Papua New Guinea
O Arise, All You Sons
1975
1975
Thomas Shacklady
Thomas Shacklady
🤝 Unity ✝ God / Faith 🕊 Freedom 🌿 Nature ☮ Peace |
Key Facts
- 1. Papua New Guinea is the most linguistically diverse country on Earth with over 840 living languages, yet its anthem uses none of them, being written entirely in English.
- 2. The anthem's melody incorporates rhythmic patterns inspired by traditional Melanesian music, blending Western choral structure with Pacific Island musical traditions.
- 3. During independence celebrations in 1975, the anthem was performed alongside traditional sing-sing ceremonies, where performers in elaborate tribal costumes danced to its melody.
Lyrics
O arise, all you sons of this land,
Let us sing of our joy to be free,
Praising God and rejoicing to be
Papua New Guinea.
[Chorus]
Shout our name from the mountains to seas,
Papua New Guinea;
Let us raise our voices and proclaim
Papua New Guinea.
Now give thanks to the good Lord above
For His kindness, His wisdom and love
For this land of our fathers so free,
Papua New Guinea.
[Chorus]
Shout our name from the mountains to seas,
Papua New Guinea;
Let us raise our voices and proclaim
Papua New Guinea.
Cherish also our Melanesian way,
Where in peace and in harmony lay
The strength of our nation today,
Papua New Guinea.
[Chorus]
Shout our name from the mountains to seas,
Papua New Guinea;
Let us raise our voices and proclaim
Papua New Guinea.
Translations are non-official and intended to convey meaning, not replace originals
Analysis
EditorialAdopted in 1975 upon independence from Australia. Written and composed by Thomas Shacklady, who was a teacher in Papua New Guinea. The anthem is in English, one of the country's three official languages alongside Tok Pisin and Hiri Motu.