:''For the
Sex Pistols song, see
God Save the Queen (Sex Pistols song).''
'"God Save the Queen"', or '"God Save the King"', is an anthem used in a number of
Commonwealth realms; it presently serves as the
national anthem of the
United Kingdom, one of the two national anthems of
New Zealand, and the
royal anthem of
Canada and of
Australia. The title of the song varies with the gender of the reigning monarch, and so it now uses "Queen", though "King" has been historically commoner. 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.
The authorship of the song is unknown, and beyond its first verse, which is consistent, it has many historic and extant versions: Since its first publication, different verses have been added and taken away and, even today, different publications include various selections of verses in various orders.
[1] In general only one, or sometimes two verses are sung, but on rare occasions three.
[2] One or two bars may also form a part of the
Vice Regal Salute in
Commonwealth realms outside the United Kingdom. The words of the song, like its title, are fitted to the gender of monarch, with "King" replacing "Queen", "he" replacing "she", and so forth, when a king reigns. In the United Kingdom, the last line of the third verse is also changed (see below).
History
The origin of the tune is surrounded by uncertainty, myth and speculation. In ''
The Oxford Companion to Music'',
Percy Scholes devotes about four pages to this subject,
[3] pointing out the similarities to an early
plainsong melody, although the rhythm is very distinctly that of a
galliard, and he gives examples of several such dance tunes that bear a striking resemblance to "God Save the King/Queen." Scholes quotes a keyboard piece by Dr.
John Bull (1619) which has some strong similarities to the modern tune, depending on the placing of
accidentals that at that time were unwritten in certain cases and left to the discretion of the player (see ''
musica ficta''). He also points to several pieces by
Henry Purcell, one of which includes the opening notes of the modern tune, set to the words "God Save The King/Queen."
The first definitive published version of the present tune appeared in 1744 in ''
Thesaurus Musicus'', as a setting of the familiar first verse, and the song was popularised in
Scotland and
England the following year, with the landing of
Charles Edward Stuart. It was recorded as being sung in London theatres in 1745, with, for example,
Thomas Arne writing a setting of the tune for the
Drury Lane Theatre.
Scholes' analysis includes mention of "untenable" and "doubtful" claims, as well as "an American misattribution." Some of these are:
★ A tale, widely believed in France, that the tune "''Grand Dieu Sauve Le Roi''," was written by
Jean-Baptiste Lully to celebrate the healing of
Louis XIV's
anal fistula.
[4] Lully set words by the Duchess of Brinon to music, and the tune was pirated by
Handel. Translated in Latin under the name "''Domine, Salvum Fac Regem''," it became the French anthem until 1792.
[5] After the battle of Culloden, the Hanover dynasty would have adopted this melody as the British anthem. Scholes points out gross errors of date which render these claims untenable, and they have been ascribed to a 19th-century forgery, the ''Souvenirs'' of the
Marquise de Créquy.
[6]
★
James Oswald: He is a possible author of the ''Thesaurus Musicus'', so may have played a part in the history of the song, but is not a strong enough candidate to be cited as the composer of the tune.
★ Dr.
Henry Carey: Scholes refutes this attribution, firstly, on the grounds that Carey himself never made such a claim. Secondly, when the claim was made by Carey's son (as late as 1795), it was accompanied by a request for a pension from the British Government on that score. Thirdly, the younger Carey claimed that his father had written parts of it in 1745, even though the older Carey had died in 1743. It has also been claimed that the work was first publicly performed by Carey during a dinner in 1740 in honour of Admiral
Edward "Grog" Vernon, who had captured the Spanish harbour of
Porto Bello (then in Colombia, now Panama) during the
War of Jenkins' Ear.
Scholes recommends the attribution "traditional" or "traditional; earliest known version by John Bull (1562–1628)." The ''
English Hymnal'' (musical editor
Ralph Vaughan Williams) gives no attribution, stating merely "17th or 18th cent."
[7]
Use in the United Kingdom
The phrase "God Save the King" has continued to be used quite separately from the song, as seen in this poster from
World War I.
"God Save the Queen" currently acts as the
national anthem of the
United Kingdom, though it has never been officially adopted by Royal
Proclamation or
Act of Parliament, but, rather, has become entrenched by tradition alone. In general only one or two verses are sung, but on rare occasions three.
