Squeakless Hallelujah

Last winter it was discovered that Vincent Lopez, pudgy, decorous danceband leader, had been brooding long and heavily over the unsingableness of The Star-Spangled Banner. Suggested by Bandleader Lopez was a new version of his own, with its high notes pruned to fit the limitations of the average voice (TIME, Feb. 7). Bandleader Lopez' version, duly performed in Baltimore's Hippodrome Theatre, caused very mild applause. But last week, as Congress was hurrying toward adjournment, publicity-loving Congressman Emanuel Celler (N. Y.) urged official acceptance of Lopez' "squeakless" anthem. Said Congressman Celler: "Why not enable everybody to sail into it ... with a more relaxed larynx?"

Meanwhile, 31-year-old Carlton Cook, amateur lyricist, artist and poet of Denver, Colo., happened to read in a paper the text of a speech by Kitty Cheatham, a folk-song singer, which was delivered last year during International Women's Week in Budapest. "Can you imagine the effect," Miss Cheatham had asked, "if all the nations of the world would join together and sing Hallelujah?" These words were practically a revelation to Lyricist Cook. He too, like Bandleader Lopez, had long brooded over the U. S. National Anthem's imperfections, particularly deprecated such sworded sentiments as "the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air." For several months he hammered away at a peaceful-plowshare version. Last fortnight he published it. The revised text:

Though long be the night, With the dawn comes the light

And the spirit of love soars upon wings like a dove.

While the song from our hearts Of our glorious flag

Tells the world of the Peace which is founded upon love.

While this spirit of Peace and of Good Will to men

Rings forth from our hearts On and on without end,

Oh long may our star studded symbol unfurled

Stand for light and love and Peace In its song to the world.

Impartial critics wondered what would happen if Lyricist Cook's hallelujah was combined with Bandleader Lopez' squeakless tune.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.