National Anthems.

[Elven Archer]

Originally posted by cassiopeia
.... Well, Waltzing Matilda is about a guy who takes a sheep and then commits suicide. Great national anthem. I think we chose the right one.

My third grade teacher used to sing that to us. I never understood why she taught a bunch of 9 year olds a song about a guy stealing sheep and killing himself.

[cassiopeia]

Originally posted by jerseydevil
Okay - why would you even consider a song about a guy who takes a sheep and then commits suicide as a national anthem? And what does that have to do with Australia?

Oh, we do that all the time. Take a sheep, try and drown ourselves... Lots of fun. Then we go down to the pub and have vegemite sandwiches and drink a can of Foster's.

[Sheeana]

Hmm, replace the vegemite with marmite, and fosters with Lion Red....

[Linaewen]

Once a jolly swagman camped by a Billabong
Under the shade of a Coolabah tree
And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boiled
"Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?"

Down come a jumbuck to drink at the water hole
Up jumped a swagman and grabbed him in glee
And he sang as he stowed him away in his tucker bag
"You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me'".

Up rode the Squatter a riding his thoroughbred
Up rode the Trooper - one, two, three
"Where's that jumbuck you've got in your tucker bag?",
"You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me".

But the swagman he up and jumped in the water hole
Drowning himself by the Coolabah tree,
And his ghost may be heard as it sings in the Billabong,
"Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?"

- A.B. (Banjo) Paterson
*Wipes tears from eyes* I'm in a patriotic mood at the moment. I will post more Aussie songs soon ... I am, you are, we are Australian...

Originally posted by jerseydevil
Okay - why would you even consider a song about a guy who takes a sheep and then commits suicide as a national anthem? And what does that have to do with Australia?

Ok, Waltzing Matilda would be a strange National Anthem, but it's an Aussie thing. Oh, I can post the AFL (football) version...soon...

GO COLLINGWOOD!

[Earniel]

The Belgian anthem: The Brabançonne:

Flemish text:
O dierbaar België, O heilig land der vaad'ren
Onze ziel en ons hart zijn u gewijd.
Aanvaard ons hart en het bloed van onze adren,
Wees ons doel in arbeid en in strijd.
Bloei, o land, in eendracht niet te breken;
Wees immer u zelf en ongeknecht,
Het woord getrouw, dat ge onbevreesd moogt spreken:
Voor Vorst, voor Vrijheid en voor Recht.
Het woord getrouw dat g' onbevreesd moogt spreken.
Voor Vorst, voor Vrijheid en voor Recht,
Voor Vorst, voor Vrijheid en voor Recht.

O Vaderland, o edel land der Belgen,
Zo machtig steeds door moed en werkzaamheid,
De wereld ziet verwonderd uwe telgen,
Aan 't hoofd van kunst, van handel, nijverheid.
De vrijheidszon giet licht op uwe wegen,
En onbevreesd staart gij de toekomst aan.
Gij mint uw Vorst, zijn liefde stroomt u tegen,
Zijn hand geleidt u op de gloriebaan.
Gij mint uw Vorst, zijn liefde stroomt u tegen,
Zijn hand geleidt u op de gloriebaan.
Zijn hand geleidt u op de gloriebaan.

Juicht Belgen, juicht in brede vol' akkoorden
Van Haspengouw tot aan het Vlaamse strand,
Van Noord tot Zuid, langs Maas- en Scheldeboorden,
Juicht, Belgen juicht, door gans het Vaderland.
Een man'lijk volk moet man'lijk kunnen zingen,
Terwijl het hart naar eed'le fierheid streeft.
Nooit zal men ons van onze haard verdringen
Zolang een Belg, 't zij Waal of Vlaming leeft.
Nooit zal men ons van onse haard verdringen
Zolang een Belg, 't zij Waal of Vlaming leeft.
Zolang een Belg, 't zij Waal of Vlaming leeft.

Walonian text:
Ô Belgique! Ô Mère chérie!
A toi nos coeurs, Ã* toi nos bras
A toi notre sang, ô Patrie
Nous le jurons, tous, tu vivras
Tu vivras, toujours grande et belle
Et ton invinsible unité
Aura pour devise immortelle
Le Roi, la Loi la Liberté
Aura pour devise immortelle
Le Roi, la Loi la Liberté
Le Roi, la Loi la Liberté

Translation:
O precious Belgium, O sacred land of our ancestors
Our soul and our heart are consecrated to you
Accept our heart and the blood from our veins
Be our purpose in work and in battle
Flower, o country, unbreakable in unity;
Be forever yourself and unsubjugated,
True to the word that you can speak freely:
For King, for Freedom and for Justice.
True to the word that you can speak freely:
For King, for Freedom and for Justice.
For King, for Freedom and for Justice.