[2] The British variation of the lyrics to "God Save the Queen" is the oldest amongst those currently used, and forms the basis on which all other versions used throughout the Commonwealth are formed; though, again, the words have varied throughout the years.
British lyrics
The phrase "God Save the King" is much older than the song, appearing, for instance, several times in the
King James Bible.
[9] Scholes says that as early as
1545 "God Save the King" was a watchword of the
Royal Navy, with the response being "Long to reign over us."
[10][11] He also notes that the prayer read in churches on anniversaries of the
Gunpowder Plot includes words which might have formed part of the basis for the second verse "Scatter our enemies... assuage their malice and confound their devices".
In 1745, ''
The Gentleman's Magazine'' published "God save our lord the king: A new song set for two voices," describing it as "As sung at both Playhouses."
[12] Traditionally, the first performance was thought to have been in
1745, when it was sung in support of King
George II, after his defeat at the
Battle of Prestonpans by the army of the
Charles Edward Stuart, son of
James Francis Edward Stuart, the
Jacobite claimant to the British throne, whose forces were mostly
Scottish Catholics. It is sometimes claimed that, ironically, the song was originally sung in support of the Jacobite cause: the word "send" in the line "Send him victorious" could imply that the king was absent. Also there are examples of early eighteenth century Jacobean drinking glasses which are inscribed with a version of the words and were apparently intended for drinking the health of King
James II. Scholes acknowledges these possibilities but argues that the same words were probably being used by both Jacobite and Hanoverian supporters and directed at their respective kings.
[13]
"Standard" British version
There is no definitive version of the lyrics. However, the version consisting of the following three verses has the best claim to be regarded as the 'standard' British version, appearing not only in the 1745 ''Gentleman's Magazine'', but also in publications such as ''The Book of English Songs: From the Sixteenth to the Ninteenth Century'' (1851),
[14] ''National Hymns: How They are Written and how They are Not Written'' (1861),
[15] ''Household Book of Poetry'' (1882),
[16] and ''Hymns Ancient and Modern, revised version'' (1982).
[17] The same version with verse two omitted appears in publications including ''Scouting for boys'' (1908),
[18] and on the
U.K. Government's "Monarchy Today" website.
[19] At the Queen's Golden Jubilee Party at the Palace concert,
Prince Charles referred in his speech to the "politically incorrect second verse" of the National Anthem.
| Standard version of '''God Save the Queen''' |
|---|
; 1: God save our gracious Queen,1: 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''.
★
★ When the monarch of the time is male, beyond the other alterations mentioned above, the last line of the third verse is changed to "with heart and voice to sing/ God Save the King". |
In the
United Kingdom, the first verse is the only verse typically sung, even at official occasions, although the third verse is sung in addition on rare occasions, and usually at the
Last Night of the Proms.
Around 1745, the anti-Scottish sentiment was captured in a fourth verse, with a prayer for the success of
George Wade's army then assembling at
Newcastle. These words attained some short-term popularity, although they did not appear in the published version in ''Gentleman's Magazine'':
:Lord, grant that Marshal Wade,
:May by thy mighty aid,
:Victory bring.
:May he sedition hush and like a torrent rush,
:Rebellious Scots to crush,
:God save the King.
This verse was abandoned soon after, and certainly before the song became accepted as the British national anthem in the 1780s and 1790s.
[20][21] Despite the short-lived currency of this verse, it is still cited as a reason for the anthem causing great offence when sung in most parts of
Scotland.
Various other attempts were made during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries to add verses to commemorate particular royal or national events. For example, according to Fitzroy Maclean, when Jacobite forces bypassed Wade's force and reached
Derby, but then retreated and when their garrison at
Carlisle surrendered to a second government army led by King George's son, the
Duke of Cumberland, another verse was added.
[22] Other short-lived verses were notably anti-French.
[23] However, none of these survived into the twentieth century.
[24]
Alternative British versions
There have been several attempts to improve the song by rewriting the words. In the nineteenth century there was some lively debate about the national anthem and, even then, verse two was considered to be slightly offensive. Notably, the question arose over the phrase "scatter her enemies." Some thought it placed better emphasis on the respective power of Parliament and the Crown to change "her" to "our"; others pointed out that the theology was somewhat dubious and substituted "thine" instead. Sydney G. R. Coles wrote a completely new version, as did Canon F. K. Harford.
