Tag Archives: lyrics

The National Anthem of Guyana

29 Nov

The National Anthem of Guyana

Dear Land of Guyana, of Rivers and Plains is the national anthem of Guyana. Selected a month before independence in 1966, the lyrics were written by Archibald Leonard Luker and the music was composed by Robert Cyril Gladstone Potter.

Lyrics

Dear land of Guyana, of rivers and plains;
Made rich by the sunshine, and lush by the rains,
Set gem-like and fair, between mountains and sea,
Your children salute you, dear land of the free.
Green land of Guyana, our heroes of yore,
Both bondsmen and free, laid their bones on your shore.
This soil so they hallowed, and from them are we,
All sons of one Mother, Guyana the free.
Great land of Guyana, diverse though our strains,
We’re born of their sacrifice, heirs of their pains,
And ours is the glory their eyes did not see,
One land of six peoples, united and free.
Dear land of Guyana, to you will we give,
Our homage, our service, each day that we live;
God guard you, great Mother, and make us to be
More worthy our heritage, land of the free….

Information maintained by Caribbeanflags.com

The National Anthem of Guatemala

28 Nov

The National Anthem of Guatemala

The national anthem of Guatemala was written by José Joaquín Palma (1844–1911) and composed by Rafael Álvarez Ovalle. The anthem was adopted in 1896 as the winning entry in a competition held by the government. The lyrics were modified slightly in 1934 by Professor Jose Maria Bonilla Ruano, a Spanish grammar scholar. Some verses were softened in their bloody context while others were enhanced in their poetic beauty.

The anthem is often erroneously “titled” Guatemala Feliz! from its opening lyrics, but the anthem has no official name and is only referred to in the country as Himno Nacional.

Spanish lyrics

¡Guatemala feliz…! que tus aras
no profane jamás el verdugo;
ni haya esclavos que laman el yugo
ni tiranos que escupan tu faz.

Si mañana tu suelo sagrado
lo amenaza invasión extranjera,
libre al viento tu hermosa bandera
a vencer o a morir llamará.

[Coro]
Libre al viento tu hermosa bandera
a vencer o a morir llamará;
que tu pueblo con ánima fiera
antes muerto que esclavo será.

De tus viejas y duras cadenas
tu forjaste con mano iracunda
el arado que el suelo fecunda
y la espada que salva el honor.

Nuestros padres lucharon un día
encendidos en patrio ardimiento
y lograron sin choque sangriento
colocarte en un trono de amor.

[Coro]
Y lograron sin choque sangriento
colocarte en un trono de amor,
que de Patria, en enérgico acento,
dieron vida al ideal redentor.

Es tu enseña pedazo de cielo
en que prende una nube su albura,
y ¡ay de aquel que con ciega locura,
sus colores pretenda manchar!

Pues tus hijos valientes y altivos,
que veneran la paz cual presea,
nunca esquivan la ruda pelea
si defienden su tierra y su hogar.

[Coro]
Nunca esquivan la ruda pelea
si defienden su tierra y su hogar,
que es tan solo el honor su alma idea
y el altar de la Patria su altar.

Recostada en el Ande soberbio,
de dos mares al ruido sonoro,
bajo el ala de grana y de oro
te adormeces del bello quetzal.

Ave indiana que vive en tu escudo,
paladión que protege tu suelo;
¡ojalá que remonte su vuelo,
más que el cóndor y el águila real!

[Coro]
¡Ojalá que remonte su vuelo,
más que el cóndor y el águila real,
y en sus alas levante hasta el cielo,
Guatemala, tu nombre inmortal!

English translation

Happy Guatemala, may your altar
Never be trampled by the tormentor
Nor should slaves lick the yoke
Nor should tyrants spit in your face

If tomorrow your sacred soil
Is threatened by foreign invasion
Free into the wind, your beautiful flag
To victory or death it will call

[Chorus]
Free into the wind, your beautiful flag
To victory or death it will call
Since your people, with fiery soul
Will die before becoming slaves

From your old and hard chains
You forged, with an ire-driven hand,
The plow that fertilizes the soil
And the sword that saves honor.

