Anthems of the Caribbean

[DC]

Re: Anthems of the Caribbean

<u>Dominica</u>
Believe it or not--it’s not historically Spanish, but French! English is the official language; however, because of historic French domination, the most widely spoken dialect is a French patois. Dominica has been nicknamed the "Nature Isle of the Caribbean" due to its seemingly unspoiled natural beauty. In 2004, because of its unchanged natural beauty, Dominica was chosen to be one of the major filming locations for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and its follow-up, At World's End, as well as the new CBS reality TV show Pirate Master. Dominica is the only island in the eastern Caribbean to retain some of its pre-Columbian population--the Carib Indians.


<u>Isle of Beauty, Isle of Splendour</u>

Isle of beauty, isle of splendour,
Isle to all so sweet and fair,
All must surely gaze in wonder
At thy gifts so rich and rare.
Rivers, valleys, hills and mountains,
All these gifts we do extol.
Healthy land, so like all fountains,
Giving cheer that warms the soul.
Dominica, God hath blest thee
With a clime benign and bright,
Pastures green and flowers of beauty
Filling all with pure delight,
And a people strong and healthy,
Full of godly, rev'rent fear.
May we ever seek to praise Thee
For these gifts so rich and rare.
Come ye forward, sons and daughters
Of this gem beyond compare.
Strive for honour, sons and daughters,
Do the right, be firm, be fair.
Toil with hearts and hands and voices.
We must prosper! Sound the call,
In which ev'ryone rejoices,
"All for Each and Each for All."

[Mutty]

Re: Anthems of the Caribbean

mms://music.stream.national-anthems.net/windows/9c8378d45e77f9946c3bb747a8e91084virginisland0.asf

MUSIC TO VIRGIN ISLANDS MARCH


NOTE: Song actually begins after the lenghty intro.

[DC]

Re: Anthems of the Caribbean

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mutty</div><div class="ubbcode-body">mms://music.stream.national-anthems.net/windows/9c8378d45e77f9946c3bb747a8e91084virginisland0.asf

MUSIC TO VIRGIN ISLANDS MARCH


NOTE: Song actually begins after the lenghty intro. </div></div>

Hey Mutty, I can't get the link to work....would love to listen

[DC]

Re: Anthems of the Caribbean

<u>Cayman Islands</u>

Their National Anthem is ..you guessed it..God Save the Queen! However, they do have a Local Anthem "Beloved Isle Cayman" which was adopted in 1930. Here's a tid bit for you: The Cayman Islands were colonized from Jamaica by the British during the 18th and 19th centuries. Administered by Jamaica since 1863, they remained a British dependency after 1962 when the former became independent.Got tidbit from here

<u>Beloved Isles Cayman</u>

O land of soft, fresh breezes
And verdant trees so fair,
With the Creator's glory
Reflected ev'rywhere,
O sea of palest em'rald,
Merging to darkest blue,
Whene'er my thoughts fly Godward,
I always think of you.

Dear, verdant island, set in blue Caribbean Sea,
I'm coming, coming very soon, O beautious isle, to thee.
Although I wandered far,
My heart enshrines thee yet.
Homeland, fair Cayman Isle,
I cannot thee forget.

Away from noise of cities,
Their fret and carking care,
With moonbeams' soft caresses,
Unchecked by garish glare,
Thy fruit with rarest juices,
Abundant, rich and free,
When sweet church bells are chiming,
My fond heart yearns for thee.

When tired of all excitement
And glam'rous worldly care,
How sweet thy shores to reach
And find a welcome there,
And when comes on the season
Of peace, goodwill to man,
'Tis then I love thee best of all,
Beloved Isle Cayman.

[DC]

Re: Anthems of the Caribbean

…..another English island…
<u>Barbados</u>

In the colonial days, Barbados was known as "Little England,". After about 300 years of British heritage, Barbados has become 'veddy British,'. Barbadians call themselves Bajans. For being so British, you would think the National Anthem woud be God save the Queen..well..nahh....the lyrics of The National Anthem of Barbados were written by Mr.Irvin Burgie who was born in Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A. of a Barbadian mother and American father. It is simply entitled “ The National Anthem”.


<u>The National Anthem (Barabdos)</u>
In plenty and in time of need
When this fair land was young
Our brave forefathers sowed the seed
From which our pride is sprung,
A pride that makes no wanton boast
Of what it has withstood
That binds our hearts from coast to coast -
The pride of nationhood.

Chorus:
We loyal sons and daughters all
Do hereby make it known
These fields and hills beyond recall
Are now our very own.
We write our names on history's page
With expectations great,
Strict guardians of our heritage,
Firm craftsmen of our fate.

The Lord has been the people's guide
For past three hundred years.
With him still on the people's side
We have no doubts or fears.
Upward and onward we shall go,
Inspired, exulting, free,
And greater will our nation grow
In strength and unity.

