National Anthem Comparison
United Kingdom vs United States
1
Shared themes
✗
Different moods
69
69 years apart
✗
Different continents
United Kingdom
God Save the King
United States
The Star-Spangled Banner
Comparison Analysis
United Kingdom (Europe) and United States (North America) come from different parts of the world, yet both express national identity through song. United Kingdom's "God Save the King" was written in 1745; United States's "The Star-Spangled Banner" in 1814.
Both anthems share themes of God / Faith. United Kingdom additionally explores Monarchy, Love of homeland and Hope, while United States also touches on Flag, Battle / War, Freedom and Resilience.
The emotional tones differ: United Kingdom's anthem is Majestic, while United States's is Proud.
United Kingdom's anthem predates United States's by 69 years, having been written in 1745 compared to 1814.
Shared themes
United Kingdom
👑 Monarchy ✝ God / Faith ❤ Love of homeland 🌅 Hope
United States
🚩 Flag ⚔ Battle / War 🕊 Freedom ✝ God / Faith 💪 Resilience
Shared themes:
✝ God / Faith
Metadata
| United Kingdom | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Written | 1745 | 1814 |
| Adopted | 1745 | 1931 |
| Lyricist | Unknown (traditionally attributed to Henry Carey) | Francis Scott Key |
| Composer | Unknown | John Stafford Smith |
| Language | en | en |
| Region | Northern Europe | Northern America |
Lyrics Side by Side
United Kingdom
God Save the King
Original
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.
Translation
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.
United States
The Star-Spangled Banner
Original
O say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight
O'er the ramparts we watch'd were so gallantly streaming?
Interesting facts
United Kingdom
- 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
United States
- 1. The melody is borrowed from a British drinking club song called 'To Anacreon in Heaven,' written for the Anacreontic Society in London
- 2. It only became the official anthem in 1931; before that, 'My Country, 'Tis of Thee' and 'Hail, Columbia' were commonly used
- 3. The flag that inspired the anthem measured 30 by 42 feet and is now preserved at the Smithsonian, requiring near-total darkness to prevent deterioration
Listen
United Kingdom
United States
