From the perspective of Francis Scott Key sitting in Baltimore Harbor as a British hostage.

In the dark of the night,
the fires he could see.
Fog and smoke thick
as pea soup could be.
There! As a rocket lit up the sky,
Old Glory’s still waving
and he wondered why.
The battle had raged
all through the night.
He could tell from the glare,
the fort was a frightful sight.
As he set with his pen
the words begin to flow,
describing the sights
he beheld in that glow.
From the rockets red glare
and fires burning bright.
Yes, she’s still waving there,
what a beautiful sight.
Red and white with stars on blue
as morning softens the night.
Tattered and torn against the blue sky,
Old Glory how proud
still waving on high.
As the smoke lifts he exclaims aloud,
Oh, Say can you see?