Does your national anthem inspire you?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (329059)
Rockingham, Australia
April 4, 2017 8:50am CST
When we're both sitting here working on our various 'projects', Vince often puts some music on in the background. Tonight we've listened to a very impassioned version of Scotland's 'Flower of Scotland', sung at some sporting event. The crowd of whatever many thousand join in and although I'm not Scottish the hairs on the back of my neck were standing up. It is an amazing anthem.
We used to sing 'God Save the Queen' but we now have our own national anthem, Advance Australia Fair, which is really pretty ordinary. At long last most of us now know the words of the first verse which is a good thing but I wouldn't call it an inspiring anthem. Better known is Waltzing Matilda but that is about a swagman (tramp) who steals a sheep and when caught, commits suicide. Hardly a good choice for 'important occasions'.
So I was wondering if your anthem inspires and impassions you? I just wish we could come up with something more patriotic.
The photo is of one of our little native birds - a Splendid Fairy Wren. They have a 'Splendid' variety but not, it seems, an Quite Ugly species.
26 people like this
27 responses
@JohnRoberts (109848)
• Los Angeles, California
4 Apr 17
It will always be Waltzing Matilda. After all, it was Slim Dusty leading the crowd singing Waltzing Matilda to close the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
4 people like this
@RasmaSandra (75082)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
4 Apr 17
All credits to Rod Stewart. The amazing song originally performed by Tom Waits, this is the incredible version of Rod Stewart. With Lyrics Wasted and wounded...
3 people like this
@JudyEv (329059)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Apr 17
@RasmaSandra This is a completely different song - nothing like ours.
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43419)
• Denver, Colorado
4 Apr 17
I love our anthem. And it's a clumsy, awkward song!
4 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
4 Apr 17
It brings me to tears for many reasons - one being it was written in Baltimore, MD and that's where I was born and lived the first 10 years of my life...but we went back almost every weekend since that's where the family was. I can't hear that song w/o getting misty eyed.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (329059)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Apr 17
@computerguy1980 That is a magnificent bird. This is not our national bird, just one of the ones that we see in the garden.
@Jon2071 (256)
• United States
4 Apr 17
I love the United States National Anthem, but also greatly enjoy the anthems of other countries as well. I really enjoy most patriotic music in the United States. I intend to listen to the Scottish Anthem, as I don't remember it. Thanks for sharing.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (329059)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Apr 17
I'd suggest you look for Amy McDonald singing it at the start of a football match. I dare you not to have goosebumps!! 
@allknowing (130992)
• India
4 Apr 17
That blue for a bird is very rare.
I do not get inspired with our National Anthem but like to sing it when the occasion arises.
3 people like this
@Juliaacv (49019)
• Canada
4 Apr 17
I find it very moving to listen to our national anthem, Oh Canada. I remember back when I was a child, Canada Day must have fallen on a Sunday, and we sang it at church-and it was sung with such pride and the voices were so strong, and that memory stuck with me.
2 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
4 Apr 17
America's can be, when done right.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (75082)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
4 Apr 17
I love the anthem of my homeland the US The Star Spangled Banner and always choke up on that one. The Latvian anthem is alright but it just doesn't give me the same rush.
2 people like this
@1creekgirl (40859)
• United States
4 Apr 17
That pretty blue bird is amazing! Our National Anthem does touch me at times, especially when we can see the American flag at the same time.
My ringtone on my cell for my husband's calls is "Hail to the Chief", which is what is played at times when our President enters a room. I thought it appropriate. 
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23401)
• United Kingdom
4 Apr 17
I am very proud to sing our national anthem. I admit I do not know, as many of us would probably admit, the words to the other verses which are rarely sung anyway.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (329059)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Apr 17
When ours first replaced 'God Save the Queen' it was years before the majority of people learnt the words which I think is indicative that it isn't a particularly good choice. They had a competition for a new one once but nothing better came out of that either.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21745)
• Canada
4 Apr 17
I've always found Canads nation anthem to be inspiring. They changed some of the words to O Canada, when my children were in school. I've always loved the national anthem of the Netherlands, Wilhelmus, as well.
