The National Anthem of Great Britain (and some of the British Commonwealth)


Written in 1745 during the reign of George III and in customary use as the British National Anthem since then.


The original, as published, was

God save great George our 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

The full version generally known and used today is as follows:

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!


In general usage, only the first verse is sung, thankfully.

There is more history of the song in God Save The Queen and British National Anthem, if you're taken with that.




https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_Save_the_King


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