What is your National Song / Anthem ?

I am posting the Indian National song Vande Mataram (First stanza). It was written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee & later became a part of his  novel 'Anandmath'.

 

It is true that Vande Mataram blossomed forth in Anandamath, but it is even more true that it was Bankim's intention that it should blossom fo rth beyond Anandamath. For Vande Mataram, the song, was composed before Anandamath was written.
 
How Bankim saw the wonderful vision that worked as a most powerful spiritual lever in the movement for his country's liberation, how he immortalised that vision in the hymn are not fully known. But this much is known that one auspicious moment arrived, in 1875, when Bankim took a holiday to escape from the hectic life of Calcutta. He board ed a train bound for his native town
Kantalapada. As the city left behind, there was greenry all around and his heart filled with joy. The contemplation of the motherland with her rich rivers, flowers, fruits and forests sent a pulsating curr ent through Bankim.  In that instant the sod was turned into divinity by magic. His eyes and ears
became alert, hungry. His inner eye beheld the motherland in all her rich variety and beauty; his inner ear listened to voices from the earth, the air and the sky. And Nature begot her song! She gave it to benevolent Bankim! He bowed and received the gift. And then he reduced it to writing, as one who
saw and heard the whole of it.
  Vande Mataram!  
Those lakes, and rivers, the sacred Ganga, Jamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu, Kaveri; and those groves laden with fruits of m any kinds, a very paradise on earth; and the soft breeze which gently kisses as it passes by; and the endless greenry....
  Sujalam suphalam Malayaja sheetalam Sasya shyamalam Mataram!  
An d the land bathed in moonlight, trees and creepers gay with tender leaves and flowers, the sweet smile and melodious voice.....
  Shubhra jyotsna pulakitayamineem Phullakusumita drumadala shobhineem Suhasineem sumadhura bhashineem Sukhadam, varadam Mataram!  
And the leonine roar that issues from multi-million thro ats; the blinding flash of millions of swords leaping up in an instant; and the spectacle of unfettered strength triumphantly trampling the enemy under its elephantine foot....
  Koti koti kantha kalakala ninadakarale Koti koti bhujairdhrutakharakaravale Ke bale ma tumi abale Bahubala dharineem Namami tarineem Ripudala varineem Mataram!  
Th e ancient land of giver of the Vedas, and those centers of devotion, power and knowledge....
  Tumi vidhya tumi dharma Tumi hridi tumi marma Twam hi pranah shareere Bahute tumi ma shakti Hridaye tumi ma bhakti Tomarayi pratima gadi Mandire mandire!  
Jaya Durgi....Sri Lakshmi....Sri Saraswati... motherland! the Goddess incarnate
  Twam hi Durga dashapraharana dharinee Kamala kamaladala viharinee Vani vidyadayinee Namami twam Namami kamalam Amalam atulam Sujalam suphalam  Mataram Vande Mataram!  
Th e one evergreen, ever new, and endowed with riches of many kinds....
  Shyamalam saralam Susmitam bhush*tam Dharaneem bharaneem Mataram!  
The song was born, Bankim put the infant in the cradle of Anandamath. He knew the great promise of the infant. The prophet was aware of the historic role it would play in times to come.

 

For Americans like myself, our song is the "Star Spangled Banner". A link to a music file is here

"O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen thro' the mist of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep.
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream
'Tis the star-spangled banner. Oh! long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footstep's pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation,
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the Heav'n - rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto--"In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave."

The Hellenic national Anthem
A translation in English by Rudyard Kipling in 1918

We knew thee of old,
Oh, divinely restored,
By the lights of thine eyes
And the light of thy Sword

From the graves of our slain
Shall thy valour prevail
As we greet thee again-
Hail, Liberty! Hail!

Long time didst thou dwell
Mid the peoples that mourn,
Awaiting some voice
That should bid thee return.

Ah, slow broke that day
And no man dared call,
For the shadow of tyranny
Lay over all:

And we saw thee sad-eyed,
The tears on thy cheeks
While thy raiment was dyed
In the blood of the Greeks.

Yet, behold now thy sons
With impetuous breath
Go forth to the fight
Seeking Freedom or Death.

From the graves of our slain
Shall thy valour prevail
As we greet thee again-
Hail, Liberty! Hail!

I request the members to post the lyrics in their script too. That makes it look different & gives it a unique identity. English translations can follow. 

Edited by The Chargemaster - 21-Sep-2006 at 18:53

I disagree with the translation of the Greek national anthem posted above.

The real translation is:

I know you from the sharp edge of your sword.
I know you from the fierce gaze that intensely looks upon the land.

Born from the sacred bones of the greeks
And once more you are bold
Hail, o hail to you, freedom!

The Greek text is as follows:

Σε γνωρίζω από την κόψη του σπαθιού την τρομερή.
Σε γνωρίζω από την όψη που με βιά μετράει τη γη.

Απ' τα κόκκαλα βγαλμένη των Ελλήνων τα ιερά
Και σαν πρώτα ανδρειωμένη, χαίρε, ω χαίρε Λευτεριά!


