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Letter: Songs are from our past and England’s

Tuesday, May 9, 2006 | 7:32 a.m.

Without taking sides in letter writer Helen Richman's May 8 criticism of columnist Tom Teepen about the Spanish translation of the National Anthem, I would note that Teepen is correct in saying that the tune is indeed the old English drinking song "Anacreon in Heaven" or "Anacreontic Song." The tune for "America" ("My country, 'tis of thee") has been used by many nations and may date as far back as 1688. In Great Britain it is presently "God Save the Queen." The lyrics to "America," by the Rev. Samuel Francis Smith, were written in 1831.

Don Schmiedel, Las Vegas

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