《星条旗永不落》(英语:The Stars and Stripes Forever),或翻译成《永远的星条旗》、《星条旗颂》,是美国作曲家约翰·菲利普·苏沙(John Philip Sousa)的代表作,美国著名爱国进行曲。根据1987年的美国国家法令(The United States Code),《星条旗永不落》为美国国家进行曲(The National March of The United States)。
进行曲前奏以四个小节的介绍开始,然后是重复的第一乐章,之后又有一个重复的第二乐章。若是乐队在游行中演奏该曲,则会让两者都重复两次(又或是加入重复的三重奏)。现在三重奏的第一弹有个人人都熟悉的儿歌,也就是该曲的戏仿歌曲(英语:The Stars and Stripes Forever#Parody lyrics),即“善待你的蹼足朋友”(Be kind to your web-footed friends)的曲子[注 1]。在这个部分中,歌词已被更改。后来,这个部分被视为小型的可省略伴奏(英语:Obbligato)(Obbligato(意大利文))而重复了一遍。
Let martial note in triumph float
And liberty extend its mighty hand
A flag appears 'mid thunderous cheers,
The banner of the Western land.
The emblem of the brave and true
Its folds protect no tyrant crew;
The red and white and starry blue
Is freedom's shield and hope.
[Second Strain]
Other nations may deem their flags the best
And cheer them with fervid elation
But the flag of the North and South and West
Is the flag of flags, the flag of Freedom's nation.
(repeats) Other nations may deem their flags the best
And cheer them with fervid elation,
But the flag of the North and South and West
Is the flag of flags, the flag of Freedom's nation.
[Trio]
Hurrah for the flag of the free!
May it wave as our standard forever,
The gem of the land and the sea,
The banner of the right.
Let despots remember the day
When our fathers with mighty endeavor
Proclaimed as they marched to the fray
That by their might and by their right
It waves forever.
[Repeat of the First Strain]
Let eagle shriek from lofty peak
The never-ending watchword of our land;
Let summer breeze waft through the trees
The echo of the chorus grand.
Sing out for liberty and light,
Sing out for freedom and the right.
Sing out for Union and its might,
O patriotic sons.
[Grandioso]
Hurrah for the flag of the free.
May it wave as our standard forever
The gem of the land and the sea,
The banner of the right.
Let despots remember the day
When our fathers with mighty endeavor
Proclaimed as they marched to the fray,
That by their might and by their right
It waves forever.
1972年,美国总统尼克松访华,期间军乐团演奏的即为《星条旗永不落》。导致美国国歌《星条旗》(The Star-Spangled Banner)被错误地认为是《星条旗永不落》,此说法流传甚广,因此许多民众误以为此即美国国歌,甚至中华人民共和国官方媒体新华网上关于美国国歌的介绍也将两首歌曲的译名混淆[4]。混淆更为主要的原因是美国国家法令(The United States Code)170条规定《星条旗》(The Star-Spangled Banner)为美国国歌(National Anthem),188条规定《星条旗永不落》为美国国家进行曲(National March),与中华人民共和国国内被宣传的情形有别。
Van Outryve, Karen. "Appreciating An Old Favorite: Sousa's All-Time Hit." Music Educators Journal(英语:Music Educators Journal) 92.3 (2006): 15. Academic Search Complete. Web. April 19, 2012.
Be kind to your web-footed friends,
For a duck may be somebody's mother.
Be kind to your friends in the swamp,
Where the weather is very, very damp,
Now, you may think that this is the end,
Well, it is!