Advance Australia Fair
Fra Wikipedia, den frie encyklopedi
«Advance Australia Fair» er australske nasjonalsangen, komponert av Peter Dodds McCormick på slutten av 1800-tallet, og første gang fremført 30. november 1878 av Andrew Fairfax.
Sangen ble hurtig populær og tilpasset utgave ble sunget av et gigantisk sangkor på 10 000 mennesker ved innvielsen av Det britiske samveldet i Australia i 1901. I 1907 belønnet den australske regjering McCormick med £100 for komposisjonen. Som de fleste nasjonalsanger blir den fremført ved høytideligheter og større sportsbegivenheter.
Australia har faktisk en uoffisiell nasjonalsang, Waltzing Matilda, som er like kjent.
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!"
When gallant Cook from Albion sail'd,
To trace wide oceans o'er,
True British courage bore him on,
Till he landed on our shore.
Then here he raised Old England's flag,
The standard of the brave;
With all her faults we love her still,
"Brittannia 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!"
While other nations of the globe
Behold us from afar,
We'll rise to high renown and shine
Like our glorious southern star;
From England, Scotia, Erin's Isle,
Who come our lot to share,
Let all combine with heart and hand
To advance Australia fair!
In joyful strains then let us sing
"Advance Australia fair!"
Shou'd foreign foe e'er sight our coast,
Or dare a foot to land,
We'll rouse to arms like sires of yore
To guard our native strand;
Brittannia then shall surely know,
Beyond wide ocean's roll,
Her sons in fair Australia's land
Still keep a British soul.
In joyful strains the let us sing
"Advance Australia fair!"