God Save The King
God Save The King
Original Text
Harmonica Anglicana (1742).
2 Long live our noble king,
3 God save the king.
4Send him victorious,
5Happy and glorious,
6Long to reign over us,
7 God save the king.
8O Lord our God arise,
9Scatter his enemies,
10 And make them fall:
11Confound their politics,
12Frustrate their knavish tricks,
13On him our hopes we fix,
14 God save us all.
15Thy choicest gifts in store,
16On him be pleas'd to pour,
17 Long may he reign.
18May he defend our laws,
19And ever give us cause,
20To sing with heart and voice
21 God save the king.
23May by thy mighty aid
24 Victory bring.
25May he sedition hush,
26And like a torrent rush,
28 God save the king.
Notes
1] In November, 1745, when the Young Pretender (Charles, grandson of James II) was marching into England, it appeared in an engraved musical half-sheet, with the last stanza added. The words have been attributed to Henry Carey, who was said to have been heard singing it in 1740. Back to Line
22] Marshall Wade: one of the commanders of the government forces fighting the revolt of the Young Pretender in 1745. Back to Line
27] rebellious Scots: the Young Pretender had landed in Scotland and his army was composed chiefly of Scots troops. Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1742
RPO poem Editors
N. J. Endicott
RPO Edition
2RP.1.679; RPO 1996-2000.
Rhyme