National Anthem

"O Canada" is the national anthem of Canada.

The music was composed by Calixa Lavallée; he may have been inspired by the similar "March of the Priests" from Mozart's opera The Magic Flute (MIDI file).

The original French lyrics were written by Sir Adolphe Basile Routhier, as a French-Canadian patriotic song for the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society. The French "Ô Canada" was first performed on June 24, 1880 at a Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day banquet in Quebec City, but did not become Canada's official national anthem until July 1, 1980. When it was made the official anthem, most English Canadians were surprised to learn that it did not already have such status.

Since 1867, "God Save the King" and "The Maple Leaf Forever" had been competing as unofficial national anthems in English Canada. "O Canada" joined that fray when school children sang it for the 1901 tour of Canada by the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall (later King George V and Queen Mary). Five years later Whaley and Royce in Toronto published the music with the French text and a first translation into English by Dr. Thomas Bedford Richardson. Then, in 1908, Collier's Weekly magazine held a competition to write English lyrics for "O Canada" and all kinds of versions were submitted. The competition was won by Mercy E. Powell McCulloch, but her version did not take.

The English version that gained the widest currency was written in 1908 by Robert Stanley Weir, a lawyer and at the time Recorder of the City of Montréal. A slightly modified version of his poem was published in an official form for the Diamond Jubilee of Confederation in 1927, and gradually became the most generally accepted anthem in English-speaking Canada, winning out over the alternatives by the 1960s. "God Save the Queen" is now Canada's royal anthem, while "The Maple Leaf Forever" is virtually forgotten.

Official changes to the English version were recommended in 1968 by a Special Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Commons. The National Anthem Act of 1980 added a religious reference to the English lyrics and the phrase "From far and wide, O Canada" to replace a repeated use of the phrase "We stand on guard". This change was controversial with traditionalists, and for several years afterwards it was not uncommon to hear people still singing the old lyrics at public events. By contrast, the French version never wavered from its original.

Lyrics

O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide, O Canada,
We stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

N.B.: the line is true patriot love in all thy sons command, with no possessive apostrophe; otherwise put, "command (inspire) true patriot love in all thy sons". Also, the first word is "O" (used as a vocative, to apostrophize Canada), not the exclamation "oh".

The line "The True North strong and free" is based on Alfred Lord Tennyson's description of Canada as "That True North whereof we lately heard" [1]. In the context of Tennyson's poem, true means loyal or faithful.

Two provinces have adopted Latin translations of phrases from the English lyrics as their mottos: Manitoba —Gloriosus et liber (glorious and free)— and Alberta —Fortis et liber (strong and free). Similarly, the motto of Canadian Forces Land Force Command is Vigilamus pro te (we stand on guard for thee).

The original song has several additional verses, but these are rarely sung.

Original Poem by Weir
Originally "O Canada" was a patriotic poem by Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier, a Quebec judge. Calixa Lavallée, the well-known Canadian composer, was commissioned to set it to music, and it was first sung in 1880 during a national convention of French Canadians in Quebec City. Many English versions have appeared, but the one which was widely accepted was written in 1908 by another judge, R. Stanley Weir, in honour of the 300th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City. It was amended in 1913, 1914 and 1916 and published in an official form at the time of the Diamond Jubilee of Confederation in 1927 and during the Royal visit of 1939. A slightly modified version of the first verse of Weir's, poem was proclaimed as Canada's national anthem in 1980. The original poem of 1908 by Stanley Weir reads as follows:

O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love thou dost in us command.
We see thee rising fair, dear land,
The True North, strong and free;
And stand on guard, O Canada,
We stand on guard for thee.
Refrain
O Canada! O Canada!
O Canada! We stand on guard for thee.
O Canada! We stand on guard for thee.
O Canada! Where pines and maples grow.
Great prairies spread and lordly rivers flow.
How dear to us thy broad domain,
From East to Western Sea,
Thou land of hope for all who toil!
Thou True North, strong and free!
Refrain
O Canada! O Canada! etc.
O Canada! Beneath thy shining skies
May stalwart sons and gentle maidens rise,
To keep thee steadfast through the years
From East to Western Sea,
Our own beloved native land!
Our True North, strong and free!
Refrain
O Canada! O Canada! etc.
Ruler supreme, who hearest humble prayer,
Hold our dominion within thy loving care;
Help us to find, O God, in thee
A lasting, rich reward,
As waiting for the Better Day,
We ever stand on guard.
Refrain
O Canada! O Canada! etc.

Official French lyrics

Ô Canada ! Terre de nos aïeux,
Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux !
Car ton bras sait porter l'épée,
Il sait porter la croix;
Ton histoire est une épopée
Des plus brillants exploits.
Et ta valeur de foi trempée
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits;
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.

Gloss of the French lyrics:

O Canada! Home of our ancestors,
Your brow is wreathed with glorious garlands!
Just as your arm knows how to wield the sword,
It also knows how to bear the cross;
Your history is an epic
Of the most brilliant feats.
And your valour steeped in faith
Will protect our homes and our rights;
Will protect our homes and our rights.

Often, singers at public events mix the English and French lyrics in order to represent Canada's linguistic duality. The most common patterns are to sing the first two lines in English, the next four lines in French and the remainder in English, or to sing the first six lines in French and the remainder in English. Other patterns also exist.

Canada remains copyright of the author airwolf09, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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National Anthem

La Borinqueña is the official anthem of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The current official music and words were codified in 1903 and have since been taught in schools and generally adopted by the public. The music was officially adopted by the government in 1952, and the words in 1977. The title refers to the aboriginal Taíno name for the island of Puerto Rico, Boriken or Borinquen.

The music was originally written by Félix Astol Artés in 1867 as an habanera danza, with romantic lyrics. In 1868, Lola Rodríguez de Tió wrote a poem in support of Puerto Rican revolution, which was set to the Astol Artés music. Deemed too subversive for official adoption, a less controversial set of lyrics was written in 1903 by Manuel Fernández Juncos and taught in the public schools. The tune was officially adopted as the Commonwealth's anthem in 1952, and continued to be sung with the Manuel Fernández Juncos words (which, however, were not officially adopted until 1977).

Both versions are given below. The Fernández Juncos version is the most familiar version; it is, for example, sung spontaneously to celebrate Puerto Rican successes in athletic events. As of 2004 the "revolutionary" version is associated with the Puerto Rican Independence movement and was sung at the Vieques Navy protests.

Lyrics

(words by Manuel Fernández Juncos, 1903)

La tierra de Borinquén

donde he nacido yo,

es un jardín florido

de mágico primor.

