Advance Australia Fair
The National Song of Australia including the music script:
| 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 hist'ry's page let ev'ry stage |
| Advance Australia Fair. |
| In joyful strains then let us sing |
| Advance Australia Fair |
| When gallant Cook from Albion sailed, |
| To trace wide oceans o'er, |
| True British courage born him on trug, |
| Till he landed on our shore. |
| And there he raised old England's flag, |
| The standard of the brave. |
| With all her faults we love her still, |
| Britannia 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 |
Since 1788 the British National Song "God save the King (Queen)" was the Australian Natonal Song, too. "Advance Australia Fair", written by the Scotsman Peter Dodds McCormick (1835-1916) - known as "Amicus" - was first played at November 30th in 1878 in Sydney. It replaced the British Natonal Song in April 1974. The second verse was rejected by the Australians and in 1984 it was replaced by the third verse.
Australia is still a member of the Commonwealth. Because of this the British National Song "God save the Queen/King" is played in great ceremonies. (Sometimes you hear two other songs "Song of Australia" and "Waltzing Matilda".)
Wuppertal, June 2003