American National Anthem & Armed Forces Medley

Below you will find the official lyrics and arrangements of our national anthem and the service anthems of the Armed Forces Medley. Jamie is asked often to perform these songs for both official and unofficial events. Crowds, choirs and school choruses perform these songs in the community frequently, especially on Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Armed Forces Day, Patriot Day, and Independence Day. This is meant to be a resource to make the up-to-date lyrics easily accessible.

It is correct and acceptable to play/sing the service songs of the Armed Forces Medley is order of precedence (the year each branch was established *with one exception) or reverse order of precedence. Following the Star Spangled Banner, each song of the Armed Forces Medley is listed in the official reverse order of precedence – with the “place of honor” going to the last and oldest military branch.

*The reason the Coast Guard (est. 4 Aug 1790 as Revenue-Marine – renamed 28 Jan 1915) is played first is because it is the only branch that falls under the Department of Homeland Security. The remaining five branches – Space Force (est. 20 Dec 2019), Air Force (est. 18 Sep 1947), Navy (est. 13 Oct 1775 – dissolved 1785 – re-est. 27 Mar 1794), Marine Corps (established 10 Nov 1775), and Army (est. 14 Jun 1775) are all organized under the Department of Defense.

Star Spangled Banner

O! say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming
And the rockets' 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

Lyrics by Francis Scott Key, and music by John Stafford Smith

Armed Forces Medley

(listed in reverse order of precedence)

Coast Guard: Semper Paratus

We're always ready for the call
We place our trust in Thee
Through surf and storm and howling gale
High shall our purpose be
Semper Paratus is our guide
Our fame, our glory, too
To fight to save or fight and die
Aye! Coast Guard we are for you

Words and music by Francis Saltus Van Boskerck

Space Force: Semper Supra

We're the mighty watchful eye
Guardians beyond the blue
The invisible front line
Warfighters brave and true
Boldly reaching into space
There's no limit to our sky
Standing guard both night and day
We're the Space Force from on high

Words by James W. “Jamie” Teachenor, II and music by James W. “Jamie” Teachenor, II and Sean Nelson

Air Force: The U.S. Air Force

Off we go into the wild blue yonder
Climbing high into the sun
Here they come zooming to meet our thunder
At 'em now, give 'em the gun
Down we dive spouting our flame from under
Off with one helluva roar
We live in fame or go down in flame. Hey!
Nothing'll stop the U.S. Air Force

Composed by Robert MacArthur Crawford

Navy: Anchors Aweigh

Anchors Aweigh, my boys
Anchors Aweigh
Farewell to foreign shores
We sail at break of day
Through our last night ashore
Drink to the foam
Until we meet once more
Here's wishing you a happy voyage home

Composed by Charles A. Zimmermann, with lyrics by Alfred H. Miles

Marine Corps: Marines’ Hymn

From the halls of Montezuma
To the shores of Tripoli
We fight our country's battles
In the air, on land, and sea
First to fight for right and freedom
And to keep our honor clean
We are proud to claim the title
Of United States Marine

Music by Jacques Offenbach, and lyrics unknown

Army: The Army Goes Rolling Along

First to fight for the right
And to build the Nation's might
And the Army goes rolling along
Proud of all we have done
Fighting till the battle's won
And the army goes rolling along
And it's hi! hi! hey!
The Army's on its way
Count off the cadence loud and strong
For where'er we go
You will always know
That the Army goes rolling along

Written by Edmund L. Gruber, and arranged by John Philip Sousa