God Save the Queen

God Save the Queen (Heaven forbid the Queen) is the national anthem of the United Kingdom and its colonies, Norfolk and one of the two national anthems of New Zealand and the Cayman Islands (since 1977). The Royal anthem of the British Royal family and the Royal anthem of Canada (since 1 July 1980), Australia (since 19 april 1984), Gibraltar, the Isle of Man, Jamaica, Tuvalu and Antigua and Barbuda. If the British have a King, the song God Save the King (heaven forbid the King).

There is no General approved version of the song, and it is also never officially designated as national anthem by the UK Parliament or by the King. Generally only one verse Sung, sometimes two.

Content [hide] 1 History English text 2 3 Dutch translation 4 Other folk songs with the same melody 5 Extra version 6 Trivia 7 external links History[Edit] Generally it is thought that the melody as they now exist, was composed by Dr. Henry Carey, although many parts even though occurred in earlier versions. It is believed that the first public performance of the song was done in 1740 by Carey at a dinner in honor of Admiral Edward Vernon that the Spanish harbour of Porto Bello had taken (then in New Granada, now Colombia, in later in Panama).

Traditionally, the first performance dated to 1745, when the song was sung in support of George II after the initial successes of the Jacobietische candidate for the British Throne, Bonnie Prince Charlie, who had a widespread Scottish supporters. This also led to the addition of the last verse (see below), in which anti-Scottish feelings are expressed. This verse is sung nowadays hardly (to at all).

English text[Edit]

Text and music

Elizabeth II The bold text is most commonly Sung. It goes without saying that the words Queen, she, her can be replaced by King, he, him, his.

God save our gracious Queen, Long live our noble Queen, God save the Queen: Send her victorious, Happy and glorious, Long to reign over us: God save the Queen.

O Lord, our God, arise, Scatter her enemies,[1] And make them fall: Confound their politics, Frustrate their knavish tricks, On tea our hopes we fix: God save us all.

Thy choicest gifts in store, On her be pleased to pour; Long may she reign: May she defend our laws, And ever give us cause To sing with heart and voice God save the Queen.

Not in this land alone, But be God's mercies known, From shore to shore! Lord make the nations see, That men should brothers be, And form one family, The wide world over.

From every latent foe, From the assassins blow, God save the Queen! O'er her thine arm extend, For Britain's sake defend, Our mother, prince, and friend, God save the Queen!

Lord grant that Marshall Wade May by thy mighty aid Victory bring. May he sedition hush, And like a torrent rush, Rebellious Scots to crush. God save the Queen!

Dutch translation[Edit] Heaven forbid our benevolent Queen, Long live our noble Queen, Heaven forbid the Queen: Send her victorious, Happy and glorious, To long to reign over us: Heaven forbid the Queen.

Oh Lord our God, arise, [1] Verstrooi her enemies, And bring them to trap: Don't confuse their politics, Frustrate their villainous zones, On you we draw our hope: God beware us all.

May the choicest gifts that Ye have in store[2] Be strewn about her; Long may they prevail: May they protect our laws, And always give us reason To sing with heart and voice: Heaven forbid the Queen!

Not only in this country, But let God's grace are known From coast to coast! Lord let the Nations see, Men and brethren, that should be And one family forms, About the wide world.

For every latent foe, and every assassination attempt, Beware God the Queen! Stretch your arm out into her, Protect, for the sake of Kingdom, Our mother, Prince and friend, Heaven forbid the Queen!

Lord, grant that Marshal Wade With your mighty help The victory will bring. May he sedition hush, And if a whirlwind, Rebellious Scots pulverize. Heaven forbid the Queen!

Other folk songs with the same melody[Edit] In past and present there are several folk songs with the same melody (been):

Present Liechtenstein Oben am jungen Rhein : Norway's Royal anthem : Kongesangen Past German Empire from 1872 to 1922: Heil dir im Siegerkranz 1805 to Sweden by 1893: Bevare Gud vår Kung (Royal anthem) 1850 's to Switzerland 1961: Rufst du, mein Fatherland Extra version[Edit] In Canada there was an extra version of God save the Queen:

English text: Our loved Dominion bless With peace and happiness From shore to shore; And let our Empire be Loyal, united, free True to herself and Tea God save the Queen. French text:

Dieu protège la reine De sa main souveraine! Vive la reine! Qu'un règne glorieux, Long et victorieux; Rende son peuple heureux Vive la reine! Trivia[Edit] In 1815 was made a Dutch translation: ' O God Save Our Frost '. Other famous, but unofficial folk songs-for England, not the United Kingdom-are 'Land of Hope and Glory', 'Rule, Britannia!' and 'Jerusalem', all Sung annually during the Last Night of the Proms. "God Save the Queen"is also the title of a song by the Sex Pistols, intended as an indictment of those in power. The English rock band Queen has released a rock version of this song, which is not sung, but only the melody is played. Beethoven composed "Variations on God save the King '.