Should national anthems be changed? (Part I)

Canada’s National Anthem is a rousing piece of music but there seems to be some concerns about the wording of the anthem. Here are the words.

O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land, glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

The Conservative government of Canada recently announced in the Throne Speech that Parliament would explore rewording the anthem and returning it to its original gender-neutral wording. The present lyrics include the line "True patriot love in all thy sons command," while a 1908 poem on which it is based has the line "True patriot love thou dost in us command." But a return to the original version – "thou dost in us command" – is an awkward tongue-twister. Further, the words ‘dost’ sounds like ‘dust’ when sung so it was quickly removed from the newer version.

It’s the word, ‘sons’ in "True patriot love in all thy sons command" that is contentious. Many believe that the word, ‘son’s should be replaced with another word. I think the line should read, "True patriot love of everyone command." This would make the line gender-neutral.

The words to our anthem are hardly sacrosanct. They have been changed before. They can, and should, be changed again. Alas, it was put to a vote in a survey of Canadians and the majority chose to leave the Anthem as it is so Parliament agreed and it still remains as it is as per the 1980 National Anthem Act of Canada. It doesn’t say much about the women in Canada. Some argue that this is political correctness run amok; others say that a change in the wording of that line would have been a welcome change that was long overdue. It makes little sense to weed out sexism from the school curriculum only to teach students a version of "O Canada" that leaves them wondering, "Where are the daughters?" Some women throughout their lives opt not to sing that line. Such silent protests shouldn't be necessary. An anthem that effectively leaves out half the population of our country does not faithfully reflect the values of Canadians. Language is powerful and when it can be made inclusive, it should be.

As an interesting aside, I can remember the days when in Canada, movie theatres played God save the King/Queen and O’Canada before the movies started. We all had to stand up when these two pieces were performed. That practice ended in the late 1960s.

The American National Anthem’s lyrics are as follows;

First Verse

Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say, does that Star-Spangled Banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

Second Verse

On the shore, dimly seen thro' the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream;
'Tis the Star-Spangled Banner, O long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Third Verse

Oh, thus be it ever when free men shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation!
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto, "In God is our trust"
And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

The words for the Star-Spangled Banner, written by Francis Scott Key, sprang to life as he was observing the bombardment of Fort McHenry during the War of 1812. Originally it was a poem of Key's entitled, "Defense of Fort McHenry," that came to be sung to the tune of "To Anacreon in Heaven". Its melody was attributed to an Englishman named John Stafford Smith. Benjamin Carr of Baltimore published the first musical edition of "The Star-Spangled Banner." that grew in popularity with the passage of time. In 1931 an act of Congress made it official national anthem of the United States.

I don’t know why the word thro was used instead of ‘through’ or the word watch’d was used instead of ‘watched’ or the word Tis was used instead of ‘this’ or the word O’re was used instead of ‘Over’ or the word, vict’ry was used instead of the word, ‘victory’ or the word Pow’r was used instead of ‘Power’. Although the words used are not tongue-twisters, they do seem a bit odd.

Canadians have a big advantage over the Americans. The Canadian Anthem is short and easy to remember. Try remembering all three verses of the American Anthem.
I for one think that the music of the song, America is far better than the one used in the current Anthem. Of course, the words of the Anthem would have to be changed and that isn’t going to happen.

Australia’s National Anthem is as follows:

Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are young and free;
We've golden soil and wealth for toil,
Our home is girt by sea;
Our land abounds in nature's gifts,
Of beauty rich and rare;
In history's page let every stage,
Advance Australia Fair!

Refrain

In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair!

Beneath our radiant Southern Cross,
We'll toil with heart and hands;
To make this Commonwealth of ours,
Renowned through all the lands;
For those who've come across the seas,
We've boundless plains to share;
With courage let us all combine to
Advance Australia Fair!

Refrain

In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair!

