God Save the Queen

: This article is on the British patriotic anthem. For the Sex Pistols song, see God Save the Queen (Sex Pistols song).

Lyrics

Since God Save the Queen is the Royal Anthem of Canada, the first verse has been translated into French for use in that country, as shown below. As sung in English in Canada, God Save the Queen has an additional English verse, sung after the first or second verse, which is also given below. In general use in Canada, however, only the first verse is sung. In New Zealand, the second verse, which proved to be more militaristic, was replaced with the fourth verse, otherwise known as a "Commonwealth verse". However, that verse is primarily used only when the anthem is played past the first verse.

Related Topics:
Canada - French - New Zealand

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1

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:God save our gracious Queen,

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:Long live our noble Queen,

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:God save the Queen:

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:Send her victorious,

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:Happy and glorious,

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:Long to reign over us:

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:God save the Queen.

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2

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:O Lord, our God, arise,

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:Scatter her enemies,

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:And make them fall.

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:Confound their politics,

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:Frustrate their knavish tricks,

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:On thee our hopes we fix:

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:God save the Queen.

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3

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:Thy choicest gifts in store,

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:On her be pleased to pour;

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:Long may she reign:

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:May she defend our laws,

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:And ever give us cause

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:To sing with heart and voice

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:God save the Queen 1.

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Although in the original lyrics, verses 4-6 are now omitted entirely - partly to reduce the length of the anthem and partly due to the 'rebellious Scots to crush' line in verse six:

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4

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:Not in this land alone,

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:But be God's mercies known,

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:From shore to shore!

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:Lord make the nations see,

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:That men should brothers be,

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:And form one family,

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:The wide world ov'er.

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5

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:From every latent foe,

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:From the assassins blow,

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:God save the Queen!

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:O'er her thine arm extend,

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:For Britain's sake defend,

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:Our mother, prince, and friend,

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:God save the Queen!

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6

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:Lord grant that Marshal Wade

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:May by thy mighty aid

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:Victory bring.

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:May he sedition hush,

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:And like a torrent rush,

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:Rebellious Scots to crush.

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:God save the Queen!

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Verse 6 was a reaction to Sir John Cope's defeat by the Jacobites at the Battle of Prestonpans with a prayer for the success of Wade's army then assembling at Newcastle.

Related Topics:
John Cope - Jacobites - Battle of Prestonpans - Newcastle

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The Jacobite forces bypassed his force and reached Derby, but then retreated and when their garrison at Carlisle surrendered to a second government army led by King George's son the Duke of Cumberland another verse was added, according to Fitzroy Maclean {{fn|1}}: The verse he quotes appears to have a line missing.

Related Topics:
Derby - Carlisle - Duke of Cumberland

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7

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:George is magnanimous,

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:Subjects unanimous;

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::Peace to us bring:

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:His fame is glorious,

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:Reign meritorious,

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::God save the King!

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In the 19th Century, there was some lively debate about the national anthem. Even then, verse two was considered to be slightly offensive. Notably, the question arose over the phrase "scatter her (or his) enemies". Some thought it placed better emphasis on the respective power of Parliament and the Crown to change "her" to "our"; others pointed out that the theology was somewhat dubious and substituted "thine" instead. In 1836, William Edward Hickson wrote four alternative verses:

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1

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:God bless our native land!

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:May heaven's protecting hand

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:Still guard our shore:

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:May peace her power extend,

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:Foe be transformed to friend,

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:And Britain's rights depend

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:On war no more.

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2

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:O Lord, our monarch bless

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:With strength and righteousness:

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:Long may she reign:

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:Her heart inspire and move

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:With wisdom from above;

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:And in a nation's love

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:Her throne maintain

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3

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:May just and righteous laws

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:Uphold the public cause,

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:And bless our isle:

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:Home of the brave and free,

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:Thou land of liberty,

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:We pray that still on thee

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:Kind heaven may smile.

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4

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:Nor on this land alone,

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:But be God's mercies known

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:From shore to shore:

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:Lord make the nations see

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:That men should brothers be,

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:And form one family

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:The wide world o'er

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The first, third, and fourth of these verses are appended to the National Anthem in the English Hymnal. However, only the fourth seems to get even the rarest airing nowadays, often with the first word erroneously changed to "not". Charles T. Brooks, in 1833, translated a German Lutheran hymn also starting with the words "God bless our native land." This hymn inspired Rev. Samuel F. Smith to write the words to the American patriotic song My Country, 'Tis of Thee (also known as America), sung to the same tune, in 1832.

Related Topics:
English Hymnal - 1833 - Lutheran - Hymn - Samuel F. Smith - My Country, 'Tis of Thee

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1

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:God bless our native land!

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:Firm may she ever stand

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:Thro' storm and night!

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:When the wild tempests rave,

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:Ruler of wind and wave

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:Do Thou our country save

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:By Thy great might.

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2

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:For her our prayer shall rise

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:To God above the skies;

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:On Him we wait.

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:Thou who art ever nigh,

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:Guarding with watchful eye,

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:To Thee aloud we cry,

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:God save the State!

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To this hymn is often added the fourth of Hickson's verses.

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First verse in French, as sung in Canada

:Dieu protège la reine

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:De sa main souveraine!

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:Vive la reine!

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:Qu'un règne glorieux,

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:Long et victorieux

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:Rende son peuple heureux.

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:Vive la reine!

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Additional verse sung in Canada

:Our loved Dominion bless

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:With peace and happiness

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:From shore to shore;

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:And let our Empire be

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:Loyal, united, free

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:True to herself and Thee

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:God save the Queen{{footnote|1}}.

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Official Peace Version

Although known as the 'official peace version, 1919', these less militaristic verses are not the official national anthem. They are found in some hymn books.

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1

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:God save our gracious Queen

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:Long live our noble Queen

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:God save the Queen!

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:Send her victorious

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:Happy and glorious

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:Long to reign over us

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:God save the Queen!

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2

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:One realm of races four

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:Blest more and ever more

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:God save our land!

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:Home of the brave and free

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:Set in the silver sea

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:True nurse of chivalry

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:God save our land!

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3

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:Of many a race and birth

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:From utmost ends of earth

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:God save us all!

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:Bid strife and hatred cease

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:Bid hope and joy increase

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:Spread universal peace

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:God save us all!

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