Our fathers fought one day,
Lit up in patriotic burning
And they were able, without bloody clash,
To place you on a throne of love.

[Chorus]
And they were able, without bloody clash,
To place you on a throne of love,
That our Nation, in energetic assent,
Gave life to the ideal redeemer.

Your emblem shows a piece of the sky
In which a cloud gets its whiteness
Wretched is he who dares in madness
stain your colors

Well, your brave and proud sons
who admire the peace within
will never avoid the rough battles
if they are to defend their land and their home.

[Chorus]
They will never avoid the rough battles
if they are to defend their land and their home
that honor is the idea that reigns their souls
and the altar of the mother country their altar

Lying in the magnificent Ande
with two oceans at hearing distance
under the wing of seeds and gold
you become entranced from the beautiful quetzal

Native bird that lives in your seal
protector that protects your soil
hopefully he will fly high
more than the condor and the royal eagle!

[Chorus]
Hopefully he will fly high
more than the condor and the royal eagle
and in his wings, raise up to the sky:
Guatemala, your immortal name!

Information maintained by Caribbeanflags.com

The National Anthem of Costa Rica

25 Nov

The National Anthem of Costa Rica

“Himno Nacional de Costa Rica” (Spanish language, Costa Rican National Anthem) is the national anthem of Costa Rica. It was originally adopted in 1853, with the music composed by Manuel María Gutiérrez. Words by José María Zeledón Brenes were added in 1900.

Lyrics

Noble patria, tu hermosa bandera
expresión de tu vida nos da;
bajo el límpido azul de tu cielo
blanca y pura descansa la paz.

En la lucha tenaz,
de fecunda labor
que enrojece del hombre la faz,
conquistaron tus hijos
labriegos sencillos
eterno prestigio, estima y honor.
Eterno prestigio, estima y honor.

¡Salve, o tierra gentil!
¡Salve, o madre de amor!
Cuando alguno pretenda
tu gloria manchar,
verás a tu pueblo valiente y viril,
la tosca herramienta en arma trocar.

Salve oh Patria tu pródigo suelo,
dulce abrigo y sustento nos da;
bajo el límpido azul de tu cielo
¡vivan siempre el trabajo y la paz!

English translation

Noble homeland, your beautiful flag
Proof of your life it gives us
Under the unsullied blue of your skies,
Peace rests, white and pure.

In the tenacious battle of fruitful toil,
That which brings a glow to men’s faces,
Your sons, simple farm hands,
Gained eternal renown, esteem and honor.
Eternal renown, esteem and honor.

Hail, gentle homeland!
Hail, mother of love!
When anyone should attempt to besmirch your glory,
You will see your people, valiant and virile,
The rustic tool into a weapon transform.

Hail, O homeland! Your prodigal soil
Sweet shelter and sustenance gives us.
Under the unsullied blue of your sky,
May peace and labor ever live!

Information maintained by Caribbeanflags.com

The National Anthem of Belize

24 Nov

The National Anthem of Belize

Land of the Free is the national anthem of Belize. The words were written by Samuel Alfred Haynes and the music by Selwyn Walford Young in 1963. It was officially adopted in 1981.

Lyrics

O, Land of the Free by the Carib Sea,
Our manhood we pledge to thy liberty!
No tyrants here linger, despots must flee
This tranquil haven of democracy.
The blood of our sires, which hallows the sod,
Brought freedom from slavery oppression’s rod,
By the might of truth and the grace of God,
No longer shall we be hewers of wood.
Chorus: (repeated after second verse as well)
Arise! ye sons of the Baymen’s clan,
Put on your armour, clear the land!
Drive back the tyrants, let despots flee -
Land of the Free by the Carib Sea!
Nature has blessed thee with wealth untold,
O’er mountains and valleys where prairies roll;
Our fathers, the Baymen, valiant and bold
Drove back the invader; this heritage hold
From proud Rio Hondo to old Sarstoon,
Through coral isle, over blue lagoon;
Keep watch with the angels, the stars and moon;
For freedom comes tomorrow’s noon.