[DC]

Re: Anthems of the Caribbean

..another French island…
Martinique is termed "a little bit of France in the Caribbean Islands." The official language is French, and they also speak French Creole. English is widely spoken but it is a plus to know at least high-school French. Hey, check out some additional info: Other than fine wines, Martinicans are obsessed with the sweet, syrupy rums produced by the island's 11 rum distilleries. These distilleries make some of the world's best-fermented sugarcane liquor. So, If you are a lover of rum drinks, then you may wanna go visit their rum fetes [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif[/img] Martinique, as a part of France, has a much higher living standard than in other West Indian isles. Also, Martinicans have such mainland France benefits as five-week paid vacations, universal health and education plans, paternity as well as maternity leaves, 36-hour work weeks - the lot. Go figure..

French Lyrics

<u>La Marseillaise</u>

Allons enfants de la patrie,
Le jour de gloire est arrivé !
Contre nous de la tyrannie
L'etendard sanglant est levé (bis)
Entendez vous dans les campagnes,
Mugir ces féroces soldats ?
Ils viennent jusque dans nos bras
Egorger nos fils, nos compagnes

Refrain

Aux armes, citoyens
Formez vos bataillons
Marchons Marchons
Qu'un sang impur
Abreuve nos sillons

Que veut cette horde d'esclaves,
de traitres, de rois conjures ?
Pour qui ces ignobles entraves,
Ces fers des longtemps preparés ? (bis)
Français pour nous, ah Quel outrage
Quels transports il doit exciter
C'est nous qu'on ose méditer
De rendre à l'antique esclavage

Quoi Ces cohortes étrangères
Feraient la loi dans nos foyers
Quoi Ces phalanges mercenaires
Terrasseraient nos fiers guerriers (bis)
Grand Dieu ! Par des mains enchainées
Nos fronts sous le joug ploiraient
De vils despotes deviendraient
Les maîtres de nos destinées

Tremblez tyrans ! Et vous, perfides,
L'opprobre de tous les partis,
Tremblez Vos projets parricides
Vont enfin recevoir leur prix (bis)
Tout est soldat pour vous combattre.
S'ils tombent, nos jeunes heros,
La France en produit de nouveaux,
Contre vous tout prêts à se battre

Français, en guerriers magnanimes,
Portez ou retenez vos coups
Epargnez ces tristes victimes,
A regret s'armant contre nous. (bis)
Mais ces despotes sanguinaires,
Mais ces complices de Boulle,
Tous ces tigres qui, sans pitié,
Déchirent le sein de leur mère !...

Amour sacré de la patrie,
Conduis, soutiens nos bras vengeurs
Liberté, Liberté chérie,
Combats avec tes défenseurs (bis)
Sous nos drapeaux, que la victoire
Accoure à tes males accents
Que tes ennemis expirants
Voient ton triomphe et notre gloire

Nous entrerons dans la carrière
Quand nos aînés n'y seront plus;
Nous y trouverons leur poussière
Et la trace de leurs vertus. (bis)
Bien moins jaloux de leur survivre
Que de partager leur cercueil,
Nous aurons le sublime orgueil
De les venger ou de les suivre.

English Translation:

"La Marseillaise"

Arise children of the fatherland,
The day of glory has arrived !
Against us tyranny's
Bloody standard is raised (repeat)
Listen to the sound in the fields
The howling of these fearsome soldiers,
They are coming into our midst
To cut the throats of your sons and consorts.

CHORUS :
To arms citizens !
Form you battalions !
March, march !
Let impure blood
Water our furrows !

What do they want this horde of slaves,
Of traitors and conspiratorial kings ?
For whom these vile chains,
These long-prepared irons ? (repeat)
Frenchmen, for us, ah ! What outrage
What methods must be taken ?
It is we they dare plan
To return to the old slavery !

What ! These foreign cohorts !
They would make laws in our courts !
What ! These mercenary phalanxes
Would cut down our warrior sons (repeat)
Good Lord ! By chained hands
Our brow would yield under the yoke
The vile despots would have themselves be
The masters of destiny.

Tremble tyrants and traitors,
The shame of all good men,
Tremble ! Your parricidal schemes
Will receive their just reward (repeat)
Against you we are all soldiers.
If they fall, our young heros,
France will bear new ones,
Ready to join the fight against you.

Frenchmen, as magnanimous warriors,
Bear or hold back your blows
Spare these sad victims,
Who with regret are taking up arms against us (repeat)
But not these bloody despots,
These accomplices of Boulle,
All these tigers who pitilessly,
Are ripping open their mothers' breasts !...

Sacred Love for the Fatherland,
Lead and support our avenging arms
Liberty, cherished liberty,
Join the struggle with your defenders (repeat)
Under our flags, let victory
hasten to you virile (or manly) force
So that in death your enemies
See your triumph and our glory !

We shall enter into the pit
When our elders will no longer be there ;
There we shall find their ashes
And the mark of their virtues (repeat)
We are much less jealous of surviving them
Than of sharing their coffins,
We shall have the sublime pride
Of avenging or joining them.


wow, such fervency of words



Another lenghty one CEW [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif[/img]

[msportmore]

Re: Anthems of the Caribbean

i ALSO think the Jamaican one is di bes. (Yes mi pawchal) [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif[/img]