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Hello everyone,

What are the official, correct lyrics for the British National Anthem.

So far, in my research on this matter, I have found out the following:


This one has only two verses:
http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/Symbo ... nthem.aspx

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.

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.


Then there is this one, which has three:
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/top ... -the-Queen

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,
And make them fall:
Confound their politics,
Frustrate their knavish tricks,
On Thee our hopes we fix:
God save us all.

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



And then, there is this one which has four:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... yrics.html


1. 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

2. O Lord our God arise
Scatter her enemies
And make them fall
Confound their politics
Frustrate their knavish tricks
On Thee our hopes we fix
God save us all

3. 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

4. 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


So which one is the most official and correct one?

Thanks,
atkuzmanov

None of them.

Casa wrote:None of them.

Thanks for the reply @Casa, but I am a bit confused now.

If it's none of the above, which one is it then?

atkuzmanov wrote:

Casa wrote:None of them.

Thanks for the reply @Casa, but I am a bit confused now.

If it's none of the above, which one is it then?

I should have clarified that on official occasions only the following is sung:
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.

Casa wrote:

atkuzmanov wrote:

Casa wrote:None of them.

Thanks for the reply @Casa, but I am a bit confused now.

If it's none of the above, which one is it then?

I should have clarified that on official occasions only the following is sung:
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.

I see, thanks for clarifying that and for being so helpful!

You're welcome. Actually the 3 verse version you've posted is considered the 'standard' one.

Casa wrote:You're welcome. Actually the 3 verse version you've posted is considered the 'standard' one.

Thanks, for letting me know.

How did you find out?

I've been singing it since primary school. Going way back, it was played in the cinema at the end of the film and cinema-goers were expected to stand to attention until it finished.
The longer version with the full 3 verses is sometimes sung by choirs at big events...the Olympics for example. I very much doubt whether many British born people would be able to tell you the words to the second and third verses!

Too much emphasis on praying queen than praying entire country and its community . For information as to what level the queen has influence on policies/guidelines especially relating to immigration??

Rather than attempt to explain how the British Monarchy works, if you're interested, read through this link.
http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/Queen ... ament.aspx

Please don't let this thread, which has been on a happy level so far, slip into a political or anti British Monarchy discussion.

Casa wrote:Rather than attempt to explain how the British Monarchy works, if you're interested, read through this link.
http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/Queen ... ament.aspx

Please don't let this thread, which has been on a happy level so far, slip into a political or anti British Monarchy discussion.

Your assumption is entirely incorrect as after looking on the repeated words about queen I was amazed. Don't let your assumption be processed so fast. The question isn't relating to politics or anti British rather a simple question.

Which is why I've posted the link as the simplest way to answer your question and give you the information you're looking for. I made no assumption or directed any criticism towards you. I posted a general request before others jump in with their views on the Queen's influence on immigration decisions and whether we should or should not pray for her.

Casa wrote:I've been singing it since primary school. Going way back, it was played in the cinema at the end of the film and cinema-goers were expected to stand to attention until it finished.
The longer version with the full 3 verses is sometimes sung by choirs at big events...the Olympics for example. I very much doubt whether many British born people would be able to tell you the words to the second and third verses!

Used to be played when BBC TV went off too - 10:30 or so when I was kid!

I also remember BBC2 starting broadcasting - that used to go off at 9:30 some nights.....

Terrible times - we used to have to talk to each other or read books, imagine that....

My last post on this thread without being political rather as a learner and definitely will refer to my library the historical section that why anthem not use the name of country and its community which nearly all countries do, like Russia too:

Russian anthem:
Russia-our sacred state,
Russia-our beloved country.
A mighty will, a great glory
Are yours forever for all time!

Chorus:
Be glorious, our free Fatherland,
Ancient union of brotherly peoples,
Ancestor given wisdom of the people!
Be glorious, country! We are proud of you!

From the southern seas to the polar region
Lie our forests and our fields.
You are one in the world! You are one of a kind,
Native land protected by God!

Universal soldier wrote:My last post on this thread without being political rather as a learner and definitely will refer to my library the historical section that why anthem not use the name of country and its community which nearly all countries do, like Russia too:

Russian anthem:
Russia-our sacred state,
Russia-our beloved country.
A mighty will, a great glory
Are yours forever for all time!

Chorus:
Be glorious, our free Fatherland,
Ancient union of brotherly peoples,
Ancestor given wisdom of the people!
Be glorious, country! We are proud of you!

From the southern seas to the polar region
Lie our forests and our fields.
You are one in the world! You are one of a kind,
Native land protected by God!

It's the same tune as the old Soviet one now isn't it?

