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'Pro tip, learn the anthem': Eric Burton trolled for getting Star-Spangled Banner lyrics WRONG at World Series

The Grammy-nominated singer messed up the lyrics while singing the National Anthem and was also off-key at times

HOUSTON, TEXAS: Being handed the responsibility of singing the National Anthem at any event certainly brings along its fair share of pressure. With all eyes (and ears) on you, the smallest mistake can make your performance memorable for all the wrong reasons. This is exactly what happened with Eric Burton, a six-time Grammy-nominated singer who messed up the lyrics to 'The Star-Spangled Banner' while opening up Game 1 of the World Series at the Minute Maid Park in Houston.

The 33-year-old lead singer of 'The Black Pumas' was massively trolled online for his performance. He found himself in trouble in the first line of the anthem itself, when he sang "What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last streaming," when the last word should have been "gleaming." After that, he correctly sang, "Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight," but he was once more fated to repeat his previous mistake — "twilight’s last streaming," reported the New York Post. 

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"Someone tell Eric Burton to learn the lyrics to the National Anthem before you sing it before game 1 of the #WorldSeries," tweeted a user, sharing a clip of the singer's unfortunate performance.

The backlash from netizens didn't stop there. "OMG That was 'effing terrible. Out of tune, out of time and botching the lyrics of our national anthem. Unacceptable, say the least," tweeted one viewer witness to the singer's public debacle. "Eric Burton just sang the National Anthem in four different keys, with three different tempos, and rearranged half the words. Pathetic that he doesn’t even know the words to the NA that he is paid to sing. #WorldSeries #nationalanthem," rebuked another.

Several others were simply in disbelief at the incident. "Did he forget the words to the anthem or did i?" read the tweet of one puzzled viewer. Someone else offered Burton a "pro-tip", writing "If you’re singing the national anthem at the opening game of the World Series, learn the words." One person joked that Burton and the Phillies were simply "not ready for this stage," referring to the first game between the Phillies and the Astros.

Still, there were others who empathized with the six-time Grammy nominated singer. "It’s more than a little nerve-wracking being out there. Yeah, he erred. Big deal. He honored all the rest very, very well.. and sang the most of it strong and beautiful. Comment on the positive, you buncha whiners. #NationalAnthem #EricBurton," read one tweet. The user also added, "Aren’t we SUPPOSED to be out there having each other’s backs? As real patriotic Americans? He messed up. So what!? He’s performing OUR anthem FOR us. You’ve never stumbled in life!? Shame on those of you for shaming the ones who’ve tried and may have failed. He tried. #EricBurton"

"That was an eventful national anthem. Eric Burton has a beautiful voice but definitely mixed up the lyrics and it was bad. I’d be nervous as hell singing in front of millions of people, so hopefully people aren’t too hard on him here," remarked another user.