[The land of Borinquen, where I was born, is a flower garden of magical brilliance.]
Un cielo siempre nítido

le sirve de dosel

y dan arrullos plácidos

las olas a sus pies.

[An ever-clear sky is its canopy, and the waves sing lullabies at its feet.]
Cuando a sus playas llegó Colón;

Exclamó lleno de admiración;

"Oh!, oh!, oh!, esta es la linda

tierra que busco yo".

[When Columbus arrived at her beaches, full of awe he exclaimed, "This is the lovely land I seek"]
Es Borinquén la hija,

la hija del mar y el sol,

del mar y el sol,

del mar y el sol,

del mar y el sol,

del mar y el sol.

[Borinquén is the daughter of the sea and the sun.]

Original 1868 revolutionary version by Lola Rodríguez de Tió
¡Despierta, borinqueño

que han dado la señal!

¡Despierta de ese sueño

que es hora de luchar!
[Arise, Puerto Rican! The call to arms has sounded! Awake from the slumber, it is time to fight!]
A ese llamar patriótico

¿no arde tu corazón?

¡Ven! Nos será simpático

el ruido del cañón.
[Doesn't this patriotic call set your heart alight? Come! We are in tune with the roar of the cannon.]
Mira, ya el cubano

libre será;

le dará el machete

su libertad...

le dará el machete

su libertad.
[Come, the Cuban will soon be free; the machete will give him his liberty.]
Ya el tambor guerrero

dice en su son,

que es la manigua el sitio,

el sitio de la reunión,

de la reunión...

de la reunión.
[Now the war drum says with its sound, that the jungle is the place of the meeting.]
El Grito de Lares

se ha de repetir,

y entonces sabremos

vencer o morir.
[The Cry of Lares must be repeated, and then we will know: victory or death.]
Bellísima Borinquén,

a Cuba hay que seguir;

tú tienes bravos hijos

que quieren combatir.
[Beautiful Puerto Rico must follow Cuba; you have brave sons who wish to fight.]
ya por más tiempo impávido

no podemos estar,

ya no queremos, tímidos

dejarnos subyugar.
[Now, no longer can we be unmoved; now we do not want timidly to let them subjugate us.]
Nosotros queremos

ser libre ya,

y nuestro machete

afilado está.

y nuestro machete

afilado está.
[We want to be free now, and our machete has been sharpened.]
¿Por qué, entonces, nosotros

hemos de estar,

tan dormidos y sordos

y sordos a esa señal?

a esa señal, a esa señal?
[Why then have we been so sleepy and deaf to the call?]
No hay que temer, riqueños

al ruido del cañón,

que salvar a la patria

es deber del corazón!
[There is no need to fear, Puerto Ricans, the roar of the cannon; saving the nation is the duty of the heart.]
ya no queremos déspotas,

caiga el tirano ya,

las mujeres indómitas

también sabrán luchar.
[We no longer want despots, tyranny shall fall now; the unconquerable women also will know how to fight.]
Nosotros queremos

la libertad,

y nuestros machetes

nos la darán...

y nuestro machete

nos la dará...
[We want liberty, and our machetes will give it to us.]
Vámonos, borinqueños,

vámonos ya,

que nos espera ansiosa,

ansiosa la libertad.

¡La libertad, la libertad!
[Come, Puerto Ricans, come now, since freedom awaits us anxiously, freedom, freedom!]

Puerto Rico remains copyright of the author airwolf09, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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National Anthem

The "Virgin Islands March" is a patriotic song which is considered to be the national anthem of the US Virgin Islands.

The song was composed by Naval Bandmaster and Virgin Island native Alton Adams in the 1920s. It served as the unofficial anthem of the Virgin Islands until 1963 when it was officially recognized by Legislative Act.

Lyrics

All hail our Virgin Islands.
Em'ralds of the sea,
Where beaches bright with coral sand
And trade winds bless our native land.
All hail our Virgin Islands,
Bathed in waters blue,
We give our loyalty,
Full to thee,
And pledge allegiance forever true.
To thee our Virgin Islands,
Loving voices raise
A song in praise of brotherhood,
Where right makes might to fight for good.
To thee our Virgin Islands,
Haven of the free,
We sing our love to thee,
Joyously,
Our own fair islands of liberty.
March on oh Virgin Islands,
In the joyful throng,
Uphold the right and right the wrong
Where only peace and love belong.
March on oh Virgin Islands,
Democratic land.
Together hand in hand,
Take your stand,
Forever soldiers in freedom's band.
God bless our Virgin Islands,
Humbly now we pray,
Where all mankind can join today
In friendly warmth of work and play.
God bless our Virgin Islands,
Beautiful and tall.
Beneath a sunny sky,
Hilltops high
Hold out a welcome for one and all.

US Virgin Islands remains copyright of the author airwolf09, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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National Anthem

March on, Bahamaland is the national anthem of the Bahamas. It was composed by Timothy Gibson and adopted in 1973.

Lyrics

Lift up your head
to the rising sun,
Bahamaland;
March on to glory
your bright banners
waving high.
See how the world
marks the manner
of your bearing!
Pledge to excel
through love and unity.
Pressing onward,
march together
to a common loftier goal;
Steady sunward,
tho' the weather
hide the wide and treachrous shoal.
Lift up your head
to the rising sun, Bahamaland,
'Til the road you've trod
lead unto your God,
March On, Bahamaland.

Bahamas remains copyright of the author airwolf09, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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National Anthem

The lyrics for the National Anthem of Mexico or Himno Nacional Mexicano (spanish), was written by Francisco González Bocanegra, and the music by Jaime Nunó.

In 1853, President Antonio López de Santa Anna announced a competition to write a national anthem. The competition offered a prize for the best poetic composition worthy of representing a truly patriotic anthem. A deadline of twenty days was set.

Francisco González Bocanegra, a talented poet, was at first not interested in participating in the competition. He argued that writing love poems involved very different skills from the ones required to write a nation's anthem. His fiancée, Guadalupe González del Pino (Pili), with undaunted faith in her fiancé's poetic skills and unsatisfied with his constant refusals to participate in spite of constant prodding from her and from their friends, decided to take measures. Under false pretenses, she lured him to a secluded bedroom in her house, locked him in, and refused to let him out until he produced an entry for the competition. After four hours of fluent, albeit forced inspiration, Francisco was able to regain his freedom by slipping his creation out under the door. His submission won the competition unanimously.

Later, in August 1854, music written by Spanish-born Jaime Nunó, a military band inspector, was chosen. The anthem was officially adopted on Independence Day, September 16 of that same year. The inaugural interpretation was directed by Jaime Nunó himself and sang by soprano Balbina Steffenone and tenor Lorenzo Salvi. Francisco González Bocanegra and Pili, now married, also attended this event.

