Land of Hope and Glory
Land of Hope and Glory is an English patriotic song. It is particularly noted for being played on the occasion of the Last Night of the Proms amidst much flag-waving.
The song is also used as the anthem of England at the Commonwealth Games; England does not have a national anthem of its own.
The music to which the words below are set is a theme from Sir Edward Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1. Words were designed for the melody on the suggestion of King Edward VII who told Elgar he reckoned the melody would make a great song.
- Dear Land of Hope, thy hope is crowned.
- God make thee mightier yet!
- On Sov'reign brows, beloved, renowned,
- Once more thy crown is set.
- Thine equal laws, by Freedom gained,
- Have ruled thee well and long;
- By Freedom gained, by Truth maintained,
- Thine Empire shall be strong.
- Land of Hope and Glory,
- Mother of the Free,
- How shall we extol thee,
- Who are born of thee?
- Wider still and wider
- Shall thy bounds be set;
- God, who made thee mighty,
- Make thee mightier yet.
- Thy fame is ancient as the days,
- As Ocean large and wide
- A pride that dares, and heeds not praise,
- A stern and silent pride
- Not that false joy that dreams content
- With what our sires have won;
- The blood a hero sire hath spent
- Still nerves a hero son.
