What is the national anthem?
1 January 2002 by danielbowenWhat is the Australian NAtional Anthem called? What are the words to this song? - deisenbud, probably USA
The Australian national anthem is in fact the words “Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi” repeated several dozen times, and set to music. While this doesn’t command a lot of respect at official occasions, it is a crowd pleaser.
No, actually the Australian national anthem is called “Advance Australia Fair”, and while it’s not quite as catchy as “Aussie Aussie Aussie”, it can sound reasonably impressive if performed correctly. Like any national anthem, it can also sound bloody awful if massacred by some twerp of a singer at a public event.
It was written by Scotsman Peter Dodds McCormick, and was first performed in 1878, although it didn’t actually become the national anthem until 1984. Though when I think about it, I seem to remember singing it a long time before this in primary school.
The first verse, which is the only one most people know, goes somethin’ like this:
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 history’s page, let every stage
Advance Australia fair!
In joyful strains then let us sing,
“Advance Australia fair!”
There are another four verses, but only the first and third verses were actually proclaimed to be the anthem. Looking at the lyrics, the other verses seem to include bits about being loyal Britons and how great the British are, which is all very well, but is not really terrific if included in another country’s national anthem.