The fact that it was written by a Mexican poet and composed by a Spanish musician makes it the more nostalgic, for it symbolizes the cultural blend that created this country.

The original full version of the National Anthem of Mexico is presented. After the country's defeat in the Mexican American War some modifications were implemented. Stanzas IV and VII were forbidden because the first one refered to Antonio López de Santa Anna, blamed for the defeat, and the Stanza VII refered to the first Mexican Emperor Agustín de Iturbide, who was sent to exile and immediately executed after his return to the country.

The anthem was written in a period of conservative ruling and when the liberal party returned to government, they implemented the changes mentioned above.

Notes: In the chorus when referring to "centros la tierra" it isn't meaning the Earth core, but the various important points around the globe at that time (e.g. cities, military bases). Also, Patria is a female noun in Spanish; in English it is translated as "Fatherland".

Lytics

Coro
Mexicanos al grito de guerra
el acero aprestad y el bridón.
Y retiemble en sus centros la tierra,
al sonoro rugir de el cañón.
¡Y retiemble en sus centros la tierra,
al sonoro rugir de el cañón!

Estrofa I
Ciña ¡oh Patria! tus sienes de oliva
de la paz el arcángel divino,
que en el cielo tu eterno destino
por el dedo de Dios se escribió.
Mas si osare un extraño enemigo
profanar con su planta tu suelo,
piensa ¡oh Patria querida! que el cielo
un soldado en cada hijo te dio.

Estrofa II
En sangrientos combates los viste
por tu amor palpitando sus senos,
arrostrar la metralla serenos,
y la muerte o la gloria buscar.
Si el recuerdo de antiguas hazañas
de tus hijos inflama la mente,
los recuerdos del triunfo tu frente,
volverán inmortales a ornar.

Estrofa III
Como al golpe del rayo la encina,
se derrumba hasta el hondo torrente,
la discordia vencida, impotente,
a los pies del arcángel cayó.
Ya no más, de tus hijos la sangre,
se derrame en contienda de hermanos;
sólo encuentre el acero en sus manos
quien tu nombre sagrado insultó.

Estrofa IV
Del guerrero inmortal de Zempoala
te defiende la espada terrible,
y sostiene su brazo invencible,
tu sagrado pendón tricolor.
Él será del feliz mexicano
en la paz y en la guerra el caudillo.
porque él supo sus armas de brillo
circundar en los campos de honor.

Estrofa V
Guerra, guerra sin tregua al que intente
de la Patria manchar los blasones,
Guerra, guerra, los patrios pendones
en las olas de sangre empapad.
Guerra, guerra. En el monte, en el valle,
los cañones horrísonos truenen,
y los ecos sonoros resuenen
con las voces de ¡Unión! ¡Libertad!

Estrofa VI
Antes, Patria, que inermes tu hijos,
bajo el yugo su cuello dobleguen,
tus campiñas con sangre se rieguen,
sobre sangre se estampe su pie.
Y tus templos, palacios y torres
se derrumben con hórrido estruendo,
y sus ruinas existan diciendo:
De mil héroes la Patria aquí fue.

Estrofa VII
Si a la lid contra hueste enemiga,
nos convoca la trompa guerrera,
de Iturbide la sacra bandera,
mexicanos, valientes seguid.
Y a los fieles bridones les sirvan
las vencidas enseñas de alfombra;
los laureles del triunfo den sombra
a la frente del Bravo Adalid.

Estrofa VIII
Vuelva altivo a los patrios hogares,
el guerrero a cantar su victoria,
ostentando las palmas de gloria
que supiera en la lid conquistar.
Tornaránse sus lauros sangrientos
en guirnaldas de mirtos y rosas,
que el amor de las hijas y esposas,
también sabe a los bravos premiar.

Estrofa IX
Y el que al golpe de ardiente metralla,
de la Patria en las aras sucumba,
obtendrá en recompensa una tumba
donde brille, de gloria, la luz.
Y, de Iguala, la enseña querida
a su espada sangrienta enlazada,
de laurel inmortal coronada,
formará de su fosa una cruz.

Estrofa X
¡Patria, Patria! tus hijos te juran
exhalar en tus aras su aliento,
si el clarín, con su bélico acento,
los convoca a lidiar con valor.
¡Para ti las guirnaldas de oliva!
¡Un recuerdo para ellos de gloria!
¡Un laurel para ti de victoria!
¡Un sepulcro para ellos de honor!

English

Chorus
Mexicans, at the cry of war,
Grasp the steel and the bridle,
And let the earth centers tremble
To the roar of the cannon.
And let the earth centers tremble
To the roar of the cannon!

First Stanza
Oh Fatherland! may your brow be wreathed with the olive
By the divine archangel of Peace
For in heaven, your eternal destiny
has been written by the finger of God.
But if a foreign enemy should dare
To profane your ground with his step,
Think, oh beloved Fatherland! that heaven
Gave you a soldier in each son.

Stanza II
In bloody combats you have seen them,
Love for you beating in their breasts,
Serenely facing the shrapnel,
And seeking death or glory.
If the memory of the ancient exploits
Of your sons inflames the mind,
The memory of triumph will become
Immortal to crown your brow.

Stanza III
As the lightning bolt blasts the oak
Into the deep torrent,
Vanquished and impotent discord
Fell at the feet of the archangel.
May the blood of your sons never again
Be spilled in fights between brothers;
May only he encounter the steel in their hands
Who has insulted your sacred name.

Stanza IV
The terrible sword of the immortal
warrior of Zempoala defends you,
And his invincible arm sustains
Your sacred tricoloured flag.
He will be in peace and war
The leader of the joyous Mexican,
Because he surrounded his weapons
With brilliance in the fields of honour.

Stanza V
War, war without truce upon him who means
To sully the blazon of the Fatherland;
War, war! Soak our homeland's flags
In the waves of blood.
War, war! In the mountains and the valley,
The dreadful cannons thunder,
And the deafening echoes resound
The cries of Union! Liberty!

Stanza VI
O Fatherland, before your unarmed sons
Bend their necks under the yoke,
Your countrysides will be watered with blood
And in blood will be their footprints.
And your temples, palaces, and towers
Will fall with terrible thunder,
And their ruins shall live to say,
"This was the fatherland of a thousand heroes."

Stanza VII
If to the struggle against a hostile host
The warrior trumpet calls us,
The sacred banner of Iturbide,
O Mexicans, follow valiantly.
And to the faithful war horses,
Let the vanquished ensigns be a carpet;
Let the laurels of triumph give shade
To the forehead of the great captain.

