Aaron Lewis sorry for botching national anthem at World Series [Video]

Aaron Lewis really shouldn’t be so hard on himself.

He actually sounded pretty good singing the national anthem before Game 5 of the World Series on Sunday night.

If only he didn’t have to deal with those pesky lyrics.

The lead singer of the metal group Staind performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” before the matchup between the San Francisco Giants and Kansas City Royals, using the country voice that can be heard on his solo efforts.

Everything was fine, except the minor detail of him singing the line “at the twilight’s last gleaming” at the end of the first and second verses instead of just the second verse.

Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum appears to chuckle a bit at the flub, but really no harm was done. Lewis recovered nicely and even earned several outbursts of applause for his vocals.

Nonetheless he issued an apology on his website Monday:

All I can say is I’m sorry and ask for the Nation’s forgiveness,” Lewis wrote. “My nerves got the best of me and I am completely torn up about what happened. America is the greatest country in the world. The Star-Spangled Banner means so much to so many, including myself.

“I hope everyone can understand the intensity of the situation and my true intent of this performance. I hope that the Nation, Major League Baseball and the many fans of our national pastime can forgive me.”

OK, so it might not do wonders for the career of a guy trying to establish himself as a country singer, but there have definitely been way worse versions of that song.