  1. To introduce Belize at international events such as soccer matches, international sporting tournaments, conferences etc.
  2. Locally, to introduce top national dignitaries such as the Governor General, Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition etc.
  3. Most schools sing it at least once a week as part of school services; special church services, such as those on Independence Day, make use of the anthem.
  4. Introduces most radio and television stations sign-on routine.
  5. Generally, to identify Belize as an independent nation.

Information maintained by Caribbeanflags.com

The National Anthem of El Salvador

23 Nov

The National Anthem of El Salvador

“Himno Nacional de El Salvador” (Spanish Language National Anthem of El Salvador) is the national anthem of El Salvador. Written by General Juan José Cañas with music composed by the Italian Juan Aberle in 1856, the anthem was adopted as the national song on September 15, 1879, and officially recognized by the government on December 11, 1953. Commonly, only the chorus (which is repeated) is played and sung at sporting events and official diplomatic ceremonies, the anthem is ended before the first verse (the slow music) due to the chorus being the strongest musical part of the anthem.

Lyrics (in Spanish)

CORO:
Saludemos la patria orgullosos
De hijos suyos podernos llamar;
Y juremos la vida animosa,
Sin descanso a su bien consagrar.

PRIMERA ESTROFA
De la paz en la dicha suprema,
Siempre noble soñó El Salvador;
Fue obtenerla su eterno problema,
Conservarla es su gloria mayor.
Y con fe inquebrantable el camino
Del progreso se afana en seguir
Por llenar su grandioso destino,
Conquistarse un feliz porvenir.
Le protege una férrea barrera
Contra el choque de ruin deslealtad,
Desde el día que en su alta bandera
Con su sangre escribió: ¡LIBERTAD!
CORO

SEGUNDA ESTROFA
Libertad es su dogma, es su guía
Que mil veces logró defender;
Y otras tantas, de audaz tiranía
Rechazar el odioso poder.
Dolorosa y sangrienta es su historia,
Pero excelsa y brillante a la vez;
Manantial de legítima gloria,
Gran lección de espartana altivez.
No desmaya en su innata bravura,
En cada hombre hay un héroe inmortal
Que sabrá mantenerse a la altura
De su antiguo valor proverbial.
CORO

TERCERA ESTROFA
Todos son abnegados, y fieles
Al prestigio del bélico ardor
Con que siempre segaron laureles
De la patria salvando el honor.
Respetar los derechos extraños
Y apoyarse en la recta razón
Es para ella, sin torpes amaños
Su invariable, más firme ambición.
Y en seguir esta línea se aferra
Dedicando su esfuerzo tenaz,
En hacer cruda guerra a la guerra:
Su ventura se encuentra en la paz.

English translation

CHORUS
Salute the Motherland, proud
to be called Its children
And let us swear our lives spiritedly
Without rest to its good consecrate

FIRST VERSE
Of peace enjoyed in perfect happiness
El Salvador always nobly dreamed.
To achieve this has been Her eternal proposition,
To keep it, Her greatest glory.
With inviolable faith, the path of progress
She strives to follow
To fulfil Her great destiny
And conquer a happy future.
A stern barrier protects Her
Against the clash of vile disloyalty,
Ever since the day when Her soaring Flag,
Wrote Freedom with Its blood.
CHORUS

SECOND VERSE
Freedom is Her dogma and Her guide;
A thousand times She has defended it,
And as many times has She repelled
The hateful power of atrocious tyranny.
Her history has been bloody and sad,
Yet at the same time sublime and brilliant,
A source of legitimate glory
And a great lesson in Spartan pride.
Her innate bravery shall not waver:
In every man there is an immortal hero
Who knows how to maintain the level
Of the proverbial valour of old.
CHORUS

THIRD VERSE
All are self-denying and faithful
To the tradition of warlike ardour
With which they have always reaped fame
By saving the Motherland’s honour.
To respect the rights of others
And base Her actions on right and justice
Is for Her, without infamous intrigue,
The constant and most firm ambition.
And in following this line She persists,
Dedicating her tenacious efforts
In giving hard battle for battle;
Her happiness is found in peace.
CHORUS

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The National Anthem of Ecuador

23 Nov

The National Anthem of Ecuador

“¡Salve, Oh Patria!” (“We Salute You, Our Homeland”) is the national anthem of Ecuador. The lyrics were written in 1865 by the poet Juan León Mera, under request of the Ecuadorian Senate; the music was composed by Antonio Neumane. However, the anthem was not officially adopted by the Congress until September 29, 1948.