Wanderer wrote:

Casa wrote:I've been singing it since primary school. Going way back, it was played in the cinema at the end of the film and cinema-goers were expected to stand to attention until it finished.
The longer version with the full 3 verses is sometimes sung by choirs at big events...the Olympics for example. I very much doubt whether many British born people would be able to tell you the words to the second and third verses!

Used to be played when BBC TV went off too - 10:30 or so when I was kid!

I also remember BBC2 starting broadcasting - that used to go off at 9:30 some nights.....

Terrible times - we used to have to talk to each other or read books, imagine that....

...or we all sat looking at the wireless (radio)!

Wanderer wrote:

Universal soldier wrote:My last post on this thread without being political rather as a learner and definitely will refer to my library the historical section that why anthem not use the name of country and its community which nearly all countries do, like Russia too:

Russian anthem:
Russia-our sacred state,
Russia-our beloved country.
A mighty will, a great glory
Are yours forever for all time!

Chorus:
Be glorious, our free Fatherland,
Ancient union of brotherly peoples,
Ancestor given wisdom of the people!
Be glorious, country! We are proud of you!

From the southern seas to the polar region
Lie our forests and our fields.
You are one in the world! You are one of a kind,
Native land protected by God!

It's the same tune as the old Soviet one now isn't it?

Didn't the old Soviets used to say "Mother Russia" instead

Siraj ud-Daulah wrote:

Wanderer wrote:

Universal soldier wrote:My last post on this thread without being political rather as a learner and definitely will refer to my library the historical section that why anthem not use the name of country and its community which nearly all countries do, like Russia too:

Russian anthem:
Russia-our sacred state,
Russia-our beloved country.
A mighty will, a great glory
Are yours forever for all time!

Chorus:
Be glorious, our free Fatherland,
Ancient union of brotherly peoples,
Ancestor given wisdom of the people!
Be glorious, country! We are proud of you!

From the southern seas to the polar region
Lie our forests and our fields.
You are one in the world! You are one of a kind,
Native land protected by God!

It's the same tune as the old Soviet one now isn't it?

Didn't the old Soviets used to say "Mother Russia" instead

In Anthem line is 'Славься, Отечество наше свободное' - though mostly people do refer to Russia as 'Rodina' oft translated at 'Motherland' but I think the word comes from the Russian (reflexive) verb 'to be born' - 'rodivshiysya' - so I guess Rodina is more accurately translated as 'birthplace', or 'homeland' - bit like 'Heimat' in German?

I love stuff like this - visas are boring!

atkuzmanov wrote:Hello everyone,

What are the official, correct lyrics for the British National Anthem.

So far, in my research on this matter, I have found out the following:

...

So which one is the most official and correct one?

Thanks,
atkuzmanov

In relation to naturalisation, this is the version used at a recent citizenship ceremony at Hampshire county council:

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.

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.

I had my ceremony yesterday and the lyrics which I was given were the same ones as the ones @noajthan posted.

Thank you all for all the help throughout the process!

I could give a long speech about why the anthem focuses so much on the Queen, but I will desist. Similar questions have been asked in other Commonwealth realms as well and others more learned than me (and based in Canada) have written on this topic.

This would be a good overview of why the Queen is central to the Canadian (and British) system of governance

https://lagassep.wordpress.com/2013/07/ ... zabeth-ii/

and why the oath of allegiance is to the Queen.

https://lagassep.wordpress.com/2013/09/ ... in-canada/

For those who want to delve into the topic in greater depth, look for "The King's two bodies" by Ernst Kantorowicz.

The Queen represents the State in the UK system of governance. The executive is the Queen-in-Council. The legislature is the Queen-in-Parliament. The judiciary is the Queen-in-Banco (The Queen on the Bench). Criminal prosecutions allege that the defendant has broken the Queen's peace. The armed forces fight for Queen and country. She embodies the country in a person, as other countries do in flags or other inanimate objects. Because of this, the monarch never dies. "The King is dead, long live the king".

As for the national anthem itself, it has had far more verses that the ones listed. But the most commonly sung ones are the ones listed in the post by noajthan. I have only regularly heard the second verse listed in that post on the Last day of the Proms in London.

I was aghast when my (English) British friends born and raised in this country could not sing the second verse. I and an Australian were the only two new citizens at my naturalisation ceremony who could sing the whole national anthem without referring to the cribsheet offered.

secret.simon wrote:I was aghast when my (English) British friends born and raised in this country could not sing the second verse. I and an Australian were the only two new citizens at my naturalisation ceremony who could sing the whole national anthem without referring to the cribsheet offered.

As casa summized.