God Save the King
![]() Publication of an early version in The Gentleman's Magazine, October 1745. The title, on the contents page, is given as "God save our lord the king: A new song set for two voices". | |
National or royal anthem of |
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Also known as | "God Save the Queen" (when the monarch is female) |
Music | unknown |
Adopted | September 1745 |
Music sample | |
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"God Save the King" has been the national anthem of the United Kingdom since 1745. Its also the royal anthem of the Commonwealth realms, played alongside their official national anthems.[1][2] Its composer remains unknown to this date.
When the ruling monarch is a queen instead of a king, the title of the anthem then becomes "God Save the Queen".
The tune for "God Save the King" was used in many countries as a national anthem. Apart from the German state, many of which were linked to Great Britain by marriage, Liechtenstein and Switzerland used the tune. Switzerland changed to a different tune in the 1960s. Liechtenstein still uses the tune.
The tune is both American and British. In the 1930s the United States chose an official anthem. "The Star-Spangled Banner" was chosen instead of the equally popular "My Country 'tis of Thee" which used the "God Save the King" tune.
Lyrics[change | change source]
Standard version[change | change source]
- God save our gracious King,
- Long live our noble King,
- God save the King:
- Send him victorious,
- Happy and glorious,
- Long to reign over us:
- God save the King.
- O Lord, our God, arise,
- Scatter his 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 him be pleased to pour;
- Long may he reign:
- May he defend our laws,
- And ever give us cause
- To sing with heart and voice
- God save the King.[3]
Original lyrics: "God Save the King"[change | change source]
- God save great George our king
- God save our noble king,
- God save the king!
- Send him victorious
- Happy and glorious
- Long to reign over us
- God save the king![4]
Latin verse[change | change source]
- O Deus optime
- Salvum nunc facito
- Regem nostrum
- Sic laeta victoria
- Comes et gloria
- Salvum iam facito
- Tu dominum.[5]
French version used in Canada[change | change source]
Que Dieu protège notre gracieux Roi,
Longue vie à notre noble Roi,
Que Dieu protège le Roi !
Rends-le victorieux,
Heureux et glorieux ;
Que soit long son règne sur nous,
Que Dieu protège le Roi !
Māori version used in New Zealand[change | change source]
- Me tohu e t'Atua
- To matou Kuini pai:
- Kia ora ia
- Meinga kia maia ia,
- Kia hari nui, kia koa,
- Kia kuini tonu ia,
- Tau tini noa.[6]
References[change | change source]
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20140902162152/http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/Symbols/NationalAnthem.aspx
- ↑ http://www.nationalanthems.info/im.htm
- ↑ https://www.royal.uk/national-anthem National Anthem. The Royal Family. royal.uk.
- ↑ http://www.historytoday.com/charles-dimont/god-save-queen-history-national-anthem
- ↑ God Save the King, William H. Cummings, Novello and Company Ltd, London 1902.
- ↑ https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/imageserver/periodicals/P29pZD1QSVBJV0gxOTAwMDUwMSZnZXRwZGY9dHJ1ZQ== E Ihowa Tohungia Te Kuini. Te Pipiwharauroa.