Not all performances of 'The Star-Spangled Banner' are created equal, and for a professional singer, there's nothing quite like the misery of having to own up to your own mangled rendition of the song after failing to deliver at a major event.

It's a pain with which Staind singer Aaron Lewis is now familiar, after being roundly mocked for bungling the words to the song before Game Five of the World Series last night. Lewis' faux pas -- which found him singing "what so proudly we hailed were so gallantly streaming" when he should have crooned "what so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming" -- was doubly painful because, as many have pointed out, he publicly criticized Christina Aguilera for committing a similar sin in 2011.

Lewis quickly owned up to his goof, posting a Facebook note reading, "All I can say is I'm sorry and ask for the nation's forgiveness. 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."

Well, we forgive you, Aaron -- although in the future, you might want to take a tip from Carlos Santana, who delivered his own remarkable rendition of 'The Star-Spangled Banner' before Game Four on Oct. 25 and avoided messing up the lyrics by simply not singing. Check it out below.

Carlos and Salvador Santana Perform 'The Star-Spangled Banner'

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