99 years ago this Saturday, Francis Scott Key wrote the lyrics to the national anthem of the United States, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” It describes a battle during the War of 1812.

The national anthem is usually played or sung before sporting events like football or basketball games, and on other important national holidays.

You can listen to “The Star-Spangled Banner” and read the lyrics at the same time:

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?

dawn = early morning
hailed = saluted
twilight = early evening
gleaming = glowing
broad = wide
perilous = dangerous
o’er = over
ramparts = walls
gallantly = bravely, impressively
glare = brightness
bursting = exploding
star-spangled = decorated with stars