Belize
Land of the Free
1963
1981
Samuel Alfred Haynes
Selwyn Walford Young
🕊 Freedom 🌿 Nature ✝ God / Faith 🏺 Ancestors / Heritage ⚔ Battle / War |
Key Facts
- 1. Samuel Alfred Haynes was a key figure in the 1919 Belize City riots, a pivotal moment in the country's path toward self-governance
- 2. Belize was the last mainland Central American country to gain independence, doing so in 1981
- 3. The phrase 'hewers of wood' references the colonial-era logging industry that exploited Belizean laborers
Lyrics
O, Land of the Free by the Carib Sea,
Our manhood we pledge to thy liberty!
No tyrants here linger, despots must flee
This tranquil haven of democracy.
The blood of our sires which hallows the sod,
Brought freedom from slavery oppression's rod,
By the might of truth and the grace of God,
No longer shall we be hewers of wood.
Arise! ye sons of the Baymen's clan,
Put on your armour, clear the land!
Drive back the tyrants, let despots flee,
Land of the Free by the Carib Sea!
Nature has blessed thee with wealth untold,
O'er mountains and valleys where prairies roll;
Our fathers, the Baymen, valiant and bold
Drove back the invader; this heritage hold
From proud Rio Hondo to old Sarstoon,
Through coral isle, over blue lagoon;
Keep watch with the angels, the stars and moon;
For freedom comes tomorrow's noon.
Arise! ye sons of the Baymen's clan,
Put on your armour, clear the land!
Drive back the tyrants, let despots flee,
Land of the Free by the Carib Sea!
Translations are non-official and intended to convey meaning, not replace originals
Analysis
EditorialWritten by Samuel Alfred Haynes, a veteran of World War I who became a prominent figure in the Belizean independence movement, with music by Selwyn Walford Young. The anthem was adopted upon Belize's independence from the United Kingdom on September 21, 1981. Its lyrics reflect the country's colonial history and the struggle for self-determination.