Under Southern Stars
Encyclopedia
Under Southern Stars is an Australia
n patriotic song with lyrics written by former Australian immigration minister
and Senator Amanda Vanstone
. The song is set to the tune of the first of the Pomp and Circumstance Marches
by Edward Elgar
(or the same as the better-known song set to the same music Land of Hope and Glory
).
Vanstone worked on the song for six years as a secret project, before releasing it in early 2007. She stated that the song came about after a discussion with some friends on Australia Day
, where it was decided that Australia lacked a song with similar gravitas
as the national anthem, Advance Australia Fair
. She denied that the song was intended to replace or rival the national anthem, but could be played alongside it, and other classic and modern Australian patriotic songs such as Waltzing Matilda
and True Blue at public events.
Joined from near and far,
Shining light for freedom,
Under southern stars.
Nation made of many,
Bound in hope as one,
Building for the future,
Under southern sun.
Free and friendly nation,
Born of our own hand,
Peace our greatest virtue,
Mighty southern land.
Valiant into battle,
Courage to the end,
Standing firm for freedom,
Loyal southern friend.
Nature's earthly heaven,
Glory for our eyes
Ours alone these treasures,
Under southern skies.
Shining light for freedom
Under southern stars.
Full permission for use and reproduction of the lyrics are granted on the song's website at http://www.undersouthernstars.com/.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n patriotic song with lyrics written by former Australian immigration minister
Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (Australia)
In the Government of Australia, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship is responsible for overseeing the Department of Immigration and Citizenship....
and Senator Amanda Vanstone
Amanda Vanstone
Amanda Eloise Vanstone is a former Australian politician and a former Ambassador to Italy. She was a Liberal Senator for South Australia from 1984 to 2007, and held several ministerial portfolios in the Howard Government. After her resignation from the Senate in 2007, she served as the Australian...
. The song is set to the tune of the first of the Pomp and Circumstance Marches
Pomp and Circumstance Marches
The "Pomp and Circumstance Marches" , Op. 39 are a series of marches for orchestra composed by Sir Edward Elgar....
by Edward Elgar
Edward Elgar
Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet OM, GCVO was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestral works including the Enigma Variations, the Pomp and Circumstance Marches, concertos...
(or the same as the better-known song set to the same music Land of Hope and Glory
Land of Hope and Glory
"Land of Hope and Glory" is a British patriotic song, with music by Edward Elgar and lyrics by A. C. Benson, written in 1902.- Composition :...
).
Vanstone worked on the song for six years as a secret project, before releasing it in early 2007. She stated that the song came about after a discussion with some friends on Australia Day
Australia Day
Australia Day is the official national day of Australia...
, where it was decided that Australia lacked a song with similar gravitas
Gravitas
Gravitas was one of the Roman virtues, along with pietas, dignitas and virtus. It may be translated variously as weight, seriousness, dignity, or importance, and connotes a certain substance or depth of personality.-See also:*Auctoritas...
as the national anthem, Advance Australia Fair
Advance Australia Fair
"Advance Australia Fair" is the official national anthem of Australia. Created by the Scottish-born composer, Peter Dodds McCormick, the song was first performed in 1878, but did not gain its status as the official anthem until 1984. Until then, the song was sung in Australia as a patriotic song...
. She denied that the song was intended to replace or rival the national anthem, but could be played alongside it, and other classic and modern Australian patriotic songs such as Waltzing Matilda
Waltzing Matilda
"Waltzing Matilda" is Australia's most widely known bush ballad. A country folk song, the song has been referred to as "the unofficial national anthem of Australia"....
and True Blue at public events.
Lyrics
Home to first Australians,Joined from near and far,
Shining light for freedom,
Under southern stars.
Nation made of many,
Bound in hope as one,
Building for the future,
Under southern sun.
Free and friendly nation,
Born of our own hand,
Peace our greatest virtue,
Mighty southern land.
Valiant into battle,
Courage to the end,
Standing firm for freedom,
Loyal southern friend.
Nature's earthly heaven,
Glory for our eyes
Ours alone these treasures,
Under southern skies.
Shining light for freedom
Under southern stars.
Full permission for use and reproduction of the lyrics are granted on the song's website at http://www.undersouthernstars.com/.
External links
- Official website - includes MP3MP3MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, more commonly referred to as MP3, is a patented digital audio encoding format using a form of lossy data compression...
to listen to online or download. - Performance of song at citizenship ceremony - captured on video.