There are only two comments I wish to give with respect to that country’s national anthem. The first is the use of the word, young which is found in the second line of the first verse. Australia is hardly a young country. Further, not all of its citizens are young either. The second comment I have is that music of Waltzing Matilda is far more rousing than Australia’s National Anthem and many Australians agree. Of course the wording of the Anthem would have to be changed and that isn’t going to happen either.

Great Britain doesn’t have a National Anthem. The song, God Save the Queen, (or alternatively God Save the King), is a Royal Anthem used in a number of Commonwealth realms. It is the National Anthem of the United Kingdom and its territories and dependencies, Norfolk Island, and it is also one of the two national anthems of the Cayman Islands and New Zealand (since 1977) and the Royal Anthem of Canada (since 1980), Australia (since 1984), the Isle of Man, Jamaica, and Tuvalu. In countries not previously part of the British Empire, the tune of God Save the Queen has also been used as the basis for different patriotic songs, though still generally connected with royal ceremony.

In Canada God Save the Queen has not been adopted as the Royal Anthem by statute or proclamation; however it has come to be used as such through convention, and is sometimes sung together with O Canada at public events. The Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces regulates that God Save the Queen be played as a salute to the monarch and other members of the Canadian Royal Family, though it may also be used as a hymn, or prayer. The words are not to be sung when the song is played as a military Royal Salute, and is abbreviated to the first three lines while arms are being presented.
The standard version is;

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.

Generally only the first verse is sung. It is also sung in commonwealth countries such as Canada.

Great Britain has a great patriotic song called, Rule Britannia. The music for that song was written by the English composer Thomas Augustine Arne (1710-1778) and performed for the first time in his masque Alfred in the presence of Frederick Prince of Wales. The performance took place on the parterre of Cliveden House in 1740, which at that time, was leased to the Prince of Wales. The words were written by the Scottish pre-Romantic poet James Thompson (1700-1748) author of The Seasons (1726-30). The words are;

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

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

Chorus

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

Still more majestic shalt thou rise,
More dreadful, from each foreign stroke,
More dreadful, more dreadful from each foreign stroke
As the loud blast that tears the skies,
Serves but to root thy native oak.
Thee haughty tyrants ne'er shall tame;
All their attempts to bend thee down,
All their attempts, all their attempts to bend thee down,
Will but arouse thy generous flame,
But work their woe and thy renown.

To thee belongs the rural reign,
Thy cities shall with commerce shine
Thy cities shall, thy cities shall with commerce shine
All thine shall be the subject main,
And every shore it circles thine.
The Muses, still with freedom found,
Shall to thy happy coast repair,
Shall to thy happy coast, thy happy coasts repair,
Blest isle! with matchless beauty crowned,
And manly hearts to guard the fair.

I hardly think that the Britons rule the waves anymore, If any country does, it’s the Americans. They also rule the skies.

In 1990, Russia needed a new anthem to distance itself from the Soviet past. Although God Save The Tsar! was used before the overthrow of the Tsar in 1917, President of the Russian SFSR, Boris Yeltsin, decided to select the song Patrioticheskaya pesnya by Mikhail Glinka. Composed without words and discovered after Glinka's death, the anthem, without lyrics, was decreed official in 1993. Due to the lack of lyrics, the anthem was not popular. In addition, it did not inspire some Russian athletes during international competitions. A few contests were then sponsored by the government to include lyrics in the anthem, however none were adopted. Because of this, President Vladimir Putin decided that Alexandrov's music was to be restored, and that new lyrics should be written for it. The anthem was created and adopted in late 2000, and became the second anthem used by Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union. The words are as follows.

Russia — our sacred power,
Russia — our beloved country.
Mighty will, great glory —
Your heritage for all of time!

Refrain:

Glory to you, our free Motherland,
Age-old union of fraternal peoples,
Ancestor-given wisdom of the people!
Glory to you, our country! We are proud of you!
From the southern seas to the polar regions
Spread our forests and fields.
You are the only one in the world! You alone are like this —
Our dear land protected by God!