The anthem consists of a chorus and six verses, of which only the second verse and the chorus (before and after the verse) are sung.

Spanish lyrics

Coro
¡Salve, Oh Patria, mil veces! ¡Oh Patria,
gloria a ti! ¡Gloria a ti!
Ya tu pecho, tu pecho, rebosa
Gozo y paz y a tu pecho rebosa;
Y tu frente, tu frente radiosa
Más que el sol contemplamos lucir,
Y tu frente, tu frente radiosa
Más que el sol contemplamos lucir.

2da Estrofa
Los primeros los hijos del suelo
Que soberbio, el Pichincha decora
Te aclamaron por siempre señora
Y vertieron su sangre por ti.
Dios miró y aceptó el holocausto
Y esa sangre fue germen fecundo
De otros héroes que atónito el mundo
Vio en tu torno a millares surgir.
A millares surgir, a millares surgir.
Coro

Spanish full lyrics

Coro
¡Salve, Oh Patria, mil veces! ¡Oh Patria,
gloria a ti! Y a tu pecho rebosa
gozo y paz, y tu frente radiosa
más que el sol contemplamos lucir.

I
Indignados tus hijos del yugo
que te impuso la ibérica audacia,
de la injusta y horrenda desgracia
que pesaba fatal sobre ti,
santa voz a los cielos alzaron,
voz de noble y sin par juramento,
de vengarte del monstruo sangriento,
de romper ese yugo servil.

II
Los primeros los hijos del suelo
que, soberbio, el Pichincha decora
te aclamaron por siempre señora
y vertieron su sangre por ti.
Dios miró y aceptó el holocausto,
y esa sangre fue germen fecundo
de otros héroes que, atónito, el mundo
vio en tu torno a millares surgir.

III
Cedió al fin la fiereza española,
y hoy, oh Patria, tu libre existencia
es la noble y magnífica herencia
que nos dio el heroísmo feliz:
de las manos paternas la hubimos,
nadie intente arrancárnosla ahora,
ni nuestra ira excitar vengadora
quiera, necio o audaz, contra si.

IV
De esos héroes el brazo de hierro
nada tuvo invencible la tierra
y del valle a la altísima sierra
se escuchaba el fragor de la lid;
tras la lid la victoria volaba,
libertad tras el triunfo venía,
y al león destrozado se oía
de impotencia y despecho rugir

V
Nadie, oh Patria, lo intente. Las sombras
de tus héroes gloriosos nos miran
y el valor y el orgullo que inspiran
son augurios de triunfos por ti.
Venga el hierro y el plomo fulmíneo,
que a la idea de guerra y venganza
se despierta la heroica pujanza
que hizo al fiero español sucumbir.

VI
Y si nuevas cadenas prepara
la injusticia de bárbara suerte,
¡gran Pichincha! prevén tú la muerte
de la Patria y sus hijos al fin;
hunde al punto en tus hondas entrañas
cuando existe en tu tierra; el tirano
huelle solo cenizas y en vano
busque rastro de ser junto a ti.

English translation

Chorus
We greet you, Oh Fatherland, a thousand times!
Oh Fatherland, Glory be to you! Glory be to you!
Your breast, your breast, overflows,
Your breast overflows with joy and peace;
And your radiant face, your radiant face
is brighter than the sun shining we see,
And your radiant face, your radiant face
is brighter than the sun shining we see.

