Rather than return to his home outside Washington, D.C., Key checked ... lyrics and song in sheet music, under the title "The Star-Spangled Banner: A Patriotic Song." Key's timing could not ...

Like so many famous songs of yore, "The Star-Spangled Banner" started as a poem, called “The Defence of Fort McHenry.” It was written by Francis Scott Key in 1814 during the War of 1812.