National Anthem

From AustraliaWiki

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Music Script 3 Lyrics 4 Background

Introduction

The Australian National Anthem is called Advance Australia Fair. Here you find the music script and the lyrics. To sing along you can download the music script and lyrics as a PDF document. Beside this national anthem we often sing the folksong Waltzing Matilda.

Music Script

Lyrics

Australians all let us rejoice,

For we are young and free,

We've golden soil and wealth for toil,

Our home is girt by sea.

Our land abounds in nature's gifts

Of beauty rich and rare,

In hist'ry's page let ev'ry stage

Advance Australia Fair.

In joyful strains then let us sing

Advance Australia Fair

When gallant Cook from Albion sailed,

To trace wide oceans o'er,

True British courage born him on trug,

Till he landed on our shore.

And there he raised old England's flag,

The standard of the brave.

With all her faults we love her still,

Britannia rules the wave.

In joyful strains then let us sing

Advance Australia Fair

Beneath our radiant Southern Cross,

We'll toil with hearts and hands.

To make this Commonwealth of ours

Renowned of all the lands.

For those who've come across the seas,

We've boundless plains to share;

With courage let us all combine

To Advance Australia Fair.

In joyful strains then let us sing

Advance Australia Fair

Background

Since 1788 the British National Song "God save the King (Queen)" was the Australian Natonal Song, too. "Advance Australia Fair", written by the Scotsman Peter Dodds McCormick (1835-1916) - known as "Amicus" - was first played at November 30th in 1878 in Sydney. It replaced the British Natonal Song in April 1974. The second verse was rejected by the Australians and in 1984 it was replaced by the third verse. Australia is still a member of the Commonwealth. Because of this the British National Song "God save the Queen/King" is played in great ceremonies. (Sometimes you hear two other songs "Song of Australia" and "Waltzing Matilda".)

The printable version of the music script can be downloaded as a PDF Document.

During the Opening Celebration of the Olympic Games Sydney 2000 the National Song was sung in the first, third and again the first verse.

To hear the song you can push the "play"-button in this player:

(Olympic Games Sydney 2000 / 1., 3., 1. Verse)
You can also download it as MP3-file (3,32MB) or MP2-file (4,98MB).

The Australian government prepared two further versions: external links!
[1] (Soloist / 1. and 3. Verse)
[2] (Choir / 1. and 3. Verse)