II
The worthy sons of the soil
Which magnificently adorns Pichincha,
They always declared you as their sovereign lady
And shed their blood for you.
God observed and accepted that sacrifice,
And this blood was the prolific seed
Of other heroes who amazed the world,
And in turn, of thousands arising around you.
Thousands arising around you, thousands arising around you.
Chorus

III
He yielded at last the fierce Spanish,
And now, oh fatherland, your free existence
The noble and magnificent heritage,
That gave us the heroism happy:
The father’s hands we had,
No one tries arrancárnosla now
Excite our anger or vengeful
Wish, foolish or bold, against itself.

IV
Of the heroes iron arm
No land was invincible,
And the high mountain valley
You could hear the roar of the fray;
After the lid flew to victory,
Freedom after the victory came,
And the lion was heard broken
Roar of helplessness and despair

V
No one, oh Patria, try it. Shadows
Your glorious heroes watch us,
And the value and pride that inspire
They are omens of wins for you.
Come on fulmíneo iron and lead,
That the idea of ​​war and revenge
Wakes the heroic strength
He did succumb to the fierce Spanish.

VI
And if new chains prepared
The barbaric injustice of fate,
Pichincha great! you expect death
Of the country and their children to the end;
Sinks to the deep point in your gut
When there in your land, the tyrant
Trample only ashes and in vain
Look for trace to be with you.

Information maintained by Caribbeanflags.com

The National Anthem of Brazil

23 Nov

The National Anthem of Brazil

The Brazilian national anthem (Portuguese: Hino Nacional Brasileiro) was composed by Francisco Manuel da Silva in 1831 and had been given at least two sets of unofficial lyrics before a 1922 decree by President Epitácio Pessoa gave the anthem its definitive, official lyrics, by Osório Duque-Estrada, after several changes were made to his proposal, written in 1909.

Lyrics (Portuguese)

First Chorus
Ouviram do Ipiranga as margens plácidas
De um povo heróico o brado retumbante,
E o sol da Liberdade, em raios fúlgidos,
Brilhou no céu da Pátria nesse instante.

Se o penhor dessa igualdade
Conseguimos conquistar com braço forte,
Em teu seio, ó Liberdade,
Desafia o nosso peito a própria morte!

Ó Pátria amada,
Idolatrada,
Salve! Salve!

Brasil, um sonho intenso, um raio vívido,
De amor e de esperança à terra desce,
Se em teu formoso céu, risonho e límpido,
A imagem do Cruzeiro resplandece.

Gigante pela própria natureza,
És belo, és forte, impávido colosso,
E o teu futuro espelha essa grandeza.

Terra adorada
Entre outras mil
És tu, Brasil,
Ó Pátria amada!

Dos filhos deste solo
És mãe gentil,
Pátria amada,
Brasil!

Second Chorus
Deitado eternamente em berço esplêndido,
Ao som do mar e à luz do céu profundo,
Fulguras, ó Brasil, florão da América,
Iluminado ao sol do Novo Mundo!

Do que a terra mais garrida
Teus risonhos, lindos campos têm mais flores,
“Nossos bosques têm mais vida”,
“Nossa vida” no teu seio “mais amores”.

Ó Pátria amada,
Idolatrada,
Salve! Salve!

Brasil, de amor eterno seja símbolo
O lábaro que ostentas estrelado,
E diga o verde-louro dessa flâmula
- Paz no futuro e glória no passado.

Mas se ergues da justiça a clava forte,
Verás que um filho teu não foge à luta,
Nem teme, quem te adora, a própria morte.

Terra adorada
Entre outras mil
És tu, Brasil,
Ó Pátria amada!

Dos filhos deste solo
És mãe gentil,
Pátria amada,
Brasil!

English translation

The placid banks of Ipiranga heard
the resounding cry of a heroic people
and in shining rays, the sun of liberty
shone in our homeland’s skies at this very moment.

If the assurance of this equality
we achieved by our mighty arms,
in thy bosom, O freedom,
our chest shall defy death itself!

O beloved,
idolized homeland,
Hail, hail!

Brazil, an intense dream, a vivid ray
of love and hope descends to earth
if in thy lovely, smiling and clear skies
the image of the (Southern) Cross shines resplendently.