2 people like this
@manasamanu (3746)
• Bangalore, India
4 Apr 17
Yes our National anthem inspire us. When we hear it, automatically the body straightens itself and we have goosebumps all over the body. It is so patriotic, symbolizing the states of the country, all religions, customs, the mountain ranges, the rivers, the prosperity all together held within the tricolor flag. And it asks us to rise for the unity of oneness in everything and teaches us to be brave and patriotic. I love my country and its anthem.
2 people like this
@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
5 Apr 17
We feel proud when our National Anthem is played. Government has made it mandatory to play National Anthem before start of a movie in a theater and when National Anthem is played, all present in the theater stand up to pay respect to National Anthem.
1 person likes this
@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
5 Apr 17
@JudyEv Has the system of playing National Anthem in theaters been abolished in your country?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (329059)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Apr 17
@dpk262006 It is played at big sports matches but not at theatres any more.
1 person likes this
@Orson_Kart (6181)
• United Kingdom
6 Apr 17
No, I don't like our national anthem as I am a republican and would prefer something that gave us pride in our country, not the royalty.
Land of Hope and Glory would be a good choice.
I also don't like Flower of Scotland as it is an anti-English song. It usd to be Scotland the Brave which is much more acceptable.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (329059)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Apr 17
Land of Hope and Glory is a great song and really stirring. I know the Flower is anti-English but they sure sing it with gusto.
@MALUSE (69388)
• Germany
14 Apr 17
@JudyEv The teachers we had when I was young did nothing to inspire patriotism in their pupils. They were lucky to have survived the war. Patriotism was the last thing they were thinking of. Of course, I could have developed patriotism on my own later on. Yet, I never had the impression that it was something one should cultivate at all costs.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (329059)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Apr 17
Is there a particular reason for your 'coldness'? And sorry for the late response. I seem to have missed a bundle somehow.
@JudyEv (329059)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Apr 17
@MALUSE Thanks for answering but I was curious. I don't think I was ever very patriotic either until newcomers started complaining and wanting to make 'my' country more like 'their' country. I didn't think we were doing too badly and I didn't really appreciate 'strangers' saying how we could do better.
@JamesHxstatic (29418)
• Eugene, Oregon
5 Apr 17
That is some bird! All of our wrens are brownish. Patriotic songs do not stir me very much really. I am a vet of our armed forces, but am not terribly proud of all that we have done as a nation, even less so this year.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29418)
• Eugene, Oregon
5 Apr 17
@JudyEv I have heard many stories about that and wondered how you felt. The refugee thing is such a terrible mess.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (329059)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Apr 17
@JamesHxstatic It is shocking - an absolute disgrace. We've always been a bit too laid-back I guess and for many there seemed no real need to be naturalised. But occasionally now you hear of, say, an adult born in Australia perhaps to Greek parents or whatever, no ties to Greece, no family there, doesn't speak Greek yet threatened with deportation for the most flimsy of reasons. And the poor boat-people have a horrendous time. Some are returned to their own countries and I'm sure - to their deaths.
I am selfish enough to be pleased they can't easily come flooding over our borders like they do in Europe. But we do need to find better ways of dealing with the ones we have.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (329059)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Apr 17
I never used to be patriotic but then some started criticising us ( no idea who) and it just rubbed me the wrong way. So I'm certainly more patriotic than I used to be. We have a brutal immigration and refugee policy though. I'm not at all proud of that.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (329059)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Oct 17
Some countries have very rousing anthems, don't they? Ours is okay but nothing really special.
@Happy2BeMe (99373)
• Canada
4 Apr 17
I am always moved with I hear our National Anthem being played at an event. It makes me feel so proud when there is a stadium filled with people and everybody is singing together. It give me chills.
2 people like this