I am not too happy with the words of the first line of the second verse. It implies that Russia hopes to spread its forests and fields from the northern part of the Southern Seas and the lower part of the Polar seas. That would cover all of North America and part of South America and half of Africa and all of India, China and Japan etc.

Truly one of the most rousing National Anthem is the French National Anthem, La Marseillaise. That anthem was composed by Claude-Joseph Rouget de Lisle in 1792 and was declared the French national anthem in 1795.It goes like this.

Arise children of the fatherland
The day of glory has arrived
Against us tyranny's
Bloody standard is raised
Listen to the sound in the fields
The howling of these fearsome soldiers
They are coming into our midst
To cut the throats of your sons and consorts

Refrain

To arms citizens
Form you battalions
March, march
Let impure blood
Water our furrows

What do they want this horde of slaves
Of traitors and conspiratorial kings?
For whom these vile chains
These long-prepared irons?
Frenchmen, for us, ah! What outrage
What methods must be taken?
It is we they dare plan

To return to the old slavery!
What! These foreign cohorts!
They would make laws in our courts!
What! These mercenary phalanxes
Would cut down our warrior sons
Good Lord! By chained hands
Our brow would yield under the yoke
The vile despots would have themselves be
The masters of destiny

Tremble, tyrants and traitors
The shame of all good men
Tremble! Your parricidal schemes
Will receive their just reward
Against you we are all soldiers
If they fall, our young heros
France will bear new ones
Ready to join the fight against you

Frenchmen, as magnanimous warriors
Bear or hold back your blows
Spare these sad victims
Who with regret are taking up arms against us
But not these bloody despots
These accomplices of BouillŽ
All these tigers who pitilessly
Are ripping open their mothers' breasts (womb)

We shall enter into the pit
When our elders will no longer be there.
There we shall find their ashes
And the mark of their virtues
We are much less jealous of surviving them
Than of sharing their coffins
We shall have the sublime pride
Of avenging or joining them

Sacred Love for the Fatherland
Lead and support our avenging arms
Liberty, cherished liberty
Join the struggle with your defenders
Under our flags, let victory
hasten to you virile (or manly) force
So that in death your enemies
See your triumph and our glory!

Drive on sacred patriotism
Support our avenging arms
Liberty, cherished liberty
Join the struggle with your defenders
Under our flags, let victory
Hurry to your evil tone
So that in death your enemies
See your triumph and our glory!

Try remembering all of those words when you are singing their anthem solo at a public event.

The lyrics of China’s National Anthem are as follows:

March on! People of all heroic nationalities!
The great Communist Party leads us in continuing the Long March,
Millions with but one heart toward a communist tomorrow,
Develop and protect the country in a brave struggle.
March on, march on, march on!
We will for generations,
Raise high Mao Zedong's banner, march on!
Raise high Mao Zedong's banner, march on!
March on! March on!

This composition is a musical march. The piece was first performed as part of a 1934 Shanghai play and its original lyrics are the official lyrics of the national anthem. In 2004, a provision that the March of the Volunteers be the national anthem was added to the Constitution of the People's Republic of China as Article 136.

The Long March was a massive military retreat undertaken by the Red Army of the Chinese Communist Party, the forerunner of the People's Liberation Army, to evade the pursuit of the Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party) army. There was not one Long March, but several, as various Communist armies in the south escaped to the north and west. The most well known is the march from Jiangxi province which began in October 1934. It was led by the Chinese leader, Mao Zedong.

I am not sure that anyone in China should be praising Mao Zedong.
In October 1950, Mao made the decision to send the People's Volunteer Army into Korea and fought against the United Nations forces led by the U.S. Historical records showed that Mao directed the PVA campaigns in the Korean War to the minute details.

Under the direction of Mao, it is reported that horrible methods of torture took place. The wives of several suspects had their breasts cut open and their genitals burned. It has been estimated that 'tens of thousands' of suspected enemies, perhaps as many as 186,000, were killed during a purge ordered by him.