[25] In 1836,
William Edward Hickson wrote four alternative verses. The first, third, and fourth of these verses are appended to the National Anthem in the
English Hymnal (which only includes verses one and three of the original lyrics).
William Hixton's alternative version
William Hixton's alternative (1836) version includes the following verses, of which the first, third, and fourth have some currency as they are appended to the National Anthem in the English Hymnal.
| William Hixton's text of '''God Save the Queen''' |
|---|
| ; 1: God bless our native land!: May heaven's protecting hand: Still guard our shore:: May peace her power extend,: Foe be transformed to friend,: And Britain's rights depend: On war no more.; 2: O Lord, our monarch bless: With strength and righteousness:: Long may she reign:: Her heart inspire and move: With wisdom from above;: And in a nation's love: Her throne maintain; 3: May just and righteous laws: Uphold the public cause,: And bless our isle:: Home of the brave and free,: Thou land of liberty,: We pray that still on thee: Kind heaven may smile.; 4: Nor on 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 o'er |
Official peace version
A less militaristic version of the song, entitled "Official peace version, 1919," was first published in the
hymn book ''Songs of Praise'' in 1925.
[26] This was "official" in the sense that it was approved by the
British Privy Council in 1919.
[13] However, despite being reproduced in some other
hymn books, it is largely unknown today.
[28]
| Official peace version of '''God Save the Queen''' |
|---|
| ; 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: One realm of races four: Blest more and ever more: God save our land!: Home of the brave and free: Set in the silver sea: True nurse of chivalry: God save our land!; 3: Of many a race and birth: From utmost ends of earth: God save us all!: Bid strife and hatred cease: Bid hope and joy increase: Spread universal peace: God save us all! |
Unofficial peace version
An unofficial peace version was written in 1958 by Henry Young for the first
Aldermaston CND march and is taken from his collection of poems ''From Talk to Action: The fight for peace''.
| Henry Young's version of '''God Save the Queen''' |
|---|
| ; 1: Please save our lovely land: Gardens and meadows green: Please save our land: Flowers in spring are bold: Fruit in abundance grows: Corn turns the fields to gold: Please save our land; 2: Share out the wealth to all: Build houses small and tall: And give us peace: Was not our labours sweat: And let our children get: Safe sleep in their familiar bed: Please give us peace; 3: River and lake and stream: Let fish run clear and clean: Please save our land: Keep us from poisoned rain: And let our children gain: Birds, butterflies and bees retain: Please save our land; 4: Though life's with danger filled: Give us the strength to build: Freedom and peace: All men and women here: Hold your hands high and fear: No odds: hold hands for freedom dear: And work for peace |
Performance in the United Kingdom
The style most commonly heard in official performances was proposed as the "proper interpretation" by King
George V, who considered himself something of an expert (in view of the number of times he had heard it). An Army Order was duly issued in 1933, which laid down regulations for tempo, dynamics and orchestration. This included instructions such as that the opening "six bars will be played quietly by the reed band with horns and basses in a single phrase. Cornets and side-drum are to be added at the little scale-passage leading into the second half of the tune, and the full brass enters for the last eight bars". The official tempo for the opening section is a metronome setting of 60, with the second part played in a broader manner, at a metronome setting of 52.
[29] In recent years the prescribed sombre-paced introduction is often played at a faster and livelier
tempo.
Until the latter part of the
20th century, theatre and concert goers were expected to stand to attention while the anthem was played after the conclusion of a show. In cinemas this brought a tendency for audiences to rush out while the end credits played to avoid this formality.
The anthem was traditionally played at closedown on the
BBC and with the introduction of commercial television to the UK this practice was adopted by some
ITV regions.
BBC Two never played the anthem at closedown, and ITV dropped the practice in the late 1980s, but it continued on
BBC One until
8 November 1997 (thereafter BBC1 began to
simulcast with
News 24 after end of programmes). The tradition is carried on, however, by
BBC Radio 4. The anthem always prefaces the
The Queen's Christmas Message.
Other United Kingdom anthems
Frequently, when an anthem is needed for one of the
constituent countries of the UK – at an international sporting event, for instance – an alternative song is used:
★
England generally uses "God Save the Queen," but "
Jerusalem," "
Land of Hope and Glory" and "
I vow to thee, my country" have also been used.