O homecountry, o noble country of Belgians,
So powerful always through courage and activity,
The world watches your offspring in wonder
The head of art, of trade and industry.
The freedomsun pours light on your roads,
And unafraid you face the future.
You love your King, his love flows to you,
His hand guides you on your glorypath.
You love your King, his love flows to you,
His hand guides you on your glorypath.
His hand guides you on your glorypath.

Cheer Belgians, cheer in rich full accords
From Haspengouwen till the Flemish beach,
From North to South, along Maas- and Scheldeborders,
Cheer Belgians cheer, throughout the homecountry.
A manly folk should be able to sing manly,
while the heart reaches for noble proudness.
Never they shall drive us out from our hearths
As long as a Belgian, be he Walonian or Flemish lives.
Never they shall drive us out from our hearths
As long as a Belgian, be he Walonian or Flemish lives.
As long as a Belgian, be he Walonian or Flemish lives.

History:
The first version of the Belgian anthem came into existance in 1830, the year of our independance. It was written by Louis-Alexandre Dechet, better know as Jenneval. He was one of the actors who played in the theater where the revolution which would lead to the independance of Belgium began. Jenneval joined the revolutionary army and died in battle 2 months after the beginning of the revolution.The music was written in september 1830 by François Van Campenhout. In 1860 the song was adapted again by the Prime minister to the version typed above to remove some parts about the ruler of the Netherlands which were perhaps a little too hard.

To fit it all in one post I left out the longer part of the Walonian version. It can be found here for those who wish to read it. The English translation is my own, based on the Flemish version. The entire song is hardly ever sung, usually only the first verse gets sung. I don't think I ever read our entire national anthem until this day. (Yes, yes I'm very ashamed, but I can't help they never taught it to me)

There's also a Flemish anthem (and a Walonian no doubt, I just never heard it) but since they're not national anthems I've left them out. This is already a very long (and probably boring) post.

[Linaewen]

Here's another Aussie song. Sorry that it's not the Anthem- I'm very patriotic now, I told you.


I came from the dream time, from the dusty red soil plains,
I am the ancient heart - the keeper of the flame,
I stood upon the rocky shore, I watched the tall ships come,
For forty thousand years I'd been the first Australian.
We are one but we are many
And from all the lands on earth we come,
we share a dream,
And sing with one voice,
I am, you are, we are Australian.
I came upon the prison ship bound down by iron chains
I cleared the land, endured the lash and waited for the rains.
I'm a settler, I'm a farmer's wife on a dry and barren run
A convict then a free man, I became Australian.
I'm the daughter of a digger who sought the mother lode
The girl became a woman on the long and dusty road
I'm a child of the depression, I saw the good times come
I'm a bushy, I'm a battler, I am Australian.
We are one but we are many
And from all the lands on earth we come,
we share a dream,
And sing with one voice,
I am, you are, we are Australian.
I'm a teller of stories, I'm a singer of songs
I am Albert Namatjira, and I paint the ghostly gums
I am Clancy on his horse, I'm Ned Kelly on the run
I'm the one who waltzed Matilda, I am Australian.
I'm the hot wind from the desert, I'm the black soil of the plains
I'm the mountains and the valleys, I'm the drought and flooding rains
I am the rock, I am the sky, the rivers when they run
The spirit of this great land, I am Australian.
We are one but we are many
And from all the lands on earth we come,
we share a dream,
And sing with one voice,
I am, you are, we are Australian.

Ahhhh.....lovely.

[cassiopeia]

That's a good song, Lin. I think you can buy it on CD somewhere.
AND DON'T PUT UP THE STUPID COLLINGWOOD SONG!!!

It may be an anthem for you, but not for me!

[Baby-K]

Eärniel - your anthem reminds me of our own (old one) in a way as well as the Old Transvaal anthem. I think it's really beautiful. If I can find the lyrics somewhere I'll post the Old Transvaal one & you can have a look. (I have tried posting an audio clip of our anthem, but I keep going offline halfway through).

[Earniel]

Do post it! It's sounds interesting.