Along with Land reform, during which significant numbers of landlords were beaten to death at mass meetings organized by the CPC as land was taken from them and given to poorer peasants, there was also the Campaign to Suppress Counterrevolutionaries, which involved public executions targeting mainly former Kuomintang officials, businessmen accused of "disturbing" the market, former employees of Western companies and intellectuals whose loyalty was suspect. The U.S. State department in 1976 estimated that there may have been a million killed in the land reform, 800,000 killed in the counterrevolutionary campaign.

Mao himself claimed that a total of 700,000 people were executed during the years 1949–53. However, because there was a policy to select "at least one landlord, and usually several, in virtually every village for public execution", the number of deaths range between 2 million and 5 million. In addition, at least 1.5 million people, perhaps as many as 4 to 6 million, were sent to "reform through labour" camps where many perished. Mao played a personal role in organizing the mass repressions and established a system of execution quotas which were often exceeded. Nevertheless he defended these killings as necessary for the securing of power.

Cuba’s National Anthem is as follows;

Hasten to battle, men of Bayamo!
The fatherland looks proudly to you;
Do not fear a glorious death,
Because to die for the fatherland is to live.

To live in chains is to live
In dishonour and ignominy,
Hear the clarion's call;
Hasten, brave ones, to battle!

It was first performed during the Battle of Bayamo in 1868. Perucho Figueredo, who took part in the battle, wrote and composed the song. The melody, also called La Bayamesa, was composed by Figueredo in 1867. On October 20, 1868 the Cuban forces obtained the capitulation of the Spaniard authorities in Bayamo. The jubilant people surrounded Figueredo and asked him to write an anthem with the melody they were humming. Right on the saddle of his horse, Figueredo wrote the lyrics of the anthem, which was longer than the current official version. Figueredo was later captured and executed by the Spaniards two years later. Just before the firing squad received the command to fire, Figueredo shouted the line from his anthem: Morir por la Patria es vivir. (to die for the fatherland is to live) Officially adopted in 1902, the anthem was retained after the revolution of 1959. The musical arrangement commonly used is believed to be that of José Norman. The Cuban composer Antonio Rodriguez-Ferrer, was the author of the musical introductory notes to the Cuban national anthem.

Just as the American anthem speaks of a battle long ago, so do many other nations. Cuba refers to its nation as the fatherland whereas Russia refers to its nation as the motherland.

Rwanda’s National Anthem is as follows:

Rwanda, our beautiful and dear country
Adorned of hills, lakes and volcanoes
Motherland, would be always filled of happiness
Us all your children: Abanyarwanda
Let us sing your glare and proclaim your high facts
You, maternal bosom of us all
Would be admired forever, prosperous and cover of praises.

Invaluable heritage, that God protects to you
You filled us priceless goods
Our common culture identifies us
Our single language unifies us
That our intelligence, our conscience and our forces
Fill you with varied riches
For an unceasingly renewed development.

Our valorous ancestors
Gave themselves bodies and souls
As far as making you a big nation
You overcame the colonial-imperialistic yoke
That has devastated Africa entirely
And has your joy of your sovereign independence
Acquired that constantly we will defend.

Maintain this cape, beloved Rwanda,
Standing, we commit for you
So that peace reigns countrywide
That you are free of all hindrance
That your determination hires progress
That you have excellent relations with all countries
And that finally your pride is worth your esteem.

It is true that the countryside of Rwanda is very beautiful. But look at the following two lines. “You overcame the colonial-imperialistic yoke That has devastated Africa entirely.”
Admittedly, some of the colonial powers were abusive to the natives of Africa but they didn’t devastate the entire continent t.

Now look at the following lines.

“Standing, we commit for you
So that peace reigns countrywide”

Rwanda has received considerable international attention due to its 1994 genocide, in which an estimated 800,000 people were killed by the Hutus who were the majority in that small country. The anthem was adopted two years before the slaughter took place. There certainly was no peace in that land during the 100 days in which the slaughtering of the Tutsi was done by the ruling Hutus.

