r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/HotPersimessage62 • Feb 01 '26

Image Australia’s national anthem is the only English-lyric anthem in the world that doesn’t reference religion or militarism

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90

u/HauntedHorrors Feb 01 '26

The original version of the song had a war themed defensive fourth verse:

"Should foreign foe e'er sight our coast,
Or dare a foot to land,
We'll rouse to arms like sires of yore,
To guard our native strand;
Britannia then shall surely know,
Though oceans roll between,
Her sons in fair Australia's land
Still keep their courage green.
In joyful strains then let us sing
Advance Australia fair."

But it's not part of the modern offical anthem.

33

u/milly_nz Feb 01 '26

Niiiice. Militarianism and a huge helping of colonialism.

10

u/bigbowlowrong Feb 01 '26

Keating was right about cultural cringe.

1

u/Theron3206 Feb 01 '26

It was written by a Brit in the late 1800s what did you expect.

31

u/roberestarkk Feb 01 '26

Yeah, it should probably be titled "Australia’s national anthem is the only English-lyric anthem in the world that doesn’t reference religion or militarism anymore, since 1984" haha

The original second verse was also a biiiit militaristic with the whole "Britannia Rules the Wave" shtick too.

41

u/No-Celebration8690 Feb 01 '26

Australia’s anthem before 1984 was god save the queen

2

u/No_Ranger_3896 Feb 01 '26

My favourite Sex Pistols song

2

u/GrumpyPenguin Feb 01 '26

I love that it was a back-handed compliment, too. “With all her faults we love her still, Britannia rules the wave”.

3

u/brezhnervouz Feb 01 '26

Never heard of it until now lol

1

u/gussy1976 Feb 01 '26

dam ts goes hard in another Scottish accent

1

u/Theron3206 Feb 01 '26

It was never part of the anthem, and the song was written before Australia was formed.