United Kingdom
God Save the King
1745
1745
Unknown (traditionally attributed to Henry Carey)
Unknown
👑 Monarchy ✝ God / Faith ❤ Love of homeland 🌅 Hope |
Key Facts
- 1. The melody has been used by over 20 countries for their anthems, including Germany (before 'Deutschlandlied'), Russia (under the Tsars), and the United States ('My Country, 'Tis of Thee')
- 2. There is a rarely performed verse that calls for crushing rebellious Scots, which is diplomatically omitted at official events
- 3. After Queen Elizabeth II's death in 2022, the lyrics changed from 'Queen' to 'King' for the first time in over 70 years, requiring updated recordings across the Commonwealth
Lyrics
God save our gracious King,
Long live our noble King,
God save the King!
Send him victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God save the King!
O Lord our God arise,
Scatter his 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 him be pleased to pour,
Long may he reign!
May he defend our laws,
And ever give us cause
To sing with heart and voice,
God save the King!
Not in 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.
Translations are non-official and intended to convey meaning, not replace originals
Analysis
EditorialNobody knows who wrote it. The authorship of both the words and melody is disputed, with claims ranging from Henry Carey in 1744 to John Bull in 1619. It was never formally adopted by an act of Parliament; it simply became the anthem through long custom and tradition. The melody has been borrowed by over 20 countries for their own anthems at various points in history.