:
★ At international
test cricket matches,
England has, since 2004, used "Jerusalem" as the anthem.
:
★ At international
rugby league matches, England have used "Land of Hope and Glory," but in the 2005 internationals changed to "God Save the Queen."
★
Scotland uses either "
Flower of Scotland" or "
Scotland the Brave," depending on the occasion.
★
Wales has its own official anthem: "''
Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau''" ("Land of My Fathers").
★
Northern Ireland most frequently uses "God Save the Queen" at events associated with the British tradition, and the Irish national anthem "''
Amhrán na bhFiann''" ("The Soldiers' Song") at events associated with the Irish tradition. Additionally, "
Londonderry Air" ("
Danny Boy") is a popular cross-community anthem.
:
★ In international
rugby union, Ireland (a team representing both
Northern Ireland and the
Republic of Ireland) uses "
Ireland's Call," a song which attempts to unite the two traditions on the island. The song is sung at Ireland's home and away games.
★ "
The Song of the Western Men" (otherwise known as "''Trelawny''") has popularly been considered to be the
Cornish anthem, and is sung at
Cornish rugby matches and events such as
Saint Piran's day and other Cornish gatherings. However some
Cornish nationalists argue that "''
Bro Goth Agan Tasow''," which is in
Cornish rather than English, should be adopted. This is the anthem used by the
Gorsedh Kernow for the last 75 plus years ("The Land of My Fathers", but literally, "Old Country of my Fathers"), and has a similar tune to the Welsh National anthem and the
Breton|Breizh anthem. "''Bro Goth Agan Tasow''" is not heard as often due to it being sung in Cornish. Those who prefer an anthem in English also sometimes use "
Hail to the Homeland."
★ Recently the
British and Irish Lions rugby union tour used the song "
The Power of Four," but this anthem was especially designed for the tour.
★ In April 2007 there was an
Early Day Motion, number 1319, to the
UK Parliament to propose that there should be a separate England anthem: "That this House ... believes that all English sporting associations should adopt an appropriate song that English sportsmen and women, and the English public, would favour when competing as England". An amendment (EDM 1319A3) was proposed by
Evan Harris that the song "should have a bit more oomph than God Save the Queen and should also not involve God."
[30]
Use in other Commonwealth countries
"God Save the King/Queen" was exported around the world via the expansion of the
British Empire, serving as each country's national anthem. Throughout the
Empire's evolution into the
Commonwealth of Nations, the song remained in use in some of the states which became independent kingdoms in
personal union with the United Kingdom, either as one of the official national anthems, such as in
New Zealand,
[31] or as an official
royal anthem, as is the case in
Canada and
Australia, to be played during formal ceremonies involving national royalty or vice-royalty; in Australia, the song has standing through a Royal Proclamation issued by Governor-General Sir
Ninian Stephen on
19 April 1984.
[32] For modern
Commonwealth Realms it has become analogous to the American presidential anthem, ''
Hail to the Chief''. Two or three bars form a part of the
Vice Regal Salute played either for
Governors-General,
Governors, or
Lieutenant-Governors.
Use in Canada
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.
[33] 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 salute.
[34]
Queen
Elizabeth II stipulated that the arrangement in G major by Lieutenant Colonel Basil H. Brown be used in Canada. The authorised version to be played by
pipe bands is "''
Mallorca''."
34
Canadian lyrics
As "God Save the Queen" is the
Royal Anthem of
Canada,
[35] the first verse has been translated into
French for use in that country, as shown below.
: 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!
A bilingual verse was often sung in Canada on
Remembrance Day:
: Dieu sauve notre reine,
: Notre glorieuse reine,
: Vive la reine!
: Send her victorious,
: Happy and glorious,
: Long to reign over us,
: God Save the Queen!!
As sung in English in Canada, ''God Save the Queen'' has an additional English verse, sung after the first or second verse, which is also given below. In general use in Canada, however, only the first verse is sung.
: Our loved Dominion bless
: With peace and happiness
: From shore to shore;
: And let our Empire be
: Loyal, united, free
: True to herself and Thee
: God save the Queen.
Use in New Zealand
In
New Zealand, the second more militaristic verse is replaced with Hixtons verse "Nor in this land alone..." (often sung as ''Not'' in this land alone"), otherwise known as a "Commonwealth verse". However, that verse is primarily used only when the anthem is played past the first verse.
