There's a Star-Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere

One of the most popular war songs, written during World War II is Paul Roberts and Shelby Carnell's (Bob Miller) There's A Star-Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere. The "somewhere" of the title appears to have a couple of references: it seems to signify heaven, for, as the lyrics state, only the great heroes of Uncle Sam get to go there. The narrator states he'll see Lincoln, Custer, Washington, Perry, "Nathan Hale and Colin Kelley too!" This nicely unites the sense of transcendence with the sacrifice of the patriots. Later, we discover that the narrator is "crippled," but he wants to "bring the Axis down a peg" and be a hero. If that happens, he will be assured a place in "that heaven" where the Star-Spangled Banner is waving. The somewhere could also signify the country itself or any part of the free world. In the second stanza, he talks of the "mad schemes of destruction" unleashed on "sweet liberty" by dictators. He adds that he is willing to die to "be a free American" and wherever that Star-Spangled Banner is waving is where he wants to be living when his time to die is at hand.

There's a Star-Spangled Banner waving somewhere In a distant land so many miles away. Only Uncle Sam's great heroes get to go there Where I wish that I could also live someday. I'd see Lincoln, Custer, Washington and Perry, And Nathan Hale and Colin Kelley, too. There's a Star-Spangled Banner waving somewhere, Waving o'er the land of heroes brave and true.

In this war with its mad schemes of destruction Of our country fair and sweet liberty, By the mad dictators, leaders of corruption, Can't the U.S. use a mountain boy like me? God gave me the right to be a free American, And for that precious right I'd gladly die. There's a Star-Spangled Banner waving somewhere, That is where I want to live when I die.

Though I realize I'm crippled, that is true, sir, Please don't judge my courage by my twisted leg. Let me show my Uncle Sam what I can do, sir, Let me help to bring the Axis down a peg. If I do some great deed I will be a hero, And a hero brave is what I want to be. There's a Star-Spangled Banner waving somewhere, In that heaven there should be a place for me.