Australian National Anthem - Advance Australia Fair, All the Lyrics
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Advance Australia Fair was adopted as the national anthem (the 1st and a new 3rd verses, with modified lyrics) for the second time on 19 April 1984 by Bob Hawke's Labor government (after it was chosen by the Whitlam government in 1974, and later rejected by the Fraser government). Previous to this, the Australian national anthem was "God Save the Queen"
Here are the complete official lyrics to the current Australian National Anthem:
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.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair.
Beneath our radiant Southern Cross
We’ll toil with hearts and hands;
To make this Commonwealth of ours
Renowned of 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.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair.
The original lyrics to Advance Australia Fair as written by Peter Dodds McCormick and first performed in 1878 are as follows:
Verse One
Australia's sons 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!
In joyful strains then let us sing,
"Advance Australia fair!"
Verse Two
When gallant Cook from Albion sail'd,
To trace wide oceans o'er,
True British courage bore him on,
Till he landed on our shore.
Then here he raised Old England's flag,
The standard of the brave;
With all her faults we love her still,
"Brittannia rules the wave!"
In joyful strains then let us sing
"Advance Australia fair!"
Verse Three
While other nations of the globe
Behold us from afar,
We'll rise to high renown and shine
Like our glorious southern star;
From England, Scotia, Erin's Isle,
Who come our lot to share,
Let all combine with heart and hand
To advance Australia fair!
In joyful strains then let us sing
"Advance Australia fair!"
Verse Four
Shou'd foreign foe e'er sight our coast,
Or dare a foot to land,
We'll rouse to arms like sires of yore
To guard our native strand;
Brittannia then shall surely know,
Beyond wide ocean's roll,
Her sons in fair Australia's land
Still keep a British soul.
In joyful strains the let us sing
"Advance Australia fair!"
The current 2nd verse was introduced as a "New" Third Verse and was first sung in 1901 at Federation.
New Third Verse
Beneath our radiant southern Cross,
We'll toil with hearts and hands;
To make this Commonwealth of ours
Renowned of 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.
In joyful strains then let us sing
"Advance Australia fair!"
There is also talk of a lost verse which was performed in the 1930's - it would appear that this is in no way part of the original lyrics.
Lost 6th Verse
With Christ our head and cornerstone,
We'll build our Nation's might,
Whose way and truth and light alone,
Can guide our path aright.
Our lives, a sacrifice of love,
Reflect our Master's care
With faces turned to heaven above,
Advance Australia fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia fair.
Information sourced from Department of Foreign Affairs, Wikipedia and the National Library of Australia.
Digital Collections - Music - McCormick, P. D. (Peter Dodds), 1834?-1916. Advance Australia fair [music]
Digital Collections - Music - McCormick, P. D. (Peter Dodds), 1834?-1916. Advance Australia Fair [music] : patriotic song
About Australia: The National Anthem
Advance Australia Fair - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Originally Posted by Exile
