RULE BRITANNIA
(18th Century - Traditional British)


When Britain first, at Heaven's command 
Arose from out the azure main, 
Arose from, arose from out the azure main; 
This was the charter, the charter of the Land 
And Guardian Angels sang this strain: 

Rule Britannia, Britannia rule the waves! 
Britons never, ever, ever shall be slaves. 
Rule Britannia, Britannia rule the waves! 
Britons never, ever, ever shall be slaves. 

The nations, not so blest as thee, 
Must, in their turns, to tyrants fall, 
Must, in their turns, to tyrants fall; 
While thou shalt flourish great and free, 
The dread and envy of them all. 

Rule Britannia, Britannia rule the waves! 
Britons never, ever, ever shall be slaves. 
Rule Britannia, Britannia rule the waves! 
Britons never, ever, ever shall be slaves. 

Still more majestic shalt thou rise, 
More dreadful from each foreign stroke; 
More dreadful, dreadful from each foreign stroke. 
As the loud blast, the blast that tears the skies 
Serves but to root the native oak. 

Rule Britannia, Britannia rule the waves! 
Britons never, ever, ever shall be slaves. 
Rule Britannia, Britannia rule the waves! 
Britons never, ever, ever shall be slaves. 

Thee haughty tyrants ne'er shall tame; 
All their attempts to bend thee down; 
All their, all their attempts to bend thee down. 
Will but arouse; arouse thy gen'rous flame, 
But work their woe and their renown. 

Rule Britannia, Britannia rule the waves! 
Britons never, ever, ever shall be slaves. 
Rule Britannia, Britannia rule the waves! 
Britons never, ever, ever shall be slaves. 

The Muses still with Freedom found 
Shall to thy happy coast repair; 
Shall to thy happy, happy coast repair. 
Blest isle with matchless, with matchless beauty crown'd, 
And manly hearts to guard the fair. 

Rule Britannia, Britannia rule the waves! 
Britons never, ever, ever shall be slaves. 
Rule Britannia, Britannia rule the waves! 
Britons never, ever, ever shall be slaves.