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"Advance Australia Fair" is the official national
anthem of Australia.
Originally composed by Peter Dodds McCormick in the
late 19th century (first performance at Sydney on St Andrew's Day, 1878), it emerged as the most popular choice for the national anthem after an opinion poll in
1974 (the Australian Bureau of Statistics polled 60,000 nationally). It was also the
subject of a National Song Poll in 1977, where it garnered 43.6% of the vote, as against
"Waltzing Matilda" (28.5%), the "Song Of Australia" (9.7%), and the then-current "God Save the Queen" (18.7%).
It was adopted as the national anthem by a 1984 decision of the Labor government of
Bob Hawke (although it required a proclamation by the Governor-General for it to become official). In
the process, the second, fourth, and fifth verses were dropped from the "official" version, as they emphasised the British
aspects of Australia's heritage, along with the virtues of Britain, and three lines were changed:
- the first line of the first verse: "Australia's sons let us rejoice" to "Australians all let us rejoice"
- verse 3 (verse 2 of official version), line 3 : "To make this youthful Commonwealth" to "To make this Commonwealth of
ours"
- verse 3 (verse 2 of official version), line 5 : "For loyal sons beyond the seas" to "For those who've come across the
seas"
On most occasions, only the first verse of the official version is sung.
The national anthem, though sung with enthusiasm at national celebrations, is still regarded by many with mixed feelings and
many older people still struggle with the words. Some of the lyrics, particularly the word "girt", are odd by modern standards,
and the tune is generally regarded as uninspiring by comparison with "La
Marseillaise", or "Land of Hope and Glory".
"Advance Australia Fair" at least has the merit of being much easier to sing than "The Star Spangled Banner", and the lyrics do express relatively uncontroversial Australian
self-beliefs and aspirations. Some ambiguity comes from the enduring popularity of "Waltzing Matilda", which is generally
regarded as a much finer tune and has been part of the Australian imagination almost since its composition 120 years ago. Many
non-Australians simply assume the tune is Australia's anthem. However, Matilda's lyrics, detailing the exploits of an itinerant
who steals a sheep and then drowns himself in an effort to avoid capture by the police and the local squatter, are regarded by some Australians as unsuitable as an expression of Australian values, and, indeed,
as unsuitable topics for discussion in a national anthem.
Other tunes that have gained recognition in the popular mind as patriotic songs include the pop ballad "I Still Call Australia Home", by Peter Allen and the reggae-influenced rock song "Down Under" by band Men At Work. Also gaining popularity is
"We Are Australian" by
The Seekers.
Historical notes
"Advance Australia Fair" was first performed, in its pro-British form (see below), on November 30, 1878 in Sydney during a Highland
Society function.
Before its adoption as Australia's national anthem, it saw considerable use elsewhere. For instance, during World War II,
Australia's ABC used it to announce its news bulletins. It was also frequently played at the start or closing of official
functions.
Lyrics
The official version
- 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!"
- 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!"
Dodds' original lyrics
- Australia's sons 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,
- "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 youthful Commonwealth
- Renowned of all the lands;
- For loyal sons beyond 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;
- Brittania then shall surely know,
- Beyond wide ocean's roll,
- Her sons in fair Australia's land
- Still keep a British soul.
- In joyful strains then let us sing
- "Advance Australia fair!"
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