Argentina’s National Anthem is as follows;

Hear, mortals, the sacred cry:
"Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!"
Hear the noise of broken chains,
see the noble Equality enthroned.
Their most honorable throne have opened
the United Provinces of the South.
And the free ones of the world reply:
"To the Argentine people, cheers!"
"To the Argentine people, cheers!"
And the free ones of the world reply:
"To the Argentine people, cheers!"
And the free ones of the world reply:
"To the Argentine people, cheers!"

Chorus

May the laurels be eternal
the ones we managed to win,
the ones we managed to win.
Let us live crowned in glory...
or let us swear in glory to die!
Or let us swear in glory to die!
Or let us swear in glory to die!

Performance of the anthem is mandatory during all official events, and those in attendance are expected to stand up and sing it. Radio broadcasters voluntarily perform the anthem at midnight, while TV channels do so before closing down their daily broadcast. On national holidays, it is mandatory to perform the anthem at midnight and noon. The Anthem is ruled in Argentine law by the Decree 10302/1944.
Consider the following lines.

Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!
Hear the noise of broken chains,

The lines refer to the oppression of the Spanish rulers long ago. However, it can also refer to a later repression of Argentina by its own leaders. President Perón died in July 1974, leaving his third wife Isabel, the Vice President, to succeed him in office. Mrs. Perón had been chosen as a compromise among feuding Peronist factions who could agree on no other running mate; secretly, though, she was beholden to Perón's most fascist advisers. The resulting conflict between left and right-wing extremists led to mayhem and financial chaos and, in March 1976, a coup d'état removed her from office.

The self-styled National Reorganization Process then intensified measures against armed groups on the far left such as People's Revolutionary Army and the Montoneros, which from 1970 had kidnapped and murdered people almost weekly. Repression was quickly extended to the opposition in general, however, and during the ‘Dirty War’ as many as thirty thousand dissidents disappeared. They were murdered by the authorities with many of them being brutally tortured before being thrown alive out of helicopters to their deaths far below. These abuses were aided and abetted by the CIA in Operation Condor, with many of the military leaders that took part in abuses trained in the U.S.-financed School of the Americas. Later, calm and justice returned and the military leaders of the ‘Dirty War’ were arrested and held accountable.

The Chilean National Anthem is as follows;

Pure, Chile, is your blue sky;
Pure breezes cross you as well.
And your flower-embroidered field
Is the happy copy of Eden.
Majestic is the white mountain
That was given to you as a bastion by the Lord
That was given to you as a bastion by the Lord
And that sea that quietly washes your shores
Promises you a splendid future
And that sea that calmly washes your shores
Promises you a splendid future.

Chorus

Sweet fatherland, accept the vows
With which Chile swore at your altars:
Either you'll be the tomb of the free
Or the refuge against oppression
Either you'll be the tomb of the free
Or the refuge against oppression
Either you'll be the tomb of the free
Or the refuge against oppression
Or the refuge against oppression
Or the refuge against oppression

During the military government (1973-1990) of Augusto Pinochet, another verse was officially incorporated because of his praise of the military. In 1990, it was eliminated from the anthem and is only sung in military events as part of the full song. Supporters from the former military regime also sing the anthem with the Verse III in private ceremonies. Consider the following lines.

Either you'll be the tomb of the free
Or the refuge against oppression.

A military coup overthrew President Allende on September 11, 1973. As the armed forces bombarded the presidential palace of (Palacio de La Moneda), Allende reportedly had committed suicide however that isn’t true. He was machine gunned to death by the soldiers who attacked his palace. A military junta, led by General Augusto Pinochet Ugarte, took over control of the country. The first years of the regime were marked by human rights violations. On October 1973, at least 72 people were murdered by the Caravan of Death. According to the Rettig Report and Valech Commission, at least 2,115 were killed, and at least 27,265 were tortured including 88 children younger than 12 years old.

During the years that dictator was in power, Chile was neither the tomb of the free nor the refuge against oppression.

In the future, I will submit more national anthems to you.