Thread: What the hell ARE the words to our National Anthem

Love it!

is this thread still going?
nearly two years since the first post

I'm not a royalist but I grew up singing God Save The Queen, I can't even pretend to like this new crap, I don't know the words, nor do I care to learn them, I've never sung it and I will never stand while it's played. As far as the flag is concerned I had family that died in WW1, WW2 and Vietnam whilst serving under that flag, and like many other Australians I believe that to change it in any way is nothing more than a disgrace.

I thought that 'God Save the Queen" was still our National Anthem and that "Advance Australia Fair" was originally proposed as our 'National Song' .

Like the flag, I would assume, that changing the National Anthem would require a referandum and I for one do not recall ever having voted for the change. My assumption is that they took the soft option and introduced "Advance Australia Fair" with the intention of getting it in place and later after a few more generations had been born then having a vote on the change, and of course everyone would say, " but I thought that 'Advance Australia Fair' was our National Anthem" and out vote us older citizens who know better.

Do we really live in a democracy?

Originally Posted by RobHay

I thought that 'God Save the Queen" was still our National Anthem and that "Advance Australia Fair" was originally proposed as our 'National Song'

Like the flag, I would assume, that changing the National Anthem would require a referandum and I for one do not recall ever having voted for the change.
.

Info from Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade website.

How ‘Advance Australia Fair’ became the national anthem
The official anthem was ‘God Save the Queen’ (or ‘King’) from 1788 to 1974, although numerous commercial and official competitions were held over the years to find a substitute. The first was held in 1840.

John Dunmore Lang, who published an ‘Australian Anthem’ and an ‘Australian Hymn’ in 1826, was an early advocate of a distinctively Australian anthem. Carl Linger of South Australia wrote ‘The Song of Australia’ in 1860, and it was suggested to the Prime Minister in 1929 as a possible national anthem.

The issue of a truly national anthem was raised persistently before the 1956 Olympic Games, which were held in Melbourne. ‘Advance Australia Fair’ and ‘Waltzing Matilda’ were the two songs most strongly favoured then as the new anthem. ‘Waltzing Matilda’ was composed in 1895, with lyrics by one of Australia’s best known poets, AB ‘Banjo’ Paterson.

On Australia Day, 26 January, in 1972, the number of entries (more than 400) received in an Australia-wide national anthem quest gave an indication of the interest in a new anthem.

Exactly a year later a government-sponsored competition was announced, which drew 2500 entries for the words and 1300 for the music. The judges selected six entries for the words, but rejected all the musical entries.

The polls and what followed
The quest for an Australian national anthem continued. In 1974 a public opinion poll sampled an estimated 60 000 people to select from three possible anthems: ‘Advance Australia Fair’, ‘Waltzing Matilda’ and ‘Song of Australia’. ‘Advance Australia Fair’ polled 51.4 per cent. Following this result the then Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam, announced that ‘Advance Australia Fair’ would be the national anthem, except on specifically Royal occasions, when both it and ‘God Save the Queen’ would be played.

In 1976, after a change of government, ‘God Save the Queen’ was reinstated for Royal, vice-regal, defence and loyal toast occasions, with ‘Advance Australia Fair’ to be played on all other official occasions.

In May 1977, however, a national poll was conducted to ascertain the public choice of a national song. This time more than seven million people were issued with ballot papers. The results were: ‘Advance Australia Fair’ 43.2 per cent, ‘Waltzing Matilda’ 28.3 per cent, ‘God Save the Queen’ 18.7 per cent and ‘Song of Australia’ 9.6 per cent. Despite the poll results, adoption of the new national anthem met widespread opposition.

It was not until April 1984 that the Governor-General issued a proclamation that ‘God Save the Queen’ was designated the Royal Anthem, to be played at public engagements in Australia attended by the members of the Royal family. ‘Advance Australia Fair’ was finally declared to be the Australian national anthem.

Usually ‘God Save the Queen’ is played at the start of Royal functions and ‘Advance Australia Fair’ at the end, unless it is more appropriate to play both anthems at the start. ‘Advance Australia Fair’ is played at all other official functions.

Originally Posted by RobHay

changing the National Anthem would require a referandum

Edit: Bah, beaten to the punch... but anyway:

It was a plebiscite in the 1977 Australian Referendum held on 21 May 1977.

Four songs were in contention for the official title:
* Advance Australia Fair
* God save the Queen
* Waltzing Matilda
* Song of Australia

The results were conclusive with 43.2 per cent (or 2,940,854 votes) going to Advance Australia Fair, followed by Waltzing Matilda (28.3 per cent/1,918,206 votes).

A modified Advance Australia Fair became the Australian National Anthem on 19 April 1984 by a decision of the Labor government of Bob Hawke and a proclamation by the Governor-General Sir Ninian Stephen.

-- Prime Minister of Australia - Australia in Focus - Symbols and Icons - National Symbols

Originally Posted by barney

is this thread still going?
nearly two years since the first post

i think its starting to Flag abit Barney

And it was left for two years....lets leave it for another two