GOD Save the Queen is possibly the most famous national anthem in the world – and actually can be linked back to as far as 1619, and possibly further. Today, Saturday, April 17, 2021, it will be sung at Prince Philip's funeral.
But what are the lyrics, how many verses are there and who wrote it? Here's everything you need to know…
What are the lyrics to God Save the Queen?
God Save the Queen, or God Save the King depending on the gender of the sitting monarch, is the national anthem of the United Kingdom.
Since its creation, different verses have been added and taken away, but, on most occasions, only one verse is sung however at certain times two or very rarely three are sung.
There are no definitive lyrics but the verses below are widely accepted as the "standard" version of the national anthem.
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!
O Lord our God arise,
Scatter her 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 her be pleased to pour;
Long may she reign:
May she defend our laws,
And ever give us cause,
To sing with heart and voice,
God save the Queen!
Who wrote God Save the Queen?
There is no confirmed author of the tune and it is possible the anthem was adapted from chants used in Catholic churches.
The author most often linked to God Save the Queen is John Bull – an English composer, musician and organ constructor who lived in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Bull composed many pieces of music in his life and it has been widely publicised that, if he did write God Save the Queen, he did so around 1619.
It was first publicly performed in London in 1745 and the tune has been used in many compositions over the years – including by famed musicians such as Beethoven, Haydn and Brahms.
What other countries sing God Save the Queen?
As a result of the wide-reach of the British Empire and in some cases is still used as a national anthem by members of the Commonwealth.
It is one of two official national anthems in New Zealand and is still used as the royal anthem in Australia, Canada, Jamaica and Tuvalu – although it is rarely played.
God Save the Queen stopped being the official national anthem of Australia in 1974 and was replaced by Advance Australia Fair.
Did the Sex Pistols record their own version of God Save The Queen?
In 1977, the year of Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee punk band The Sex Pistols recorded and released a song titled God Save the Queen which was seen as an insult to the monarchy.
Many venues banned the group from performing and certain media outlets refused to play the song or report on the Sex Pistols.
Despite the attempts to censor the song, it reached number 2 on the UK singles chart.
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