[Coney]

Let's have a lil' Rule Brittania ......... Much more fun to sing than that boring God Save the Queen


James Thomson, 1740 (1700-1748)

When Britain first— at Heaven's command
Arose— from out the azure main
Arose, arose, arose from out the azure main
This was the charter,
The charter of the land,
And guardian angels sung this strain:

Refrain:
Rule Britannia, Britannia rule the waves,
Britons never never never shall be slaves.

The nations, not— so blest as thee,
Must, in their turns, to tyrants fall:
Must in, must in, must in their turns to tyrants fall.
While thou shalt flourish,
Shalt flourish great and free,
The dread and envy of them all.
Refrain:

Still more majestic shalt thou rise,
More dreadful, from each foreign stroke:
More dreadful, dreadful, dreadful from each foreign stroke.
As the loud blast,
The blast that tears the skies,
Serves but to root thy native oak.
Refrain:

Thee haughty tyrants ne'er shall tame:
All their attempts to bend thee down,
All their, all their, all their attempts to bend thee down
Will but arouse thy,
Arouse thy generous flame;
But work their woe, and thy renown.
Refrain:

To thee belongs the rural reign;
Thy cities— shall with commerce shine:
Thy cities, cities, cities shall with commerce shine
All thine shall be the,
Shall be the subject main,
And every shore it circles thine.
Refrain:

The Muses, still with freedom found,
Shall to— thy happy coast repair:
Shall to, shall to, shall to thy happy coast repair
Blest isle! with matchless,
With matchless beauty crown'd,
And manly hearts to guard the fair.
Refrain:

And a lil' histoy:

Britannia was the original name given by the Romans to the province that comprised what is now England and Wales (neighboring Ireland was known as Hibernia, Scotland was Caledonia, Germany was Germania, Brittany was Armorica and France was just plain Gaul). After the Romans left, the name gradually fell into disuse, but later, in the days of the Empire, it came to represent the spirit of Britain, herself.
Since 1672, Britannia has been anthropomorphised into a woman wearing a helmet, and carrying a shield and trident. It is a symbol that blends the concepts of empire, militarism and economics.

The poem "Rule Britannia" by James Thomson (1700-48) was put to music by Thomas Augustine Arne (around 1740) and is sung as an unofficial national anthem.

[GrayMouser]

I dunno... I lost a lot of respect for Australians when they chose some bland generic anthem type song over Waltzing Matilda.

And as far as I remember from my childhood, the Canadian Anthem ended

" Dum da-da-da DAAH... It's Hockey Night in Canada with Foster Hewitt!!!"

The Star-Spangled Banner is a good one, if impossible to sing, but there's only one truly musically great national anthem


"Allons enfants de la patrie,
Le jour de gloire est arrivé !
Contre nous de la tyrannie
L'etendard sanglant est levé (bis)"

Though as an old Commie, I still get a tear from the movie "Reds" when I see the storming of the Winter Palace and hear the "Internationale":

"Arise, ye workers from your slumber
Arise ye prisoners of want"

Though most of the tears come from knowing the workers are about to get it in the neck again.

And let's not forget "The Red Flag", sung to the "Tannenbaum" ("O Christmas Tree")


"The people's flag is deepest red,
It shrouded oft our martyred dead,
And ere their limbs grew stiff and cold,
Their hearts blood dyed its every fold.

Then raise the scarlet standard high. (chorus)
Within its shade we'll live and die,
Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer,
We'll keep the red flag flying here. "

Or, as my Uncle Pete used to sing

"The working class can kiss my a**
I've got a foreman's job at last"

Ahem

Two great American quasi-anthems

"This Land is Your Land" ; WoodyGuthrie

"The Battle Hymn of the Republic"

"Mine eyes have seen the glory
Of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage
Where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning
Of His terrible swift sword;
His truth is marching on.

Chorus
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on."

And especially the last verse


"In the beauty of the lilies
Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom
That transfigures you and me;
As He died to make men holy,
Let us die to make men free;
While God is marching on."

[The Ben]

Originally posted by Sheeana
Inspired by my irreverent sig

• [God of nations, Smell my Feet,
  In the bonds of Coronation Street.
  Hear our voices, "tweet! tweet! tweeeet!"
  God defend our Toilet Seat!]

