The text was written by Sir Hamilton Richards' novella . The original version of the text was changed slightly in 1981, mainly because the smaller Barbuda was not mentioned in the old text.
The melody was written by the church musician and pianist Walter Chambers in 1966 . It is written in the A1 – B1 – A2 – B2 scheme and in the style of an Anglo-Saxon church choir. It is in B flat major and is used in HA Kenney's arrangement.
Fair Antigua, We Salute Thee was adopted in 1967 on the occasion of gaining autonomy within the Commonwealth as a national song alongside the still official national anthem God Save the Queen . After complete independence from Great Britain on November 1, 1981, it was confirmed as the national anthem after minor text changes. The royal anthem is still God Save the Queen.
text
Original English text from 1967
Free German translation
Fair Antigua, we salute thee,
proudly we this anthem raise.
To thy glory and thy beauty,
Joyfully we sing the praise
Of the virtues, all bestowed
On thy sons and daughters free;
Ever striving, ever seeking,
Dwell in love and unity.
Raise the standard! Raise it boldly!
Answer now to duty's call
To the service of thy country,
Sparing nothing, giving all.
Gird your loins and join the battle
'Gainst fear, hate and poverty,
Each endeavoring, all achieving,
Live in peace where man is free.
God of nations, let Thy blessing
Fall upon this land of ours;
Rain and sunshine ever sending,
Fill her fields with crops and flowers.
We, her children, do implore Thee,
Give us strength, faith, loyalty,
Never failing, all enduring,
To defend her liberty.
Beautiful Antigua, we salute you,
we proudly sing this hymn.
We happily sing the praises of
your glory and your beauty to
the virtues with which your free
sons and daughters are blessed.
Always ambitious, always ambitious,
To live in love and unity.
Raise the flag! Lift them with pride!
Do your duty now!
Be at your service to your country,
fear nothing, give everything.
Arm yourself and fight
against fear, hatred and poverty.
If everyone tries hard, everyone succeeds
and lives in peace where all people are free.
God of the peoples, send your blessings down
on our land.
Always send us rain and sunshine
And fill his fields with fruits and flowers.
We, his children, ask you,
give us strength, faith, loyalty, so
that we do not fail, but endure everything,
to defend his freedom!
Original English text (current)
Free German translation
Fair Antigua and Barbuda!
We thy sons and daughters stand
Strong and firm in peace or danger
To safeguard our Native Land.
We commit ourselves to building
A true nation brave and free.
Ever striving, ever seeking,
Dwell in love and unity.
Raise the standard! Raise it boldly!
Answer now to duty's call
To the service of your country,
Sparing nothing, giving all.
Gird your loins and join the battle
'Gainst fear, hate and poverty,
Each endeavoring, all achieving,
Live in peace where man is free.
God of nations, let Thy blessing
Fall upon this land of ours;
Rain and sunshine ever sending,
Fill her fields with crops and flowers.
We, her children, do implore Thee,
Give us strength, faith, loyalty,
Never failing, all enduring,
To defend her liberty.
Beautiful Antigua and Barbuda!
We, your sons and daughters, stand
firmly and united in peace and peril
To protect our homeland.
We are totally dedicated to building
a brave and free nation,
always ambitious, always ambitious,
to live in love and unity.
Raise the flag! Lift them with pride!
Do your duty now!
Be at your service to your country,
fear nothing, give everything.
Arm yourself and fight
against fear, hatred and poverty.
If everyone tries hard, everyone succeeds
and lives in peace where all people are free.
God of the peoples, send your blessings down
on our land.
Always send us rain and sunshine
And fill his fields with fruits and flowers.
We, his children, ask you,
give us strength, faith, loyalty, so
that we do not fail, but endure everything,
to defend his freedom!
literature
M.J. Bristow: National Anthems of the World . 11th edition Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London 2006, ISBN 0-304-36826-1 .
Antigua and Barbuda