Use elsewhere
"God Save the King" was the first song to be used as a national anthem, although the
Netherlands' national anthem, the "''
Wilhelmus''," is older. Its success prompted a number of imitations, notably in France and, later, Germany. Both commissioned their own songs to help construct a concrete national(ist) identity. The first German national anthem was a copy of "God Save the King" with the words changed to "''
Heil dir im Siegerkranz''," and sung to the same tune as the British version. The tune was either used or officially adopted as the national anthem for several other countries, including those of
Russia (until
1833) and
Switzerland ("''Rufst Du mein Vaterland''" or "''O monts indépendants''").
It is also the melody to the
United States patriotic hymn "America" (also known by its first line, "
My Country, 'Tis of Thee"), and was played during the
Presidential Inauguration parade of
President George W. Bush on 20 January, 2001. In
Iceland it is called "''
Eldgamla Ísafold''." The tune is also used as
Norway's
royal anthem entitled "''
Kongesangen''," and was used for the
Swedish royal anthem between 1805 and 1893, entitled "''
Bevare gud vår kung''."
The tune is still used as the national anthem of
Liechtenstein, "''
Oben am jungen Rhein''." When
England met
Liechtenstein in a
Euro 2004 qualifier, the same tune was therefore played twice, causing some minor confusion.
The melody of "God Save the King" has been, and continues to be, used as a hymn tune by
Christian churches in various countries. The
United Methodists of the southern United States, Mexico, and Latin America, among other denominations (usually Protestant), play the same melody as a hymn. The Christian hymn "
Glory to God on High" is frequently sung to the same tune, as well as an alternate tune that fits both lyrics.
Musical adaptations
Classical composers
In total, about 140 composers, including Beethoven, Haydn and Brahms, have used the tune in their compositions.
[2]
Johann Christian Bach composed a set of variations on "God Save the King" for the finale to his sixth keyboard concerto (Op. 1) written c. 1763.
Joseph Haydn was impressed by the use of "God Save the King" as a national anthem during his visit to
London in
1794, and on his return to
Austria wrote a tune to the national anthem, the "''
Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser''" ("God Save Emperor Franz"), for the birthday of the
Emperor Franz of Austria. The tune of "God Save the King" was later adopted for the Prussian national anthem "''Heil Dir im Siegerkranz''."
Ludwig van Beethoven composed a set of seven piano variations in the key of C major to the theme of "God Save the King," catalogued as
WoO.78 (1802–1803).
Muzio Clementi, another composer who used the theme to "God Save the King," placed this theme into his ''
Symphony No. 3 in B major''. This work is dubbed the "Great National" and is catalogued as
WoO. 34.
Rock adaptations
Jimi Hendrix of the
The Jimi Hendrix Experience played an impromptu version of "God Save the Queen" to open his set at the
Isle of Wight Festival 1970. Just before walking onto the stage, he can be seen (on the DVD) and heard to ask "How does it go again?" in reference to the said British national anthem. He was able just to hear it mimicked by voice and then perform it. His relatively accurate lead-guitar rendition of "God Save the Queen' can be viewed in stark contrast to his performance of "
The Star-Spangled Banner" at the
Woodstock Festival, 1969.
The rock band
Queen recorded an instrumental version of "God Save the Queen" on their
1975 album ''
A Night at the Opera''. It was arranged by guitarist
Brian May and features his distinctive layers of
overdubbed electric guitars. A tape of this version would be played at the end of almost every concert, with
Freddie Mercury walking around the stage wearing a crown and a cloak on their Magic Tour in 1986. The band played "God Save the Queen" at the end of all of their concerts.
A version of "God Save the Queen" by
Madness features the melody of the song played on
kazoos. It was included on the compilation album ''The Business''.
On
3 June 2002, during the Queen's
Golden Jubilee,
Brian May performed the anthem on his
Red Special electric guitar for
Party at the Palace, performing from the roof of
Buckingham Palace.
See also
★
My Country, 'Tis of Thee; patriotic in the
United States, sung to the same music.
★
Oben am jungen Rhein; national anthem of
Liechtenstein, sung to the same music.
