Land of Hope and Glory

Land of Hope and Glory

Original Text
(1) Arthur C. Benson and Edward Elgar, Coronation Ode (London and New York: Boosey, 1902): [xi] (text) and 70-80 (music). M 1533 E38 op. 44 Music Library. (2) version created for Clara Butt in 1902 and recorded by her in 1912, as well as performed by Edward Hamilton and recorded Oct. 28, 1914; (3) post-1914 version (The Times [London, 1914]), for which see the Elgar Birthplace Web site.
(1) 1902 Version: VI. Land of Hope and Glory. Finale (Contralto Solo and Tutti)
2How may we extol thee, who are born of thee?
3Truth and Right and Freedom, each a holy gem,
4Stars of solemn brightness, weave thy diadem.
5Tho' thy way be darkened, still in splendour drest,
6As the star that trembles o'er the liquid West.
7Throned amid the billows, throned inviolate,
8Though hast reigned victorious, thou has smiled at fate.
9Land of hope and glory, Fortress of the free,
10How may we extol thee, praise thee, honour thee?
11Hark, a mighty nation maketh glad reply;
12Lo, our lips are thankful, lo, our hearts are high!
13Hearts in hope uplifted, loyal lips that sing;
14Strong in faith and freedom, we have crowned our King!
(2) Version performed by Clara Butt, recorded 1912
and performed by Edward Hamilton,
1Dear Land of Hope, thy hope is crowned
2God make thee mightier yet!
3On Sov'ran brows, belov'd, renown'd,
4Once more thy crown is set.
5Thine equal laws, by freedom gained,
6Have ruled thee well and long;
7By Freedom gained, by Truth maintain'd,
8Thine Empire shall be strong.
9    Land of Hope and Glory, Mother of the Free,
10    How shall we extol thee, who are born of thee?
11    Wider still and wider shall thy bounds be set,
12    God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet.
13    God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet.
(3) 1914 Version
14Dear Land of Hope, thy hope is crowned
15God make thee mightier yet!
16On Sov'ran brows, belov'd, renown'd,
17Once more thy crown is set.
18Thine equal laws, by freedom gained,
19Have ruled thee well and long;
20By Freedom gained, by Truth maintain'd,
21Thine Empire shall be strong.
22Land of Hope and Glory, Mother of the Free,
23How shall we extol thee, who are born of thee?
24Wider still and wider shall thy bounds be set,
25God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet.
26God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet.
27Thy fame is ancient as the days,
28As Ocean large and wide;
29A pride that dares, and heeds not praise,
30A stern and silent pride.
31Not that false joy that dreams content
32With what our sires have won;
33The blood a hero sire hath spent
34Still nerves a hero son.
35Land of Hope and Glory, Mother of the Free,
36How shall we extol thee, who are born of thee?
37Wider still and wider shall thy bounds be set,
38God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet.
39God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet.

Notes

1] Elgar used the tune of his Pomp and Circumstance, no. 1 (1901), for this, the last chorus of the "Coronation Ode," for which the contralto soloist was Muriel Foster (Kennedy, 171). The sickness of the new King Edward VII postponed his coronation, and thus the premier of the Elgar-Benson piece (intended for June 2) until the fall. Different words had been written for Clara Butt -- herethe second version -- who performed it on June 2, 1902, before the original libretto was public. This became the unofficial second British national anthem. Elgar and Benson added two more stanzas -- here the third version -- in 1914 to make the song suitable for the times, Britain's entry into World War I. See Jerrold Northrop Moore, Edward Elgar: Letters of a Lifetime (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1990): 277-83. Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1902
Publication Notes
(1) Oct. 2, 1902, at Sheffield; (2) June 2, 1902, in London; (3) revised 1914
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2001
Rhyme