☝️ Key Points
- The anthem is an expression of loyalty and respect towards the English monarch.
- The first verse asks for God's protection and blessing for the queen and wishes her a long and glorious life.
- The second verse is a prayer to crush the enemies of the queen and expresses hope and trust in God.
- The third verse wishes for the queen to reign long, defend the laws, and always give reason to sing the anthem.
- The fourth verse expresses the desire for God's grace to be known worldwide and calls for brotherhood and unity among nations.
- The fifth verse is a prayer for protection for the queen, especially from secret enemies and assassins.
- The sixth verse is a specific prayer for Marshal Wade to suppress rebellions, especially in Scotland.
Interpretation
The national anthem 'God Save the Queen/King' is an expression of loyalty and respect towards the monarch and the country of England.
The first verse 'God save our gracious Queen, Long live our noble Queen, God save the Queen! Send her victorious, Happy and glorious, Long to reign over us; God save the Queen!' is a call to God to protect the Queen, give her a long and glorious life, and make her victorious.
The second verse 'O Lord our God arise, Scatter her enemies And make them fall; Confound their politics, Frustrate their knavish tricks, On Thee our hopes we fix, God save us all!' is a prayer for God to crush the Queen's enemies and thwart their political plans. It is also an expression of hope and trust in God.
The third verse 'Thy choicest gifts in store On her be pleased to pour; Long may she reign; May she defend our laws, And ever give us cause To sing with heart and voice, God save the Queen!' is a wish for the Queen to reign long, defend the laws, and always give us a reason to sing the anthem with heart and voice.
In the fourth verse 'Not in this land alone, But be God's mercies known, From shore to shore! Lord make the nations see, That men should brothers be, And form one family, The wide world over.' the desire is expressed for God's grace to be known not only in England, but worldwide. It is a call for brotherhood and unity among nations.
The fifth verse 'From every latent foe, From the assassins blow, God save the Queen! O'er her thine arm extend, For Britain's sake defend, Our mother, prince, and friend, God save the Queen!' is again a prayer for protection for the Queen, especially from hidden enemies and assassins.
The sixth verse 'Lord grant that Marshal Wade May by thy mighty aid Victory bring. May he sedition hush, And like a torrent rush, Rebellious Scots to crush. God save the King!' is a specific prayer for help for Marshal Wade, a historical figure, to suppress rebellions, especially in Scotland.