Poll: Do you know the words to your national anthem?

[KingArmery]

I know all of my anthem in English, but only partially in French. However, I do know the translation to the French anthem, and it is hilarious.

Spoiler

O Canada!

Land of our forefathers,
Thy brow is wreathed with a glorious
garland of flowers.
As is thy arm ready to wield the sword,
So also is it ready to carry the cross.
Thy history is an epic
Of the most brilliant exploits.
Thy valour steeped in faith
Will protect our homes and our rights

Unfortunately, the Canadian anthem has been subject to scrutiny due to its slightly sexist (English version reads "all thy sons command" instead of something like "in all of us command") and religious (French says "ready to carry the cross" and English says "God keep our land") nature. For me though, I had always thought it was "Guard keep our land" as in protection and caution will keep us safe and still use this instead of "God."

 

[sirkai007]

I believe there are three or four verses to the U.S. anthem (mostly about kicking British asses and generally being awesome at everything important. Don't quote me on that.)

I find that it's silly that we have an anthem (and with such good lyrics too) that we don't really use anything but the first verse. It's like at church (yes, I go to church of my own free will) when they are singing a really good song but there are seven verses so we only sing the first three. WHAT DID THEY WRITE THE OTHER VERSES FOR IF NO ONE EVER SINGS THEM?!

But more to the point of this thread, I only know the first verse by heart. I do the hand over heart thing, I do feel emotions when It plays but not to the point of tears and getting all choked up.

 

[Davey Woo]

I know a hell of a lot more than the English football team.
Oh!

In all seriousness I only know the first verse of Good Save the Queen, but that's the only bit that is usually played.

 

[Junkle]

I know the first verse of the American anthem. That's it, though.

 

[Agayek]

I know the majority of it off the top of my head, but to be able to spout it all, I need to hear the actual music. Once I have that, though, I can recite it all perfectly from memory.

 

[ShaqLevick]

Well I know the Canadian national anthem both in English and French, so I'd say that I'm a little more than disappointed that you didn't know God Save the Queen, which I also knew being Canadian and all. Do I cry, get choked up or even give two shits? Absolutely not, but I learned it in school as a child, I hear it at sporting events, and I have a working brain so I remember the bloody thing. To all other Canadians who are having trouble finding the words I harbour no ill will against you, but I do weep for your intellect.

 

[EightGaugeHippo]

God save our gracious something or other. I dont really care. I hate patriotism.
BTW I do know all the words, I just refuse to sing them at all times.

 

[JasonKaotic]

Nnnnnope. Something about how how the Queen is good or something? Glad to say I don't know it. The Queen's a dementia-ridden hag who's one of the richest people in the country purely because of who her family is. How, I ask, is that fair?

Oh, and she makes us look like a load of posh dickheads.

 

[Onchei]

Yes, I do know the words to my national anthem, and in two languages.

As for patriotism, it's usually just dumb, shallow egocentrism, and I don't abide by it. I think my country's a great place to live, but I try to consider everything objectively instead of letting national ties guide my judgement.

 

[mr-fix_it]

Du gamla, Du fria, Du fjällhöga nord
Du tysta, Du glädjerika sköna!
Jag hälsar Dig, vänaste land uppå jord,
Din sol, Din himmel, Dina ängder gröna.
Din sol, Din himmel, Dina ängder gröna.

Du tronar på minnen från fornstora dar,
då ärat Ditt namn flög över jorden.
Jag vet att Du är och Du blir vad du var.
Ja, jag vill leva jag vill dö i Norden.
Ja, jag vill leva jag vill dö i Norden.

Jag städs vill dig tjäna mitt älskade land,
din trohet till döden vill jag svära.
Din rätt, skall jag värna, med håg och med hand,
din fana, högt den bragderika bära.
din fana, högt den bragderika bära.

Med Gud skall jag kämpa, för hem och för härd,
för Sverige, den kära fosterjorden.
Jag byter Dig ej, mot allt i en värld
Nej, jag vill leva jag vill dö i Norden.
Nej, jag vill leva jag vill dö i Norden.

The Swedish one I knew the last 2 lines of the text before I looked it up.

 

[flamingjimmy]

I know the first part of my national anthem, but not the whole thing, it goes on for bloody ages. No-one knows the other verses.

However, I haven't sung 'God save the Queen' since I was a child. For three reasons:

A. I don't believe in God.

B. I have no love for the Queen and would love Britain to be a republic.

and C. I don't like patriotism and consider it to be a vice and not a virtue.

 

[B2kCyclops]

Only the first Stanza. The Dutch anthem is rather silly though, since it's literally about a German guy still swearing allegiance to the king of Spain. Ironically enough, Germany and Spain are also the only countries that have succesfully conquered the Netherlands after the Romans. So yeah...

