 | Poems |  |
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!
Yes, “God save the Queen!” aye, and well may we say it,—
Ungrudgingly, lovingly, long may it start,
Not alone from our lips, when we shout or we pray it,
But shouted, or sung, or said, straight from the heart.
She reigns for her people—no fav'rite, no party,
Between her and them has there ever been seen;
'Tis my love for the people that makes me so hearty
Whenever I cry, as now, “God save the Queen!”
Ungrudgingly, lovingly, long may it start,
Not alone from our lips, when we shout or we pray it,
But shouted, or sung, or said, straight from the heart.
She reigns for her people—no fav'rite, no party,
Between her and them has there ever been seen;
'Tis my love for the people that makes me so hearty
Whenever I cry, as now, “God save the Queen!”
Look abroad through the world—see, wherever your sight still
From country to country sets eyes on a throne,
'Tis the same reign of bayonets, defying all right still;
'Tis a rule that is kept up by terror alone;
Then, at home, looking round, here what still are we seeing?
What is seen, and long may it by all eyes be seen—
A nation its limbs from their old shackles freeing,
Uncheck'd to its glad cry of “God save the Queen!”
From country to country sets eyes on a throne,
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'Tis a rule that is kept up by terror alone;
Then, at home, looking round, here what still are we seeing?
What is seen, and long may it by all eyes be seen—
A nation its limbs from their old shackles freeing,
Uncheck'd to its glad cry of “God save the Queen!”
She, than all the despots around her far wiser,
Is rightly contented ourselves we should rule;
Unlike those crowned idiots, who doubtless despise her,
She wants not our will to her own still to school;
In fact, she don't need it—the two are one only;
Her wishes and ours but the same still have been;
So who wonders, among us, he'd find himself lonely
Who would not cry with us all, “God save the Queen!”
Is rightly contented ourselves we should rule;
Unlike those crowned idiots, who doubtless despise her,
She wants not our will to her own still to school;
In fact, she don't need it—the two are one only;
Her wishes and ours but the same still have been;
So who wonders, among us, he'd find himself lonely
Who would not cry with us all, “God save the Queen!”
As a ruler we prize, as a women we love her;
Temptations beset most the souls born so high;
But though she knows no rule but God's is above her,
When did she obedience to that rule deny?
A daughter—her parents but knew her to bless her;
A wife—what a model to all wives she's been!
A mother—O well may her children caress her,
And well may we, with them, pray “God save the Queen!”
Temptations beset most the souls born so high;
But though she knows no rule but God's is above her,
When did she obedience to that rule deny?
A daughter—her parents but knew her to bless her;
A wife—what a model to all wives she's been!
A mother—O well may her children caress her,
And well may we, with them, pray “God save the Queen!”
Yes, long may she live—God, for our sake preserve her;
No better can rule when she passes from earth;
She's all we could wish her; we should not deserve her
If, while she is with us, we knew not her worth.
Then, as Queen and as daughter, as true wife and mother,
As ruler and woman, dear to us, we mean
Still to pray that, of rulers, we long have no other
Than she for whom here we cry, “God save the Queen!”
No better can rule when she passes from earth;
She's all we could wish her; we should not deserve her
If, while she is with us, we knew not her worth.
Then, as Queen and as daughter, as true wife and mother,
As ruler and woman, dear to us, we mean
Still to pray that, of rulers, we long have no other
Than she for whom here we cry, “God save the Queen!”
And when she is gone—for death will not be sparing
The best of good monarchs, however, they're dear,—
May the child of hers next that her sceptre is bearing,
Be loved as his mother is, while he is here;
The centuries will pass, but they will not forget her;
Whenever a ruler worth loving is seen,
The people will say, “Ah, but one we've known better—
She for whom so long we prayed, ‘God save the Queen!’”
The best of good monarchs, however, they're dear,—
May the child of hers next that her sceptre is bearing,
Be loved as his mother is, while he is here;
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Whenever a ruler worth loving is seen,
The people will say, “Ah, but one we've known better—
She for whom so long we prayed, ‘God save the Queen!’”
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