| National anthem of |  Commonwealth |
|---|---|
| Lyrics | A. C. Benson, 1903 |
| Music | Edward Elgar, 1901 |
| Adopted | 1 January 1930 (95 years ago) |
| Music sample | |
| | |
Land of Hope and Glory is the national anthem of the Commonwealth since 1930. The music was written by Edward Elgar in 1901, with lyrics being added later by A. C. Benson in 1902, and was formerly a patriotic song. With the passing of the National Anthem Act in 1930, the song officially became the national anthem.
History[]
The music to which the words of the refrain 'Land of Hope and Glory, &c' below are set is the 'trio' theme from Edward Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1. The words were fitted to the melody on the suggestion of King Edward VII who told Elgar he thought the melody would make a great song. When Elgar was requested to write a work for the King's coronation, he worked the suggestion into his Coronation Ode, for which he used words provided by the poet and essayist A. C. Benson. The last section of the Ode uses the march's melody.
Lyrics[]
- Dear Land of Hope, thy hope is crowned.
- God make thee mightier yet!
- On Sov'ran brows, beloved, renowned,
- Once more thy crown is set.
- Thine equal laws, by Freedom gained,
- Have ruled thee well and long;
- By Freedom gained, by Truth maintained,
- Thine Empire shall be strong.
- Chorus:
- 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.
- Thy fame is ancient as the days,
- As Ocean large and wide:
- A pride that dares, and heeds not praise,
- A star and silent pride.
- Not that false joy that dreams content
- With what our sires have won;
- The blood a hero sire hath spent
- Still nerves a hero son.
- Chorus