Australian National Anthem

[Jeld-Wen Falcon]

Im thinking that this country needs a new national anthem. At least half the people dont know the words, or understand what it means. Its not really a sing-a-long kind of song, you rarely see national sporting teams sing it and its even rarer to see it sung with heart.

Im a proud and patriotic Australian but I think it needs changing.

[4.9 EF Futura]

I think its a great anthem and proudly belt along with it... until i get to the second verse. Very disappointed in myself and have sworn to memorise the rest of it!!!

Im always a bit disappointed when i see international athletes standing silent. At least lip sync to the words.

[kyro_02]

i don't no the words an its just a song doesn't change my opinion on the country GREAT PLACE

[ronwest]

I used to think the same way. Now I'm not so sure.

There is not another country on earth that has the cohonas to have "girt" in it's national anthem.

[Fairlane]

agree with you 100%, im a patriotic Aussie, but i think our anthem is seriously crook. "Girt by sea", "golden soil and wealth for toil", the thing sounds like it was comissioned by Alexander Downer and his toffie mates (i know it wasnt, but thats the impression i get). Dont get my wrong i dont advocate waltzing matilda or something like that, but i do think we need a new anthem, maybe with some sort of indigenous input, the Kiwi anthem seems to have more respect in its home land then ours does.

[Falcon Freak]

Originally Posted by Jeld-Wen Falcon

At least half the people dont know the words, or understand what it means.

That's because half the population made a pis poor effort at learning the words. Tbere is nothing wrong with the anthem.

FF

[Creampuff]

I think by far the best aussie anthem should be"I Still Call Australia Home"..if Qantas would allow it. It is a great song,everybody knows the words,it's patriotic,it should be voted on and win hands down!!!

[flappist]

So one that actually reflects the viewpoint of most Australians.....

How about:

Australians all let us complain.
It's someones fault not mine.
We've dole and pokies to keep us quiet
We get screwed all the time.

Our land abounds with whinging pricks
Who want it all for free.
And when it all comes crashing down
Don't blame it all on me.
(reprise)
AND WHEN IT ALL COMES CRASHING DOWN
DON'T BLAME IT ALL.......ON......ME !!!!!!!!!

Sung to the tune of Advance Australia Fair.
Actually to be more accurate I should have written it in Indonesian.....

[svo347]

Whilst your at it, sign us up as a Republic nation.

[MrSparkle]

"Great Southern Land" - Icehouse. Enough said. :

[falcon91]

My house is girt by fence!

[pertuan]

I think the anthem is fine. I sing alot to it proudly. I've known the words since I was in grade 4.

I reckon though that athletes/celebs who don't know the words are just poor. Everyone should know the words. Arent they singing it in primary school anymore these days?

[ronwest]

Originally Posted by falcon91

My house is girt by fence!

My head is girt by hair

(sure it's a bit thin on top but I still consider my head girted)

[MethodX]

Might as well leave it as is.
Or they might want to put God save the Queen back.

[Aeron]

Originally Posted by Falcon Freak

That's because half the population made a pis poor effort at learning the words. Tbere is nothing wrong with the anthem.

FF

Thats right. And why change it?? Why are people hell-bent on changing the flag, and changing the anthem. :

[Casper]

Originally Posted by MethodX

Might as well leave it as is.
Or they might want to put God save the Queen back.

I remember when "God save the Queen" was the national anthem in the 70's and we had to sing it at school assembly.. long live "GIRT" if you ask me!

[Woz]

Men At Work, anyone?

[ronwest]

Originally Posted by Aeron

Thats right. And why change it?? Why are people hell-bent on changing the flag, and changing the anthem. :

it's the nature of the beast. On the one hand we have monarchists who wish to leave things as they are as a reflection of where we've come from, and, on the other, republicans who want to change various emblems to better reflect who we are now.

Personally I'd rather a flag that was not quite as close to that of NZ, Fiji etc.

The guy who said our flag looks like the Union Jack at night time was fairly close to the mark.

[flappist]

The current one has already been perverted by the politically correct nazis

When I was at school the first line was:

Australia's sons let us rejoice.

now it is:

Australians all let us rejoice.

[rodderz]

Best version of the national anthem I heard was when the Scared Weird Little Guys sung it to the tune of the Gilligan's Island theme tune, fitted in perfect!

[chief]

How many people know the second verse to the National Anthem? How often do we sing it. I hate when people representing Australia stand their in silence.

[MethodX]

Better that than brainwashed into knowing it like the yanks

[GTP 320]

Actually i think that it is a great Anthem,the problem is that the school system should be teaching the kids the words and sing the song each day before school,and all our new immigrants should be taught the Anthem of their new adopted country.
Cheers John

[SpoolMan]

Originally Posted by Woz

Men At Work, anyone?

That's it :

[One Drone]

Originally Posted by GTP 320

Actually i think that it is a great Anthem,the problem is that the school system should be teaching the kids the words and sing the song each day before school,and all our new immigrants should be taught the Anthem of their new adopted country.
Cheers John

Exactly my thought!!!

We had to sing it every Monday morning, 9am at our primary school. It is there that it starts. High school doesn't matter, through primary school you'll sing it enough times to remember it for the rest of your life. It's a great anthem, and when you know the words and what it means, the passion follows.

[Group C]

the only reason that some people don't know the words or their meaning is simply because they don't take the time to learn what they are.

and if the anthem was changed, would the attitude towards it, the lack of knowledge of the words and meanings change?? basically, NO. people will stil hate it, and others will luv it...

I think you'll find that most Australians LUV the anthem as it is, including me.
the best part IS the strange words used in it!! just another example of us aussie's having a different way of describing things than the rest of the world.

on the subject of sporting teams and their lack of singing it, I agree, it should be sung by them all.
IMO, knowing the anthem should be a REQUIREMNT of playing. don't know the words, don't play. simple.
and this should be enforced in the professional arena even more, because kids look up to their heroes and all they do, and not knowing the anthem sends a 'who cares' message to the kids IMO.
I think it should be up to the TEAM MANAGEMENT to teach their player/competitors the anthem if they don't know it. and lets be honest, all pro-footy clubs (from all codes) just about wipe the players asses for them these days, so this surely can't be a big thing to ask??

providing the players combined IQ's are more than their combined shoe sizes... :

[ronwest]

well, I 'spose I can confess to singing "God Save the Queen" at school.

That was our nat anthem at the time and there was quite a to do when it was mooted that we give that anthem that "our nation was established under" and our "troops went to war with", blah, blah, blah, the bum's rush.

If you've heard La Marseillaise <sp?> or Flower of Scotland sung by a crowd in full voice at a stadium you've heard a couple of the truly great national anthems.

Our "new" one is ok....just, but I have no doubt that at some stage we'll move on to something else.
When the flag is replaced would seem an appropriate time

[ToxikXR]

lets start the second verse...

ill begin...

beneath our radiant southern cross... ( i hope thats right lol)

[DOC]

Originally Posted by ronwest

Our "new" one is ok....just, but I have no doubt that at some stage we'll move on to something else.
When the flag is replaced would seem an appropriate time

And would that be the time when aust steps away from the mother land / royalty ?

anyway a flag idea only ?

[new2ford]

We did have a very cheery uplifting alternative anthem called Song of Australia, popular once in South Australia. It would have been a good one. Advance Australia Fair sounds like a dirge written by a committee. Can't help you with an audio clip. You'll have to look it up - sheet music was available a few years ago.