I thought it would be interesting to post the lyrics of the National Anthem for our respective countries. It would also be good if you can explain what it means (both translation, and explanation.) Anyway, without further waffling, here's the New Zealand anthem:

• English Version
  
  God of nations at Thy feet,
  In the bonds of love we meet,
  Hear our voices, we entreat,
  God defend our free land.
  Guard Pacific's triple star,
  From the shafts of strife and war,
  Make her praises heard afar,
  God defend New Zealand.
  
  Men of ev'ry creed and race,
  Gather here before Thy face,
  Asking Thee to bless this place,
  God defend our free land.
  From dissension, envy, hate,
  And corruption guard our State,
  Make our country good and great,
  God defend New Zealand.
  
  Peace, not war, shall be our boast
  But, should foes assail our coast,
  Make us then a mighty host,
  God defend our free land.
  Lord of battles, in Thy might,
  Put our enemies to flight,
  Let our cause be just and right,
  God defend New Zealand.
  
  Let our love for Thee increase,
  May Thy blessings never cease,
  Give us plenty, give us peace,
  God defend our free land.
  From dishonour and from shame,
  Guard our country's spotless name,
  Crown her with immortal fame,
  God defend New Zealand.
  
  May our mountains ever be,
  Freedom's ramparts on the sea,
  Make us faithful unto thee,
  God defend our free land.
  Guide her in the nations' van,
  Preaching love and truth to man,
  Working out Thy Glorious plan,
  God defend New Zealand.
  
  
  Maori version
  
  E Ihowä Atua,
  O ngä iwi mätou rä
  Äta whakarongona;
  Me aroha noa
  Kia hua ko te pai;
  Kia tau tö atawhai;
  Manaakitia mai
  Aotearoa
  
  Öna mano tängata
  Kiri whero, kiri mä,
  Iwi Mäori Päkehä,
  Rüpeke katoa,
  Nei ka tono ko ngä hë
  Mäu e whakaahu kë,
  Kia ora märire
  Aotearoa
  
  Töna mana kia tü!
  Töna kaha kia ü;
  Töna rongo hei pakü
  Ki te ao katoa
  Aua rawa ngä whawhai
  Ngä tutü a tata mai;
  Kia tupu nui ai
  Aotearoa
  
  Waiho tona takiwä
  Ko te ao märama;
  Kia whiti töna rä
  Taiäwhio noa.
  Ko te hae me te ngangau
  Meinga kia kore kau;
  Waiho i te rongo mau
  Aotearoa
  
  Töna pai me toitü
  Tika rawa, pono pü;
  Töna noho, tana tü;
  Iwi nö Ihowä.
  Kaua möna whakamä;
  Kia hau te ingoa;
  Kia tü hei tauira;
  Aotearoa

You can apparently listen to it here, but I haven't tried, so I don't vouch for it.

Further information:
God Defend New Zealand is one of the national anthems of New Zealand, together with God Save the Queen. Although they both have equal status, only God Defend New Zealand is used, and most New Zealanders would be unaware that the country has two national anthems. The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage has responsibility for the national anthems.

History

The words for God Defend New Zealand were written as a poem in the 1870s by Thomas Bracken. A competition to compose music for the poem was held in 1876, with a prize of ten guineas. The winner of the competition was John Joseph Woods, who had composed the melody in a single sitting the evening after finding out about the competition.

The song became increasingly popular during the 19th century and early 20th century, and in 1940, the New Zealand government bought the copyright and made it New Zealand's national hymn in time for the centennial celebrations. In 1976, a petition was presented to parliament asking for it to be made the national anthem, and with the permission of Queen Elizabeth II, it became the country's second national anthem on November 21, 1977.

An alternative official arrangement for massed singing by Maxwell Fernie was announced by the Minister of Internal Affairs on June 1, 1978. ~ http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_Defend_New_Zealand

I should add that generally only the first couple of verses in English and Maori are sung, and if it's a male sport like rugby, then the Haka can sometimes replace/supplement the National Anthem.

Edit: if anyone's interested in a translation of the maori version, I'll post it at a later stage.

Gee, how long did it take you to type all of this?

[Sheeana]

It's called Copy & Paste you little spammer. Now if you haven't got anything useful to contribute, would you kindly march yourself off a cliff or something?

[Ruinel]

Originally posted by Jonathan
fjällhöga
...glädjerika ..

O.O

Ok ...pardon my ignorance and no offense intended here, but I have got to know how the heck are these 2 words pronounced! I didn't know this would be humanly possible. EEK!