★
Heil dir im Siegerkranz; national anthem of the
German Empire from
1871 to
1918, sung to the same music.
★
Molitva russkikh; considered to be the first
Russian anthem, sung to the same music
★
The King is dead. Long live the King!
★
Rule Britannia
★
National anthem of Scotland
★
UK topics
★
Land of Hope and Glory
References
1. cf. the versions in the hymn books ''English Hymnal'', ''Hymns Ancient and Modern'' and ''Songs of Praise'' and the version at the website royalty.gov.uk.
2. Monarchy Today pages at royal.gov.uk website
3. The Oxford Companion to Music, Tenth Edition, , Percy A, Scholes, Oxford University Press, ,
4. A Sweet Servitude: A Musician's Life at the Court of Mlle de Guise Patricia Ranum
5. see the sheet music available online: Domine Salvum Fac Regem
6. ''Souvenirs'', Vol 1, Chapter IV
7. The English Hymnal with Tunes, , Percy, Dearmer, Oxford University Press, , Hymn No. 560 "National Anthem"
8. Monarchy Today pages at royal.gov.uk website
9. 1 Samuel x. 24; 2 Samuel xvi. 16 and 2 Kings xi. 12
10. Flag and Fleet: How the British Navy Won the Freedom of the Seas, , William, Wood, Macmillan, ,
11. "The Watchword in the Night shall be, 'God save King Henrye!' The other shall answer, 'Long to raign over Us!'"
12. ''The Gentleman's Magazine'' Vol. 15, Oct. 1745, p.552
13. Scholes p.412
14. The Book of English Songs: From the Sixteenth to the Ninteenth Century, , Charles, Mackay, , ,
15. National Hymns: How They are Written and how They are Not Written, , Richard Grant, White, Rudd & Carleton, ,
16. Household Book of Poetry, , Charles
Anderson, Dana, , ,
17. Hymns Ancient and Modern, Revised Version, , , , SCM-Canterbury Press Ltd, ,
18. Scouting for Boys, , Robert, Baden-Powell, , ,
19. Monarchy Today website
20. Imperialism and Music: Britain 1876 to 1953, , Jeffrey, Richards, Manchester University Press, , "A fourth verse was briefly in vogue at the time of the rebellion, but was rapidly abandoned thereafter: God grant that Marshal Wade...etc"
21. "The history of God Save the King": The Gentleman's Magazine, Vol 6 (new series), 1837, p.373. "There is an additional verse... though being of temporary application only, it was but short-lived...[but]...it was stored in the memory of an old friend of my own... 'Oh! grant that Marshal Wade... etc.'"
22. Bonnie Prince Charlie, , Fitzroy, Maclean, Canongate Books Ltd., , Note that the verse he quotes appears to have a line missing.
23. For example the verse quoted in the book ''Handel'' by Edward J. Dent (see: text at project Gutenberg and at Fullbooks.com)
24. Richards p.90.
25. Richards p.91
26. Songs of Praise, , Percy, Dearmer, Oxford University Press, ,
27. Scholes p.412
28. Forgotten National Anthem Sung at Halesowen Service Article in the ''Black Country Bugle'' describes it as an "unusual and little known version of the national anthem...taken from the order of service for the blessing of Halesowen’s borough charter...on Sunday, 20th September, 1936."
29. Percy A Scholes: ''Oxford Companion to Music, Tenth Edition'', Oxford University Press
30. Parliamentary Information Management Services. Early day Motion 1319
31. Letter from Buckingham Palace to the Governor-General of New Zealand - Royal assent that the two songs should have equal status
32. ''Commonwealth of Australia Gazette''; No. S 142; 19 April, 1984
33. Department of Canadian Heritage: Royal anthem "God Save The Queen"
34. Department of National Defence: The Honours, Flags and Heritage Structure of the Canadian Forces; p. 503
35. Royal Anthem "God Save the Queen" at Government of Canada website www.gc.ca
36. Monarchy Today pages at royal.gov.uk website
External links
★
★
Official Royal webpage on the anthem
★
Department of Canadian Heritage - Royal anthem page
★
:God Save Great George our King: - article discussing different versions of the lyrics
★
''"Le 'God save the king' à Saint-Cyr"''
★
Himnuszok - The "Himnuszok" website has a vocal version of the first three verses of "God Save the Queen". (
Hungarian)
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