Stanza VIII
Let the warrior return proud to his native home
To sing his victory;
Waving the palms of glory
That he captured in the fight.
Let his bloody laurels turn
To garlands of myrtle and roses,
Which the love of daughters and wives
Also award to the brave.

Stanza IX
And he who, to the burning shrapnel's stroke
Falls in the altars of the Fatherland,
Will in reward obtain a tomb
Where the light of glory shines.
And, from Iguala, the beloved ensign
Laced to his bloody sword,
Crowned with immortal laurel,
He will make a cross of his grave.

Stanza X
Fatherland, Fatherland! Your sons swear
To breathe out their breath on your altars,
If the clarion with its warlike tone
Calls them to struggle with valour.
For you the garlands of olive!
For them a memory of glory!
For you a laurel of victory!
For them a tomb of honour!

• *****************************************************************

Current Official Version

According to Mexico's Law of Use of the Patriotic Symbols, the current version of the National Anthem includes only the Chorus and Stanzas number I, V, VI and X. The Chorus is sung at the beginning, between each Stanza and at the end.

For international events the Anthem is compound only by the Chorus, Stanza I and the Chorus again.

It is also stated in the Law of Use of the Patriotic Symbols that radio and television must broadcast the Anthem at the beginning and ending of the transmissions. The broadcasted version can be the official one or compound by the Chorus, Stanza I, Chorus, Stanza X and Chorus.

Mexico remains copyright of the author airwolf09, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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National Anthem

Hatikvah or Hatikva (Hebrew: התקווה "The Hope"') is the national anthem of Israel.
The Hatikvah text was written by the Galician poet Naphtali Herz Imber in Zloczow (Ukraine) in 1878 as a nine-stanza poem named Tikvatenu ("Our Hope").

In 1897, at the First Zionist Congress, it was adopted as the anthem of Zionism; later it was arranged by the composer Paul Ben-Haim, who based the composition partly on ukrainian Jewish folk tunes.

Later the text was edited by the settlers of Rishon LeZion and it underwent a number of other changes until 1948, when the state of Israel was created, and it was proclaimed as the national anthem of Israel.

In its modern version, the anthem text only has the first stanza and chorus of the original poem. The most important addition in those parts is that the hope is no longer to return to Zion, but to be a free nation in it.

It is an interesting, but not widely known fact, that the Tikva was never offically declared as or chosen to be the national anthem of Israel.

The music for Hatikva is based on a folk song of unknown origin. The earliest known appearance in print was early 17th century Italy as "The Dance of Mantua". It has also been recognized in Spanish religious music as the Catholic song "Virgen de la Cueva" ("Virgin of the Cave") and the Jewish song "Prayer for the Dew". It's also recognizable as the Polish folk song Pod Krakowem.

The folk song was also used by a English-Jewish cantor named Meier Leon, who used the stage name Michael Leoni to perform secular and Christian music such as Handel's Messiah. Leon adapted the song into the Jewish hymn Yaigdal for his synagogue. This hymn was later adapted by Welselyan minister Thomas Oliver into the hymn To The God of Abraham Praise.

Bedrich Smetana likely adapted the melody from a Swedish version of the melody, "Ack, Värmeland" and used it for his symphonic poem "The Moldau", part of Má Vlast. This later became a Czech folk song, "Kočka leze dírou".

The modern adaptation of the music for Hatikvah was probably composed by Samuel Cohen in 1888. It's possible that he took the melody from Smetana's work, or that he got the melody from a Romanian version of the folk song, "Carul cu boi" ("Carriage and Oxen").

Hatikvah is written in a minor key, one that may seem depressing or mournful to some people. However, as the title ("The Hope") would indicate, the mood of the song is uplifting.

The great Al Jolson recorded the original lyrics circa 1929. It is still obtainable I believe

Lyrics

כל עוד בלבב פנימה
נפש יהודי הומיה,
ולפאתי מזרח קדימה
עין לציון צופיה -

עוד לא אבדה תקותנו,
התקוה בת שנות אלפים,
להיות עם חופשי בארצנו
ארץ ציון וירושלים.

Transliteration

Kol 'od balevav P'nimah -
Nefesh Yehudi homiyah
Ulfa'atey mizrach kadimah
Ayin l'tzion tzofiyah.

'Od lo avdah tikvatenu
Hatikvah bat shnot alpayim:
Li'hyot am chofshi b'artzenu -
Eretz Tzion vi'Yerushalayim

English

As long as in the heart, within,
A Jewish soul still yearns,
And onward toward the East,
An eye still watches toward Zion.

Our hope has not yet been lost,
The two thousand year old hope,
To be a free nation in our own homeland,
The land of Zion and Jerusalem.

Israel remains copyright of the author airwolf09, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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National Anthem

Zdravljica" ("A Toast") is a famous poem by France Prešeren. It was written in 1844 and has been Slovenia's national anthem since 1991. The most famous is its 7th stanza, for which Stanko Premrl composed a choral composition with the same name. Only the text of this 7th stanza comprises the anthem of Slovenia. In form, the poem is a carmina figurata.

The previous national anthem of Slovenia from 1945 to 1991 was the Yugoslav Hej Slovani in Slovene.

Zdravljica was also performed in the early 1990s by the punk rock band Pankrti (the Bastards).

In 1844 censorship did not allow for the poem to be printed. Later Prešeren himself intended to include it in his Poezije (The Poetries), which is why he omitted the third strophe ("V sovražnike 'z oblakov / rodú naj naš'ga treši gróm") in order to save the rest. However, he was wrong, for censorship anticipated an overall Slavic mentality in the fourth strophe ("Edinost, sreča, sprava / k nam naj nazaj se vrnejo") and did not allow it. Prešeren believed the poem would be mutilated and therefore did not include it in Poezije. Zdravljica was printed in Novice (The News) on 26 April 1848, after the March Revolution of 1848 when censorship was abolished.

Lyrics

Prijatli! obrodile
so trte vince nam sladkó,
ki nam oživlja žile,
srce razjásni in oko,
ki utopi
vse skrbi,
v potrtih prsih up budi!

Komú narpred veselo
zdravljico, bratje! čmo zapét'!
Bog našo nam deželo,
Bog živi ves slovenski svet,
brate vse,
kar nas je
sinov sloveče matere!

V sovražnike 'z oblakov
rodú naj naš'ga treši gróm
prost, ko je bil očakov,
najprej naj bo Slovencov dom;
naj zdrobé
njih roké
si spone, ki jih še težé!

