Song of the
Anacreontic Society, a
London gentlemen's club. The
tune was subsequently used in the
United States for the songs "
Adams and Liberty" (aka "
Jefferson and Liberty") and a certain little
ditty called "The
Star-Spangled Banner".
To Anacreon, in Heav'n, where he sat in full glee
A few sons of harmony sent a petition,
That he their inspirer and patron would be;
When this answer arrived from the jolly old Grecian --
"Voice, fiddle, and flute,
No longer be mute;
I'll lend ye my name, and inspire ye to boot;
And, besides, I'll instruct ye, like me to intwine
The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine."
As an exercise I tried singing this to the tune of "The Star-Spangled Banner" and got hopelessly lost.