked it so much they adopted it. Extra credit if you know it is the state anthem of Connecticut.
8) Thru the night with a light from above
OK, we're back to some easy questions. But don't get too cocky, we're saving a hard one for last. As you likely recognized, this is from God Bless America by Irving Berlin.
9) His truth is marching on.
The Battle Hymn of the Republic is an American abolitionist song written by Julia Ward Howe in 1861 and became popular during the Civil War.
10) Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrims' pride,
Again, you may recognize the phrase and even be able to come up with the tune, but do you know the name of the song? My Country, 'tis of Thee, written by Samuel F. Smith in 1832.
And now for the difficult question that we promised was coming:
11) This is my country; God gave it to me;
I will protect it, ever keep it free.
Small towns and cities rest here in the sun,
Filled with our laughter, Thy will be done.
Give up? How about we give you another hint. Here's the chorus:
Washington my home;
Where ever I may roam;
This is my land, my native land,
Washington, my home.
This is our state song. It was written by Helen Davis and adopted as the official state song in 1959.
If you don't know it, you're probably not alone. To hear it sung, go to YouTube and search for Washington, My Home. It's a traditional anthem -- singable, but serious -- a little on the peppy side.
However, if Whatcom County Commissioner Craig Cole had had his way in 1985, we would all be boogying to Louie Louie as our state song. His resolution passed in the Senate but was defeated in the House.
Like taps, you still wouldn't know the lyrics, but you wouldn't forget the tune.
Editorials are the consensus of the Tri-City Herald editorial board.
Editorial board members are Rufus Friday, publisher; Chris Sivula, editorial page editor; Ken Robertson, executive editor; Matt Taylor, contributing editor; Lori Lancaster, editorial writer; Shelly Norman, editorial writer and Jack Briggs, retired publisher
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