Created out of lyrics to The Star Spangled Banner The Star Spangled Banner is the National Anthem of The United States. The lyrics come from a poem entitled Defence of Fort McHenry written in 1814 by a young poet named Francis Scott Key and were set to the tune of a popular British drinking song. It was made the national anthem by a congressional resolution on March 3, 1931. If the right person is singing it, you will always get goose bumps and it reminds you why you are proud to be an American.