Edinost, sreča, sprava
k nam naj nazaj se vrnejo;
otrók, kar ima Slava,
vsi naj si v róke sežejo
de oblast
in z njo čast,
ko préd, spet naša boste

Bog žívi vas Slovenke
prelepe, žlahtne rožice;
ni take je mladenke,
ko naše je krvi dekle;
naj sinóv
zarod nov
iz vas bo strah sovražnikov!

Mladenči, zdaj se pije
zdravljica vaše, vi naš up;
ljubezni domačije
noben naj vam ne usmŕti strup;
ker zdaj vas
kakor nas,
jo sŕčno bránit kliče čas!

Živé naj vsi naródi
ki hrepené dočakat dan,
ko, koder sonce hodi,
prepir iz svéta bo pregnan,
ko rojak
prost bo vsak,
ne vrag, le sosed bo mejak!

Nazadnje še, prijatlji,
kozarce zase vzdignimo,
ki smo zato se zbratli,
ker dobro v srcu mislimo;
dókaj dni May joyful cheer
naj živí Ne'er disappear
vsak, kar nas dobrih je ljudi!

English

The vintage, friends, is over,
And here sweet wine makes, once again,
Sad eyes and hearts recover
Puts fire into every vein.
Drowns dull care
Everywhere
And summons hope out of despair.

To whom with acclamation
And song shall we our first toast give?
God save our land and nation
And all Slovenes where'er they live,
Who own the same
Blood and name,
And who one glorious Mother claim.

Let thunder out of heaven
Strike down and smite our wanton foe!
Now, as it once had thriven,
May our dear realm in freedom grow.
May fall the last
Chains of the past
Which bind us still and hold us fast!

Let peace, glad conciliation,
Come back to us throughout the land!
Towards their destination
Let Slavs henceforth go hand-in-hand!
Thus again
Will honour reign
last! To justice pledged in our domain.

To you, our pride past measure,
Our girls! Your beauty, charm and grace!
There surely is no treasure
To equal maidens of such race.
Sons you'll bear,
Who will dare
Defy our foe no matter where.

Our hope now, our to-morrow -
The youths - we toast and toast with joy.
No poisonous blight or sorrow
Your love of homeland shall destroy.
With us indeed
You're called to heed
Its summons in this hour of need.

God's blessing on all nations,
Who long and work for that bright day,
When o'er earth's habitations
No war, no strife shall hold its sway;
Who long to see
That all men free
No more shall foes, but neighbours be!

At last to our reunion -
To us the toast! Let it resound,
Since in this gay communion
By thoughts of brotherhood we're bound
From all good hearts now gathered here.

Slovenia remains copyright of the author airwolf09, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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National Anthem

Il Canto degli Italiani (The Song of the Italians) is the Italian national anthem. The anthem is also popularly known, from its first line, as Fratelli d'Italia (Brothers of Italy) and, after its author, as the Inno di Mameli (Mameli's Hymn).

The words were written in 1847 by the poet Goffredo Mameli as an expression of the popular struggle for the unification and independence of Italy. His poem, set to music by Michele Novaro, enjoyed widespread popularity throughout the period of the Risorgimento (Resurgence) – the 19th-century Italian movement towards unification. Following unification in (1861), the anthem of the royal house of Savoy was adopted as a national anthem. When, in 1946, Italy became a republic, Il Canto degli Italiani was provisionally chosen as the country's new national anthem. This choice has never been officially re-examined, with the result that it has remained Italy's "temporary" anthem for more than 50 years.

Lyrics

Note: this is the complete text of the original poem written by Goffredo Mameli, however the Italian anthem, as performed in every official occasion, is composed by the first part and the chorus, repeated twice, then ends with a loud "Sì!" ("Yes!"). The rest of the poem refers to episodes which were relevant when it was written.

Fratelli d'Italia,
l'Italia s'è desta,
dell'elmo di Scipio
s'è cinta la testa.
Dov'è la vittoria?
Le porga la chioma,
che schiava di Roma
Iddio la creò.
CHORUS:
Stringiamoci a coorte,
siam pronti alla morte.
Siam pronti alla morte,
l'Italia chiamò.
Stringiamoci a coorte,
siam pronti alla morte.
Siam pronti alla morte,
l'Italia chiamò!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Noi fummo da secoli
calpesti, derisi,
perché non siam popoli,
perché siam divisi.
Raccolgaci un'unica
bandiera, una speme:
di fonderci insieme
già l'ora suonò.
CHORUS
Uniamoci, uniamoci,
l'unione e l'amore
rivelano ai popoli
le vie del Signore.
Giuriamo far libero
il suolo natio:
uniti, per Dio,
chi vincer ci può?
CHORUS
Dall'Alpi a Sicilia
Dovunque è Legnano,
Ogn'uom di Ferruccio
Ha il core, ha la mano,
I bimbi d'Italia
Si chiaman Balilla,
Il suon d'ogni squilla
I Vespri suonò.
CHORUS
Son giunchi che piegano
Le spade vendute:
Già l'Aquila d'Austria
Le penne ha perdute.
Il sangue d'Italia,
Il sangue Polacco,
Bevé, col cosacco,
Ma il cor le bruciò.
CHORUS

English

Italian brothers,
Italy has arisen,
With Scipio's helmet
binding her head.
Where is Victory?
Let her bow down,
For God has made her
The slave of Rome.
CHORUS

Let us form a cohort,
We are ready to die!
We are ready to die!
Italy has called!
Let us form a cohort,
We are ready to die!
We are ready to die!
Italy has called!
We for centuries
Have been downtrodden and derided,
Because we are not a people,
Because we are divided.
Let one flag, one hope
Bring us together;
The hour has struck
For us to join forces.
CHORUS

Let us form a cohort,
We are ready to die!
We are ready to die!
Italy has called!
Let us form a cohort,
We are ready to die!
We are ready to die!
Italy has called!
Let us unite and love one another;
For union and love
Reveal to peoples
The way of the Lord
Let us swear to free
Our native soil;
If we are united under God,
Who can conquer us?
CHORUS

Let us form a cohort,
We are ready to die!
We are ready to die!
Italy has called!
Let us form a cohort,
We are ready to die!
We are ready to die!
Italy has called!
From the Alps to Sicily,
Everywhere it is Legnano;
Every man has the heart
and hand of Ferruccio.
The children of Italy
Are all called Balilla;
Every trumpet blast
Sounds the (Sicilian) Vespers.
CHORUS

Let us form a cohort,
We are ready to die!
We are ready to die!
Italy has called!
Let us form a cohort,
We are ready to die!
We are ready to die!
Italy has called!
Mercenary swords
Are feeble reeds,
And the Austrian eagle
Has lost his plumes.
This eagle that drunk the blood
of Italy and Poland,
together with the Cossack,
But this has burned his gut.
CHORUS

Let us form a cohort,
We are ready to die!
We are ready to die!
Italy has called!
Let us form a cohort,
We are ready to die!
We are ready to die!
Italy has called!