[sun-star]

Originally posted by Coney
Let's have a lil' Rule Brittania ......... Much more fun to sing than that boring God Save the Queen

Rule Britannia is great! And let's not forget:

Land of Hope and Glory, Mother of the Free,
How shall we extol thee, who are born of thee?
Wider still and wider shall thy bounds be set;
God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet.
God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet.

The "Land of Hope and Glory" is the outcome of collaboration between the composer, Edward William Elgar (1857-1934) and Arthur C. Benson (1862-1925).
Elgar had already earned a reputation as a composer with the two Pomp and Circumstance Marches (1901). The first of these appealed so much to the successor of Queen Victoria, Edward VII, that Elgar was commissioned to compose a work for the coronation of the king, later to be known as the "Coronation Ode". He worked in close collaboration with Arthur C Benson who provided words for the music. It was also suggested that a section of the first Pomp and Circumstance March should also have words and become the climax of the "Coronation Ode". The result is the song "Land of Hope and Glory". The Ode was completed in April 1902 and earned Elgar a knighthood in 1904. The Ode was also performed at the coronation of King George V in 1911.

*goes off singing* Britons never never never shall be slaves!

[Coney]

Originally posted by sun-star
Rule Britannia is great! And let's not forget:

Land of Hope and Glory, Mother of the Free,
How shall we extol thee, who are born of thee?
Wider still and wider shall thy bounds be set;
God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet.
God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet.

*drapes his union flag over his shoulders and patiently waits for this years Last Night of the Proms*

Brilliant song .......... especially when 30,000 football fans spontaneously burst into it at the match

Oh and to keep me dads side of the family happy -

Irish (caution, site contains the most godsawful musical interpretation of the tune ever created)

[Ruinel]

How about state songs?
The Texas state song, "Texas, Our Texas" by William J. Marsh and Gladys Yoakum Wright, is as follows:

Texas, our Texas! All hail the mighty State!
Texas, our Texas! So wonderful so great!
Boldest and grandest, Withstanding ev'ry test;
O Empire wide and glorious, You stand supremely blest.
Refrain:
God bless you Texas! And keep you brave and strong,
That you may grow in power and worth,
Thro'out the ages long.

Texas, O Texas! Your freeborn single star,
Sends out its radiance to nations near and far.
Emblem of freedom! It sets our hearts aglow,
With thoughts of San Jacinto and glorious Alamo.

Refrain

Texas, dear Texas! From tyrant grip now free,
Shines forth in splendor your star of destiny!
Mother of heroes! We come your children true,
Proclaiming our allegiance, our faith, our love for you.

Refrain

[jerseydevil]

Ruinel - You go that idea because I posted the New Jersey state song on the Entmoot Mud Wrestling page.

I'm From New Jersey
Written & Music by Red Mascara
Verse (Ad lib)

I know of a state that's a perfect playland with white sandy beaches by the sea;
With fun-filled mountains, lakes and parks, and folks with hospitality;
With historic towns where battles were fought, and presidents have made their home;
It's called New Jersey, and I toast and tout it wherever I may roam. 'Cause . . .

First Chorus
I'M FROM NEW JERSEY and I'm proud about it, I love the Garden State.
I'M FROM NEW JERSEY and I want to shout it, I think it's simply great.
All of the other states throughout the nation may mean a lot to some;
But I wouldn't want another, Jersey is like no other, I'm glad that's where I'm from.

Second Chorus
If you want glamour, try Atlantic City or Wildwood by the sea;
Then there is Trenton, Princeton, and Fort Monmouth, they all made history.
Each little town has got that certain something, from High Point to Cape May;
And some place like Mantoloking, Phillipsburg, or Hoboken will steal your heart away.

New Jersey's Unofficial State Song "I'm From New Jersey," passed both Legislative Houses in 1972. However it was not signed into law by the Governor. It remains popular statewide and on the Web.

There are several NJ state songs since we don't really have an official one.

Other songs in the running....

New Jersey My Home

You’re the cry of revolution,
You’re the singing of a children’s choir.
You’re the voice of Thomas Edison
And all that he inspired.
You’re Leaves of Grass and Salem’s oak,
With it’s green, majestic dome.
You’re a glorious page of history,
New Jersey, my home.

In New Jersey

There's a place where people go that's beautiful when capped with snow. In summer ocean breezes blow around.
Where autumn leaves dance with grace, in springtime gardens set the pace.
The beauty of our state is all around.