Form the poem by Dionysios Solomos "Ode to Freedom"
Musical theme by Nikolaos Mantzaros.

Amhr�n na bhFiann Written by Peadar Kearney, circa 1907 Other songs sung include Ireland's Call & Fields of Athenry

---

�s Gaeilge: Amhr�n na bhFiann Seo dhibh a ch�irde duan �glaigh, Cathr�imeach briomhar ceolmhar, �r dtinte cn�mh go buacach t�id, 'S an sp�ir go min r�altogach Is fonnmhar faobhrach sinn chun gleo 'S go ti�nmhar gl� roimh th�ocht do'n l� F� chi�nas chaomh na hoiche ar seol: Seo libh cana�dh Amhr�n na bhFiann Curf� Sinne Firnna F�il A t� f� gheall ag �irinn, buion d�r slua Thar toinn do r�inig chugainn, F� mh�id bheith saor. Sean t�r �r sinsir feasta N� fhagfar f�'n tior�n n� f�'n tr�il Anocht a th�am sa bhearna bhaoil, Le gean ar Ghaeil chun b�is n� saoil Le guna screach f� l�mhach na bpil�ar Seo libh cana�dh Amhr�n na bhFiann. Cois b�nta r�idhe, ar �rdaibh sl�ibhe, Ba bhuachach �r sinsir romhainn, Ag l�mhach go tr�an f�'n s�r-bhrat s�in T� thuas sa ghaoith go seolta Ba dh�chas riamh d'�r gcine ch�idh Gan iomp�il siar � imirt �ir, 'S ag si�l mar iad i gcoinne n�mhad Seo libh, cana�dh Amhr�n na bhFiann Curf� A bhu�on n�ch fann d'fhuil Ghaeil is Gall, Sin breacadh lae na saoirse, Ta sc�imhle 's scanradh i gcro�the namhad, Roimh ranna laochra �r dtire. �r dtinte is tr�ith gan spr�ach anois, Sin luisne ghl� san sp�ir anoir, 'S an b�obha i raon na bpil�ar agaibh: Seo libh, cana�dh Amhr�n na bh Fiann. Curf�

In English: A Soldier's Song We'll sing a song, a soldier's song, With cheering rousing chorus, As round our blazing fires we throng, The starry heavens o'er us; Impatient for the coming fight, And as we wait the morning's light, Here in the silence of the night, We'll chant a soldier's song. Chorus Soldiers are we whose lives are pledged to Ireland; Some have come from a land beyond the wave. Sworn to be free, No more our ancient sire land Shall shelter the despot or the slave. Tonight we man the gap of danger In Erin's cause, come woe or weal 'Mid cannons' roar and rifles peal, We'll chant a soldier's song In valley green, on towering crag, Our fathers fought before us, And conquered 'neath the same old flag That's proudly floating o'er us. We're children of a fighting race, That never yet has known disgrace, And as we march, the foe to face, We'll chant a soldier's song Chorus Sons of the Gael! Men of the Pale! The long watched day is breaking; The serried ranks of Inisfail Shall set the Tyrant quaking. Our camp fires now are burning low; See in the east a silv'ry glow, Out yonder waits the Saxon foe, So chant a soldier's song. Chorus

www.dun-laoghaire.com/irish_anthem.html - heres a link to the melody . Ususally only the chorus is sung at GAA and soccar matches

Edited by QueenCleopatra - 06-Nov-2006 at 07:23

Originally posted by Datuna                                          Georgian Anthem                                                        click Georgian Transliteration[3] Literal translation[4] ჩემი ხატია სამშობლო, სახატე მთელი ქვეყანა, განათებული მთა-ბარი, წილნაყარია ღმერთთანა. თავისუფლება დღეს ჩვენი მომავალს უმღერს დიდებას, ცისკრის ვარსკვლავი ამოდის და ორ ზღვას შუა ბრწყინდება, დიდება თავისუფლებას, თავისუფლებას დიდება. Chemi khatia samshoblo, Sakhate mteli kveqana, Ganatebuli mta-bari Tsilnaqaria Ghmerttana. Tavisupleba dghes chveni Momavals umghers didebas, Tsiskris varskvlavi amodis Da or zghvas shua brtsqindeba. Dideba tavisuplebas, Tavisuplebas dideba! My icon is my motherland, And the whole world is its icon-stand. Bright mounts and valleys Are shared with God Today our freedom Sings to the glory of future, The dawn star rises up And shines out between two seas. Praise be to liberty, Praise be to liberty!

Is this the Georgian script ? It looks very similiar to one of Indian Scripts, the kannada

Originally posted by Sirona Vivek Sharma: I loved the Indian anthem, I think it's very unique in that it's probably the only national anthem to talk of goddesses. Overall, interesting thread.

Thanks. In India the godesses have always been more revered than the Gods. It's one culture where there is no God of Learning / knowledge. Their is a Godess of learning.  Whenever the gods loose their wars with evil, they run to godesses for help, who defeat the evil.

How does one attach an MP 3 file ? I am trying to attach one.