Learn your history.
I live in Dillenburg, knowing about dutch history is part of the upbringing in this city.
Wilhelm FREED holland from the spanish. He is considered the founder of the dutch republic.
And since I am too lazy to give you a lesson in history:
http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willem_van_Oranje

OT:
I know our anthem.
And I think it is one of the most beautiful in the world.
Lyrics and music wise.
And if this austrian fu**head and his nazi-a**holes wouldn't have fucked our nation over, it would still be correct.

 

[Firepowered]

Yeah, I know all my anthem by heart (Italy) and it's four stanzas.
I'm pretty proud of it, because almost noone in this blasted country knows shit other than the first stanza. That said, i'm not a patriot; Italy is full of assholes.

 

[SnipErlite]

I'm mildly surprised at how few people actually know the English National anthem, it isn't very complicated.

Yes, I know it, but I don't get a strong patriotic feeling. Maybe were I watching England play in the World Cup final (lol if only) and half the crowd were belting it out, I would, but in general not really.

 

[Wadders]

I dont mind it as an overall UK anthem, but I would prefer if we English had our own anthem like the other countries in the UK do.

Just to point out several Scottish people find "God save the queen" offensive because it at one point included

Lord, grant that Marshal Wade,
May by thy mighty aid,
Victory bring.
May he sedition hush,
and like a torrent rush,
Rebellious Scots to crush,
God save the King.

While I'm not anti-UK as such those "Rebellious Scots" include my clan several of whom were killed off. So I can't really say I'm comfortable hearing it used.

Edit:

I do know "Flower of Scotland" though.

Hmm fair enough. Bearing in mind the song was written a long time ago though. As I'm sure you're aware, I dont think anyone who sings it these days really supports that sentiment any more. And besides, that verse is rarely sung, its only the first verse that's ever sung at footy and rugby matches.

I'm sorry if it offends you, but I cant see us changing our national anthem just because a handful of Scotchmen take offense. Similarly, I could (although I dont) take offense at Flower of Scotland as it bears a bit of an anti-English sentiment. Quite rightly though as it's part of your heritage.

I'm jealous of you guys for having such a kick-ass anthem. Like I said, us English should get our own anthem, hopefully as rousing as Flower of Scotland

 

[Ghostkai]

God save the Queen.

Yes, I know my national anthem, yes, I love my country, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. And don't anyone tell me thats a bad thing, because it's not.

 

[Fallen-Angel Risen-Demon]

Yes I love my country(Britain) and if needs be I will die defending it. So yes I'm a patriot my bed covers are the flag.
[sub] [sub] the sun hasn't set on the British empire it's just gone behind a cloud or somthing [/sub] [/sub]

 

[Eggsnham]

No, I'm not exactly the most patriotic person.

 

[Project_Omega]

I was wondering who knew the words to theirs. Yesterday, at a gig some guys behind me started singing ours before the band came on, they got the whole crowd singing. I only knew the "God save our gracious queen" so I just mumbled the rest.
Looking at it though, it's not exactly a hard song to remember.

Spoiler

God save our gracious Queen!
Long live our noble Queen!
God save the Queen!
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God save the Queen.

To add more discussion, so I don't just get yes or no answers, do you partake in patriotism? Hand on heart, tears down the cheek when your flag goes up?
Do you feel strong emotions when you sing it?

[sub]
Do I sound like a therapist with the barrage of questions? [/sub]

No, I dont know my nation's or the nation I live in at the moment, and the reason for this is because I dont specifically give a fook.
And now the reason for this is that I am not some full-of-pride bugger that just rants on how good his country is, I believe that its not the country that is your true home. Its the family and your friends, and where they live is important (your home is where your heart is). I am not patriotic.Because I dont believe such a thing should even exist, its simple pride of a drunken fool who watched too much football while slobbering in the pub with his worth-for-nothing friends. I would not mind living in antarctica if my family and my friends were there, because its them thats important. During my childhood i was forced to learn the national anthem, and for what? so I can foolishly just sing it drunkily in the pub? I value the place I live in and my house but not the whole country, because its a waste of time.

 

[GrinningManiac]

I refuse to sing God Save the Queen, because one of the verses talks about attacking 'The Scots'

Plus, its a GODAWFULLY BORING anthem

Thus:

"FLOWER OF SCO'-LAAAN
WHEN WILL WE SEE,
YER LIKES AGAIN?
THAT FO-UGH' AN DIEEED FOR
A WEE BI' A HILL AN' GLEN

AN' STOOD AGAINST THEM
ENGLAN'!
PROU' EDWARD'S AR-MEEEE
AN' SEN' THE HOO-OOME WARD
TAE THINK AGAIN"