In New Jersey there are mountains
In New Jersey, Pine Barren trees.
In New Jersey, there is diversity.
New Jersey land of history.

State song has yet to make legislative billboard:
Lawmakers take note but don't stump to legalize 40-year-old ditty


I like this song, I know it's not a national anthem - it's really about the old Palisades Amusement Park in Palisades New Jersey....

Palisades Park....listen

Last night I took a walk after dark
A swingin' place called Palisades Park
To have some fun and see what I could see
That's where the girls are

I took a ride on the shoot-the-chute
That girl I sat beside was awful cute
And after awhile she was holdin' hands with me

My heart was flyin' up like a rocket ship
Down like a roller coaster
Back up like a loop-the-loop
And around like a merry-go-round

We ate and ate at a hot dog stand
We danced around to a rockin' band
And when I could, I gave that girl a hug
In the tunnel of love

You'll never know how great a kiss can feel
When you stop at the top of a Ferris wheel
When I fell in love down at Palisades Park

We ate and ate at a hot dog stand
We danced around to a rockin' band
And when I could, I gave that girl a hug
In the tunnel of love

You'll never know how great a kiss can feel
When you stop at the top of a Ferris wheel
When I fell in love down at Palisades Park

Down at Palisades Park
You know it's Palisades Park
Down at Palisades Park

It was a famous song.

[Ruinel]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by jerseydevil
[B]Ruinel - You go that idea because I posted the New Jersey state song on the Entmoot Mud Wrestling page.
Yes, I did. Whatcha gonna do about it.

[Baby-K]

Eärniel - here are the Transvaal & Free State Anthems that I spoke about

Transvaal

1. Kent gij dat volk vol heldenmoed
En toch zo lang geknecht?
Het heeft geofferd goed en bloed
Voor vrijheid en voor recht.
Komt, burgers! laat de vlaggen wapp'ren,
Ons lijden is voorbij;
Roemt in de zege onzer dapp'ren:
Dat vrije volk zijn wij!
Dat vrije volk,
Dat vrije volk,
Dat vrije, vrije volk zijn wij!

2. Kent gij dat land, zo schaars bezocht
En toch zo heerlijk schoon;
Waar de natuur haar wond'ren wrocht,
En kwistig stelt ten toon?
Transvalers! laat ons feestlied schallen!
Daar waar ons volk hield stand,
Waar onze vreugdeschoten knallen,
Daar is ons vaderland!
Dat heerlijk land,
Dat heerlijk land,
Dat is, dat is ons vaderland!

3. Kent gij de Staat, nog maar een kind
In's werelds Staten rij,
Maar toch door't machtig Brits bewind
Weleer verklaard voor vrij?
Transvalers! edel was uw streven,
En pijnlijk onze smaad,
Maar God de uitkomst heeft gegeven,
Zij lof voor d'eigen Staat!
Looft onze God!
Looft onze God!
Looft onze God voor land en Staat!

Free State
1. Heft, Burgers, 't lied der vrijheid aan
En zingt ons eigen volksbestaan!
Van vreemde banden vrij,
Bekleedt ons klein gemenebest,
Op orde, wet en recht gevest,
Rang in der Staten rij.

2. Al heeft ons land een klein begin,
Wij gaan met moed de toekomst in,
Het oog op God gericht,
Die niet beschaamt wie op Hem bouwt,
Op Hem als op een burcht vertrouwt,
Die voor geen stormen zwicht.

3. Zie in gena' en liefde neer
Op onze President, o Heer!
Wees Gij zijn toeverlaat!
De taak, die op zijn schouders rust,
Vervulle hij met trouw en lust
Tot heil van volk en staat!

4. Bescherm, o God, de Raad van't land,
Geleid hem aan Uw vaderhand,
Verlicht hem van omhoog,
Opdat zijn werk geheiligd zij
En vaderland en burgerij
Ten zegen strekken moog'!

5. Heil, driewerf heil de dierb're Staat,
het Volk, de President, de Raad!
Ja, bloei' naar ons gezang
De Vrijstaat en zijn burgerij,
In deugden groot, van smetten vrij,
Nog tal van eeuwen lang!

I was just wondering - do all schools also have their 'school song / school anthem'? In SA all our schools have them, so I was just wondering if the other countries also do (I have never seen it mentioned, so it puzzled me a bit). We used to have to sing it during assembly & at sports meetings etc. We even had to do a section in std 6 history about the history of our school & the symbolism of the school emblem, colours, motto and song.