We’ve had a heavy dose of Britannica here at St Stephen’s recently—even more than usual. First, we had the annual visit of the St George’s Society, and this past weekend we had our annual British Garden Party and Fête. At the St George service, we sang the British National Anthem, rather than the fourth verse of “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee”, after the Doxology. (Same tune, different words. ;-)) But we sang all the verses of the National Anthem, unlike those occasions (like the Fourth of July) when we sing the first and last verses of The Star Spangled Banner, but omit the inner two verses. After we finished singing God Save the Queen, the Rector observed that that was probably the first time he had sung the entire Anthem since grammar school.
So why don’t people sing all the verses of such anthems? Nobody sings all the verses of State songs, either (if they sing any of them at all). It’s not just that they’re long. The other verses tend to be “politically incorrect”, or otherwise quaint or uncomfortable. The middle verse of God Save the Queen falls in that latter category: the reference to politics and “knavish tricks” probably cuts a little close, regardless of political affiliation. It may be “politically correct”, or a cliché, to advocate “civility” in our daily life, but the fact is that we could use more of it. (As Miss Manners® points out, you don’t have to like people or agree with them in order to be polite to them.)
So here for your entertainment and edification are the three verses of God Save the Queen, as currently sung—when all three verses are sung:
God save our gracious Queen,
Long live our noble Queen,
God save the Queen:
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us:
God save the Queen.O Lord, our God, arise,
Scatter her enemies,
And make them fall.
Confound their politics,
Frustrate their knavish tricks,
On Thee our hopes we fix,
God save us all.Thy choicest gifts in store,
On her be pleased to pour;
Long may she reign:
May she defend our laws,
And ever give us cause
To sing with heart and voice
God save the Queen.
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