Giant by thine own nature,
thou art beautiful, thou art strong, an intrepid colossus,
and thy future mirrors thy greatness.

Beloved Land
amongst a thousand others
art thou, Brazil,
O beloved homeland!

To the sons of this land
thou art a gentle mother,
beloved homeland,
Brazil!

Second Chorus
Eternally laid on a splendid cradle,
by the sound of the sea and the light of the deep sky,
thou shinest, O Brazil, garland of America,
illuminated by the sun of the New World!

Than the most elegant land abroad,
thy smiling, pretty prairies have more flowers
“Our meadows have more life”,
“our life” in thy bosom “more love”.

O beloved,
idolized homeland,
Hail, hail!

Brazil, of eternal love be the symbol
the starred banner thou showest forth
and proclaim the laurel-green of thy pennant
‘Peace in the future and glory in the past.’

But if thou raisest the strong gavel of Justice,
thou wilt see that a son of thine flees not from battle,
nor does he who loves thee fear his very own death.

Beloved Land,
amongst a thousand others
art thou, Brazil,
O beloved homeland!

To the sons of this land
thou art a gentle mother,
beloved homeland,
Brazil!

Information maintained by Caribbeanflags.com

The National Anthem of Bahamas

23 Nov

The National Anthem of Bahamas

March On, Bahamaland is the national anthem of the Bahamas. It was composed by Timothy Gibson and adopted in 1973.

Lyrics

March On, Bahamaland

Lift up your head to the rising sun, Bahamaland;
March on to glory, your bright banners waving high.

See how the world marks the manner of your bearing!
Pledge to excel through love and unity.

Pressing onward, march together
to a common loftier goal;

Steady sunward, tho’ the weather
hide the wide and treachrous shoal.

Lift up your head to the rising sun, Bahamaland,
‘Til the road you’ve trod lead unto your God,

Information maintained by Caribbeanflags.com

The National Anthem of Aruba

23 Nov

The National Anthem of Aruba

Aruba Dushi Tera (Aruba Precious Country) is the national anthem of Aruba. It is a waltz written by Juan Chabaya Lampe and composed by Rufo Wever. It was accepted as the anthem on March 18, 1976. It is written in Papiamento.

Lyrics

Aruba patria aprecia
nos cuna venera
Chikito y simpel bo por ta
pero si respeta.

[Chorus]
O, Aruba, dushi tera
nos baranca tan stima
Nos amor p’abo t’asina grandi
cu n’tin nada pa kibr’e, cu’n tin nada pa kibr’e.

Bo playanan tan admira
cu palma tur dorna
Bo escudo y bandera ta
orguyo di nos tur!

[Chorus]
Grandeza di bo pueblo ta
su gran cordialidad
Cu Dios por guia y conserva
su amor pa libertad!

[Chorus]

English Translationa

Aruba our apreciated home
our venerated cradle
though small and simple you may be
but you are respected.

[Chorus]
Aruba our dear country
our rock so well beloved
our love for you is so strong
that nothing can destroy it. (repeat)

Your beaches so much admired
with palm trees all adorned
your coat of arms and flag
is the proudness of our all!

[Chorus]
The greatness of our people
is their great cordiality
and may God guide and preserve
his love for freedom!

[Chorus]

Information maintained by Caribbeanflags.com

The National Anthem of Saint Kitts and Nevis

18 Nov

The National Anthem of Saint Kitts and Nevis

O Land of Beauty!” is the national anthem of the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis. Written and Composed by Kenrick Georges, it became officially adopted as the national anthem of the newly independent nation in 1983, when the federation received its independence from Great Britain.

Lyrics

O Land of Beauty!
Our country where peace abounds,
Thy children stand free
On the strength of will and love.
With God in all our struggles,
Saint Kitts and Nevis be
A nation bound together,
With a common destiny.
As stalwarts we stand
For justice and liberty.
With wisdom and truth
We will serve and honour thee.
No sword nor spear can conquer
For God will sure defend.
His blessings shall forever
To posterity extend.

Information maintained by Caribbeanflags.com

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