Italy remains copyright of the author airwolf09, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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National Anthem

The Hymn to Freedom (Ύμνος εις την Ελευθερίαν) is a poem written by Dionýsios Solomós in 1823 that consists of 158 stanzas. In 1865 the first two stanzas officially became the Greek national anthem, set to music by Nikolaos Mantzaros. It continues to be used as the national anthem of Cyprus, although this would have been replaced by a new anthem, without words, unique to Cyprus, under the Annan Plan (rejected by Greek Cypriots on April 24, 2004).

The Hymn to Freedom (Ύμνος εις την Ελευθερίαν) is a poem written by Dionýsios Solomós in 1823 that consists of 158 stanzas. In 1865 the first two stanzas officially became the Greek national anthem, set to music by Nikolaos Mantzaros. It continues to be used as the national anthem of Cyprus, although this would have been replaced by a new anthem, without words, unique to Cyprus, under the Annan Plan (rejected by Greek Cypriots on April 24, 2004).

Lyrics

Σε γνωρίζω απο τιν κόψη

τοῦ σπαθιοῦ τὴν τρομερή,
σὲ γνωρίζω ἀπὸ τὴν ὄψι,
ποὺ μὲ βία μετράει τὴ γῆ.
Ἀπ' τὰ κόκκαλα βγαλμένη
τῶν Ἑλλήνων τὰ ἱερά,
καὶ σὰν πρῶτα ἀνδρειωμένη,
χαῖρε, ὦ χαῖρε, Ἐλευθεριά!
Ἐκεῖ μέσα ἐκατοικοῦσες
πικραμένη, ἐντροπαλή,
κ' ἕνα στόμα ἐκαρτεροῦσες,
ἔλα πάλι, νὰ σοῦ πῇ.
Ἄργειε νἄλθῃ ἐκείνη ἡ μέρα,
καὶ ἦταν ὅλα σιωπηλά,
γιατὶ τἄσκιαζε ἡ φοβέρα,
καὶ τὰ πλάκωνε ἡ σκλαβιά.
Δυστυχής! Παρηγορία
μόνη σοῦ ἔμενε, νὰ λὲς
περασμένα μεγαλεῖα,
καὶ διηγῶντάς τα νὰ κλαῖς.
Καὶ ἀκαρτέρει, καὶ ἀκαρτέρει
φιλελεύθερη λαλιά
ἕνα ἐκτύπαε τ' ἄλλο χέρι
ἀπὸ τὴν ἀπελπισιά,
κ' ἔλεες· πότε, ἄ! πότε βγάνω
τὸ κεφάλι ἀπὸ τ 'ς ἐρμιές;
καὶ ἀποκρίνοντο ἀπὸ πάνω
κλάψες, ἅλυσες, φωνές!
Τότ' ἐσήκωνες τὸ βλέμμα
μέσ' στὰ κλάϊματα θολό,
καὶ εἰς τὸ ροῦχό σου ἔσταζ' αἷμα,
πλῆθος αἷμα Ἑλληνικό.
Μὲ τὰ ροῦχα αἱματωμένα
ξέρω ὅτι ἔβγαινες κρυφά,
νὰ γυρεύῃς εἰς τὰ ξένα
ἄλλα χέρια δυνατά.
Μοναχὴ τὸ δρόμο ἐπῆρες,
ἐξανάλθες μοναχή·
δὲν εἶν' εὔκολες οἱ θύρες,
ἐὰν ἡ χρεία τὲς κουρταλῇ.
Ἄλλος σοῦ ἔκλαψε εἰς τὰ στήθια,
ἀλλ' ἀνάσασι καμμιά·
ἄλλος σοῦ ἔταξε βοήθεια,
καὶ σὲ γέλασε φρικτά!
Ἄλλοι, ὠιμέ! στὴ συφορά σου
ὁ ποὺ ἐχαίροντο πολύ,
σύρε νά βρῃς τὰ παιδιά σου,
σύρε, ἐλέγαν οἱ σκληροί.
Φεύγει ὀπίσω τὸ ποδάρι,
καὶ ὁλογλήγορο πατεῖ
ἢ τὴν πέτρα, ἢ τὸ χορτάρι,
ποὺ τὴν δόξα σου ἐνθυμεῖ.
Ταπεινότατη σοῦ γέρνει
ἡ τρισάθλια κεφαλή,
σὰν φτωχοῦ ποὺ θυροδέρνει,
κ' εἶναι βάρος του ἡ ζωή.
Ναί· ἀλλὰ τώρα ἀντιπαλεύει
κάθε τέκνο σου μὲ ὁρμή,
ποὺ ἀκατάπαυστα γυρεύει
ἢ τὴ νίκη, ἢ τὴ θανή.
Ἀπ' τὰ κόκκαλα βγαλμένη
τῶν Ἑλλήνων τὰ ἱερά,
καὶ σὰν πρῶτα ἀνδρειωμένη,
χαῖρε, ὦ χαῖρε, Ἐλευθεριά!

Transliteration I
Sé ḡnorízo apo tền kopsi
toỹ spaṭioỹ tền tromerế.
Sè ḡnôrízô apò tền ópsê
poỳ mè ḇià metráei tề ḡễ.
Ap' tà kókkala ḇḡalménê
tỗn Hellếnôn tà hierà
kaì sàn prỗta anḏreiôménê
ḳaĩre, ỗ ḳaĩr' eleyṭeriá.

Transliteration II (Modern)
Se gnorízo apó tin kópsi
toy spathioý tin tromerí.
Se gnorízo apó tin ópsi
poy me via metráei ti ḡi.
Ap' ta kókkala vḡalméni
ton Ellínon ta ierá
kai san próta andreioméni
ẖaíre, o ẖaír' eleyftheriá.

