Eric Burton Botches National Anthem Lyrics At World Series Opener
The 2022 World Series started with an error even before the first pitch was thrown.
Grammy-nominated singer Eric Burton of the Black Pumas opened baseball’s Fall Classic on Oct. 28 between the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros with his rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner,” but he bungled the national anthem.
The Associated Press reports that the band leader went off track on the second line, as a giant American flag was unfurled on the field and players lined up for the pre-game ceremony at Houston’s Minute Maid Park.
He made a few mistakes while singing the anthem. In one instance, he sang, “What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last streaming” instead of “gleaming.”
Later, instead of singing “O’er the ramparts we watch’d were so gallantly streaming?” he backtracked to “What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last” before again singing “streaming” instead of “gleaming.”
After the last note, the crowd applauded the hometown singer who previously performed at the televised concert for President Joe Biden’s inauguration.
