The UK's national anthem
What are the lyrics of England's national anthem? How long does it go on for? Does it have a chorus, and verses? These are all questions that trouble me.
I know it begins with 'God save our queen'. It also includes the line 'god save our gracious Queen'.
Well, firstly England doesn't have a national anthem of its own, according to wikipedia. This is news to me! God Save The Queen is the anthem of the United Kingdom, not England. (What about the line 'rebellious Scots to crush?' Surely the Scottish don't like singing that.)
Here is a youtube video of the anthem. To me, each verse sounds the same, only with different words. It makes it easier to sing I suppose!
Below are the lyrics, in full. The first verse is the most famous.
God save our gracious Queen,
Long live our noble Queen,
God save the Queen:
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us:
God save the Queen.
O Lord, our God, arise,
Scatter thine enemies,
And make them fall:
Confound their politics,
Frustrate their knavish tricks,
On thee our hopes we fix:
God save us all.
Thy choicest gifts in store,
On her be pleased to pour;
Long may she reign:
May she defend our laws,
And ever give us cause
To sing with heart and voice
God save the Queen.
Here's a couple more verses, though these aren't usually sung, because it'd make the anthem longer and more boring than it already is.
Not in this land alone,
But be God's mercies known,
From shore to shore!
Lord make the nations see,
That men should brothers be,
And form one family,
The wide world over.
From every latent foe,
From the assassins blow,
God save the Queen!
O'er her thine arm extend,
For Britain's sake defend,
Our mother, prince, and friend,
God save the Queen!
Some websites say that these 5 verses are now the national anthem 'in full', though where's the part about rebellious scots to crush? Has someone taken this verse out because it's offensive?
Leave a comment