Phonetic Transcription (I & II)
[sɛ ɣnoˈrizo aˌpo tiˈ-g-opsi
tu spaˈθçu ti-d-romɛˈri
sɛ ɣnoˈrizo aˌpo tin ˈopsi
pu mɛ ˈvʝa mɛtrˈaɪ ti ˈɣi
ˌap-ta ˈkokala vɣalˈmeni
ton ɛˈlinon ta jɛˈra
cɛ saˈ-b-rota anðrjoˈmeni
ˈçerɛ, o ˌçer-ɛlɛfθɛˈrʝa]

English

Literal English translation
I know you from the edge
Of your terrible sword
I know you from the countenance
Which with force surveys the earth
Rising from the bones
Of the Greeks, the sacred ones
And, as formerly, courageous
Hail, oh hail, liberty!

Poetic English translation
I shall always recognise you
By the magnificent sword you hold,
As the earth, with searching vision,
You survey, with spirit bold.
Twas the Greeks of old whose dying
Brought to birth our spirit free.
Now, with ancient valour rising,
Let us hail you, oh Liberty!

A different English translation by Rudyard Kipling (1918)
We knew thee of old,
Oh, divinely restored,
By the lights of thine eyes,
And the light of thy Sword.
From the graves of our slain,
Shall thy valour prevail,
As we greet thee again,
Hail, Liberty! Hail!

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National Anthem

"La Marseillaise" is a song written and composed by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle at Strasbourg on April 25, 1792. Its original name is "Chant de guerre de l'Armée du Rhin" ("Marching Song of the Rhine Army). It became the rallying call of the French Revolution and was so-called because it was first sung on the streets by troops (fédérés) from Marseille upon their arrival in Paris.

Now the national anthem of France, it was in its earliest years the anthem of the international revolutionary movement. After the rise of centralised Communism, the song was largely replaced by "The Internationale" as the unifying song of the international Left. It was the anthem of the Paris Commune. Because great numbers of people on the left around the world, particularly anarchists, took inspiration from the Commune, it became an international symbol of leftism. For instance, in Chicago, Illinois, the Haymarket Martyrs went to their deaths singing the song. In 1917, after the collapse of the tsarist regime "La Marseillaise" and "The Internationale" were both used as national anthems of Russia. However, in a couple years "The Internationale" gradually prevailed and became the only anthem. The Russian lyrics of "Marseillaise", "Otrechemsya ot starogo mira", are very different from the French lyrics; both French and Russian lyrics were sung in Russia.

The song was banned in Vichy France and German occupied areas during World War II and singing it was an act of resistance (see also Chant des Partisans). It was also banned under the French Empire, France either used different anthems or no anthem at all for the period of 1799 to 1870.

"La Marseillaise" was re-arranged by Hector Berlioz around 1830.

In France itself, the anthem (and particularly the lyrics) has become a somewhat controversial issue since the 1970s. Some consider it militaristic and xenophobic, and many propositions have been made to change the anthem or the lyrics. However, "La Marseillaise" has been associated throughout history with the French Republic and its values, making a change unlikely.

Recently, and despite the lyrics, it was largely sung by anti-racist protesters after the accession of Jean-Marie Le Pen to the second turn of presidential election in 2002.

Lyrics

French lyrics

Couplet I
Allons enfants de la Patrie,
Le jour de gloire est arrivé!
Contre nous de la tyrannie,
L'étendard sanglant est levé, (bis)
Entendez-vous dans les campagnes
Mugir ces féroces soldats?
Ils viennent jusque dans vos bras
Egorger vos fils et vos compagnes!
Refrain
Aux armes, citoyens,
Formez vos bataillons,
Marchons, marchons!
Qu'un sang impur
Abreuve nos sillons!
Couplet II
Que veut cette horde d'esclaves
De traîtres, de rois conjurés?
Pour qui ces ignobles entraves
Ces fers dès longtemps préparés? (bis)
Français, pour nous, ah! quel outrage
Quels transports il doit exciter?
C'est nous qu'on ose méditer
De rendre à l'antique esclavage!
Refrain
Couplet III
Quoi ces cohortes étrangères!
Feraient la loi dans nos foyers!
Quoi ! ces phalanges mercenaires
Terrasseraient nos fils guerriers! (bis)
Grand Dieu ! par des mains enchaînées
Nos fronts sous le joug se ploieraient
De vils despotes deviendraient
Les maîtres des destinées.
Refrain
Couplet IV
Tremblez, tyrans et vous perfides
L'opprobre de tous les partis
Tremblez ! vos projets parricides
Vont enfin recevoir leurs prix! (bis)
Tout est soldat pour vous combattre
S'ils tombent, nos jeunes héros
La France en produit de nouveaux,
Contre vous tout prêts à se battre
Refrain
Couplet V
Français, en guerriers magnanimes
Portez ou retenez vos coups!
Épargnez ces tristes victimes
A regret s'armant contre nous (bis)
Mais ces despotes sanguinaires,
Mais ces complices de Bouillé
Tous ces tigres qui, sans pitié
Déchirent le sein de leur mère!
Refrain
Couplet VI
Amour sacré de la Patrie,
Conduis, soutiens nos bras vengeurs
Liberté, Liberté chérie,
Combats avec tes défenseurs! (bis)
Sous nos drapeaux que la victoire
Accoure à tes mâles accents,
Que tes ennemis expirants
Voient ton triomphe et notre gloire!
Refrain
Couplet VII
Nous entrerons dans la carrière
Quand nos aînés n'y seront plus,
Nous y trouverons leur poussière
Et la trace de leurs vertus (bis)
Bien moins jaloux de leur survivre
Que de partager leur cercueil,
Nous aurons le sublime orgueil
De les venger ou de les suivre!
Refrain

English

Verse I
Arise children of our fatherland,
[For] the day of glory has arrived!
Against us, tyranny,
Has raised its bloody flag, (1)
Do you hear in the fields
The howling of these fearsome soldiers?
They are coming into your midst (2)
To slit the throats of your sons and wives!
Chorus
To arms, citizens!
Form your battalions!
March, march!
Let impure blood (of our enemies)
Soak the furrows (of our fields)
Verse II
What does this horde of slaves want,
Of traitors and conspiratorial kings?
For whom these vile chains
These long-prepared irons?
Frenchmen, for us, ah! What outrage
What methods must be taken?
It is us they dare plan
To return to the old slavery!
Chorus
Verse III
What! These foreign cohorts!
They would make laws in our courts!
What! These mercenary phalanxes
Would cut down our warrior sons
Good Lord! By chained hands
Our brow would yield under the yoke
The vile despots would have themselves be
The masters of destiny
Chorus
Verse IV
Tremble, tyrants and traitors
The shame of all good men
Tremble! Your parricidal schemes
Will receive their just reward
Against you we are all soldiers
If they fall, our young heroes
France will bear new ones
Ready to join the fight against you
Chorus
Verse V
Frenchmen, as magnanimous warriors
Bear or hold back your blows
Spare these sad victims
That they regret taking up arms against us
But not these bloody despots
These accomplices of Bouillé
All these tigers who mercilessly
Ripped out their mothers' wombs
Chorus
Verse VI
Sacred patriotic love
Lead [and] support our avenging arms
Liberty, cherished liberty
Fight [back] with your defenders
Under our flags, let victory
Hurry to your manly tone
So that your enemies, in their last breath [before death]
See your triumph and our glory!
Chorus
Verse VII
We shall enter the career (3)
When our elders will no longer be there
There we shall find their ashes [lit. dust]
And the mark of their virtues
[We are] Much less jealous of surviving them
Than of sharing their coffins
[For] We shall have the sublime pride
Of avenging or joining [lit. following] them
Chorus

