When Britain first at Heav'n's command

Arose from out the azure main;

This was the charter of the land,

And guardian angels sang this strain;


Rule, Britannia! Britannia, rule the waves:

Britons never shall be slaves.


The nations not so blest as thee,

Shall in their turns to tyrants fall;

While thou shalt flourish great and free,

The dread and envy of them all.


Rule, Britannia! Britannia, rule the waves:

Britons never shall be slaves.


Still more majestic shalt thou rise,

More dreadful from each foreign stroke;

As the loud blast that tears the skies,

Serves but to root thy native oak.


Rule, Britannia! Britannia, rule the waves:

Britons never shall be slaves.


Thee haughty tyrants ne'er shall tame,

All their attempts to bend thee down

Will but arouse thy generous flame;

But work their woe, and thy renown.


Rule, Britannia! Britannia, rule the waves:

Britons never shall be slaves.


To thee belongs the rural reign;

Thy cities shall with commerce shine;

All thine shall be the subject main,

And every shore it circles thine.


Rule, Britannia! Britannia, rule the waves:

Britons never shall be slaves.


The Muses, still with freedom found,

Shall to thy happy coast repair;

Blest Isle! With matchless beauty crowned,

And manly hearts to guide the fair.


Rule, Britannia! Britannia, rule the waves:

Britons never shall be slaves.

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;

The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.

When other helpers fail and comforts flee,

Help of the helpless, O abide with me.



Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;

Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away;

Change and decay in all around I see;

O Thou who changest not, abide with me.



Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word;

But as Thou dwell’st with Thy disciples, Lord,

Familiar, condescending, patient, free.

Come not to sojourn, but abide with me.



Come not in terrors, as the King of kings,

But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings,

Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea—

Come, Friend of sinners, and thus bide with me.



Thou on my head in early youth didst smile;

And, though rebellious and perverse meanwhile,

Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee,

On to the close, O Lord, abide with me.



I need Thy presence every passing hour.

What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?

Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?

Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.



I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;

Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.

Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?

I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.



Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;

Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.

Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;

In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

I give you a toast, ladies and gentlemen.

I give you a toast, ladies and gentlemen.

May this fair dear land we love so well

In dignity and freedom dwell.

Though worlds may change and go awry

While there is still one voice to cry - - -



There'll always be an England

While there's a country lane,

Wherever there's a cottage small

Beside a field of grain.

There'll always be an England

While there's a busy street,

Wherever there's a turning wheel,

A million marching feet.



Red, white and blue; what does it mean to you?

Surely you're proud, shout it aloud,

"Britons, awake!"

The empire too, we can depend on you.

Freedom remains.
These are the chains

Nothing can break.



There'll always be an England,

And England shall be free

If England means as much to you

As England means to me.