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Jamaica National Anthem

Jamaica, Land We Love

Written 1962
Adopted 1962
Lyrics Hugh Sherlock
Music Robert Lightbourne
✝ God / Faith 🌅 Hope ❤ Love of homeland ☮ Peace | Prayerful

Key Facts

  • 1. The anthem is addressed to God ("Eternal Father") rather than to the nation, and reads as a prayer from its first line to its last.
  • 2. Hugh Sherlock, who wrote the words, was a Methodist minister.
  • 3. Composer Robert Lightbourne was a politician, and already Minister of Trade and Industry when the House of Representatives chose his music in July 1962.
  • 4. Both stanzas end with the refrain "Jamaica, land we love", followed by a line that repeats the country's name three times.
Jamaica - Jamaica, Land We Love

Jamaica National Anthem Lyrics

Eternal Father bless our land, Guard us with Thy mighty hand, Keep us free from evil powers, Be our light through countless hours. To our Leaders, Great Defender, Grant true wisdom from above. Justice, Truth be ours forever, Jamaica, land we love. Jamaica, Jamaica, Jamaica land we love. Teach us true respect for all, Stir response to duty's call, Strengthen us the weak to cherish, Give us vision lest we perish. Knowledge send us, Heavenly Father, Grant true wisdom from above. Justice, Truth be ours forever, Jamaica, land we love. Jamaica, Jamaica, Jamaica land we love.

Translations are non-official and intended to convey meaning, not replace originals

Analysis

Editorial

Written by Hugh Sherlock with music by Robert Lightbourne, the anthem was approved unanimously by the House of Representatives on 19 July 1962 and sung officially for the first time when Jamaica became independent from the United Kingdom on 6 August 1962. It takes the form of a prayer in two stanzas, asking God to bless and guard the nation and to grant its leaders wisdom.

Learn More

National anthem on Wikipedia Official state symbols

Sources & References

  1. National Anthem, Song and Pledge . Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Jamaica
  2. Jamaica, Land We Love . en.wikipedia.org

Source & Review

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Nationalia
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