• *****************************************************************

(1) The sentence (in French) is inverted, the non-literal translation is : "The bloody banner of tyranny is raised against/before us"
(2) Here and in the next line, this is often sung as "nos" ("our") rather than "vos" ("your"); "vos" remains official.
(3) "la carrière" ("the career"), that is, of being in the army.

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National Anthem

La Marcha Real (The Royal March) is the national anthem of Spain. It is one of the few national anthems in the world to have no words.

Spain's national anthem is one of the oldest in Europe and its origins are unknown. Its first mention is in a document dated 1761: the Libro de Ordenanza de los toques militares de la Infantería Española — the Spanish Infantry Book of Military Bugle Calls — by Manuel de Espinosa. The tune was entitled La Marcha Granadera ("March of the Grenadiers"); however, no composer's name was given.

In 1770, King Carlos III declared the Marcha Granadera to be the official "Honour March", thereby according it a place at public and ceremonial events. Because it was always played at public events attended by the royal family, Spaniards soon came to regard the Marcha Granadera as their national anthem and called it the Marcha Real, or "Royal March".

Under the Second Spanish Republic (1931-1939), El Himno de Riego replaced La Marcha Real as the national anthem of Spain. At the conclusion of the Civil War, however, Francisco Franco restored La Marcha Real as the country's national anthem, under its old title of La Marcha Granadera.

The current version was commissioned to Francisco Grau after the approval of the 1978 constitution.

In October 1997 a Royal Decree was promulgated regulating the official use of the Marcha Real as the national anthem of Spain.

Lyrics

Though the Marcha Real has no lyrics nowadays, it did have lyrics in the past. One version was used during Alfonso XIII's reign and another during general Franco's dictatorship, whatever, none of them were ever official.

Version used during Alfonso XIII's reign
Lyrics by Eduardo Marquina.

Gloria, gloria, corona de la Patria,

soberana luz
que es oro en tu Pendón.

Vida, vida, futuro de la Patria,
que en tus ojos es
abierto corazón.

Púrpura y oro: bandera inmortal;
en tus colores, juntas, carne y alma están.

Púrpura y oro: querer y lograr;
Tú eres, bandera, el signo del humano afán.

Gloria, gloria, corona de la Patria,
soberana luz
que es oro en tu Pendón.

Púrpura y oro: bandera inmortal;
en tus colores, juntas, carne y alma están.

English

Glory, glory, crown of the country

sovereign light
your standard is made of gold

Life, life, future of the country,
in your eyes it is
an open heart

Purple and gold: immortal flag;
in your colors, together, flesh and soul are.

Purple and gold: to want and to achieve;
You are, flag, the sign of human effort.

Glory, glory, crown of the country
sovereign light
your standard is made of gold

Purple and gold: immortal flag;
in your colors, together, flesh and soul are.

Version used during general Franco's dictatorship
Lyrics by José María Pemán:

¡Viva España!

Alzad los brazos, hijos
del pueblo español,
que vuelve a resurgir.
Gloria a la Patria que supo seguir,
sobre el azul del mar el caminar del sol.

¡Triunfa España!
Los yunques y las ruedas
cantan al compás
del himno de la fe.

Juntos con ellos cantemos de pie
la vida nueva y fuerte de trabajo y paz.

English

Long live Spain!

Raise your arms, sons and daughters
of the Spanish people
who is remerging again.
Glory to the country which knew how to follow
Over the blue sea the way of the sun.

Triumph Spain!
Anvils and wheels
sing in time to
the hymn of faith.

Standing alongside them we'll sing
the new and strong life of work and peace.

Spain remains copyright of the author airwolf09, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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National Anthem

"The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States. The lyrics were written in 1814 by Francis Scott Key, a 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet, after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland by British ships in Chesapeake Bay during the War of 1812. It became well known as a patriotic song to the tune of a popular English drinking song, "To Anacreon in Heaven." While it was recognized for official use by the United States Navy (1889) and by the White House (1916), it was made the national anthem by a Congressional resolution on March 3, 1931. Although the song has four verses, only the first is commonly sung today.

Lyrics

I.
Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Chorus
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
II.
On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream
Chorus
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
III.
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight and the gloom of the grave
Chorus
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
IV.
Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Bles't with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when1 our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
Chorus
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

United States of America remains copyright of the author airwolf09, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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National Anthem

"Salve, Oh Patria!" ("We Salute You, Our Homeland") is the national anthem of Ecuador. The author of the lyrics, Juan Leon Mera, later served as president of the Ecuadorian Senate. The song was composed by Antonio Neumane. The anthem was officially adopted in 1886.

Lyrics

CORO:
Salve, Oh Patria, mil veces!
¡Oh Patria, Gloria a ti! Gloria a ti!
Ya tu pecho, tu pecho, rebosa
Gozo y paz ya tu pecho rebosa;
Y tu frente, tu frente radiosa
Más que el sol contemplamos lucir,
Y tu frente, tu frente radiosa
Más que el sol contemplamos lucir.
Los primeros los hijos del suelo
Que soberbio, el Pichincha decora
Te aclamaron por siempre señora
Y vertieron su sangre por ti.
Dios miró y aceptó el holocausto
Y esa sangre fue germen fecundo
De otros héroes que atónito el mundo
Vió en tu torno a millares surgir.
a millares surgir,
a millares surgir.

English

CHORUS:
O homeland, we greet you a thousand times!
Glory be to you, O homeland, glory be to you!
Your breast overflows with joy and peace,
And we see your radiant face shining
More brightly than the sun.
The worthy sons of the soil
Which Pichincha on high is adorning,
Always acclaimed you as sovereign lady
And shed their blood for you.
God observed and accepted the sacrifice,
And that blood was the prolific seed
Of other heroes whom the world in astonishment saw
Arising in thousands around you.

Ecuador remains copyright of the author airwolf09, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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