United we stand, divided we fall
Encyclopedia
"United we stand, divided we fall" is a phrase that has been used in motto
s, from nations and states to songs. The basic concept is that unless the people are united, it is easy to destroy them.
The phrase has been attributed to Aesop
, both directly in his fable The Four Oxen and the Tiger and indirectly in The Bundle of Sticks.
The first attributed use in modern times is to John Dickinson
in his revolutionary war song The Liberty Song
. In the song, first published in the Boston Gazette in July 1768, he wrote: “Then join hand in hand, brave Americans all! By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall!”
Patrick Henry
used the phrase in his last public speech, given in March 1799, in which he denounced The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions
. Clasping his hands and swaying unsteadily, Henry declaimed, “Let us trust God, and our better judgment to set us right hereafter. United we stand, divided we fall. Let us not split into factions which must destroy that union upon which our existence hangs.” At the end of his oration, Henry fell into the arms of bystanders and was carried almost lifeless into a nearby tavern. Two months afterward, he had died.
's second governor, Isaac Shelby
, was particularly fond of the stanza
from the Liberty Song. Since 1942, this phrase is the official non-Latin state motto of Kentucky.
On the Missouri flag
, the phrase is also stated surrounding the center circle.
to garner political support during struggle for independence from the British Empire
.
, and can be seen in some loyalist Northern Irish murals
.
performed by The Brotherhood of Man (written by Tony Hiller
and Peter Simons). This song was also performed by Sonny and Cher and Elton John
.
Also, in the song "Hey You" performed and written by the band Pink Floyd
, a similar term with the same meaning, "Together we stand, divided we fall", is used.
Wilbert Harrison
used the similar "Together we'll stand, Divided we'll fall" in his song "Let's Work Together
".
In the Sum 41
song "Confusion And Frustration In Modern Times", the phrase "Divided we stand, Together we fall" is used. New York Hardcore punk
band Agnostic Front
use the lyrics "United we stand, divided we fall, Gotta gotta go" in their song "Gotta Go", which was featured on Punk-O-Rama Vol. 3
. Punk band Smoke or Fire
also used the reverse lyric "United we stand, divided we'll fall" in their song "What Separates Us All", from their 2007 album This Sinking Ship
.
The dutch band "Heideroosjes
" use the lyrics in their song "Time is Ticking Away". It is also used in The Dropkick Murphys
' "Boy's on the Docks". The 3rd Mission in Operation flashpoint Dragon rising is called "United we stand". A slightly different version is mentioned by the heavy metal
band Judas Priest
in his song "United" ("united we stand, united we never shall fall"). 3T also used the exact words on their debut album Brotherhood, the song entitled "Brotherhood" too.
The reverse was also used by Def Leppard
in the song "When Love & Hate Collide
", "..divided we stand, baby, united we fall".
The phrase appears in the song "United", by the Finnish
power metal
group Stratovarius
.
In the album Nero from Two Steps from Hell
, one of the tracks is titled "United We Stand, Divided We Fall".
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
s, from nations and states to songs. The basic concept is that unless the people are united, it is easy to destroy them.
Early use
Aesop
Aesop was a Greek writer credited with a number of popular fables. Older spellings of his name have included Esop and Isope. Although his existence remains uncertain and no writings by him survive, numerous tales credited to him were gathered across the centuries and in many languages in a...
, both directly in his fable The Four Oxen and the Tiger and indirectly in The Bundle of Sticks.
The first attributed use in modern times is to John Dickinson
John Dickinson (delegate)
John Dickinson was an American lawyer and politician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Wilmington, Delaware. He was a militia officer during the American Revolution, a Continental Congressman from Pennsylvania and Delaware, a delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention of 1787, President of...
in his revolutionary war song The Liberty Song
The Liberty Song
"The Liberty Song" is an American Revolutionary War song composed by patriot John Dickinson, the author of Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania. The song is set to the tunes of "Heart of Oak", the anthem of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom and "Here's a Health", an Irish song of emigration...
. In the song, first published in the Boston Gazette in July 1768, he wrote: “Then join hand in hand, brave Americans all! By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall!”
Patrick Henry
Patrick Henry
Patrick Henry was an orator and politician who led the movement for independence in Virginia in the 1770s. A Founding Father, he served as the first and sixth post-colonial Governor of Virginia from 1776 to 1779 and subsequently, from 1784 to 1786...
used the phrase in his last public speech, given in March 1799, in which he denounced The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions
Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions
The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions were political statements drafted in 1798 and 1799, in which the Kentucky and Virginia legislatures took the position that the federal Alien and Sedition Acts were unconstitutional...
. Clasping his hands and swaying unsteadily, Henry declaimed, “Let us trust God, and our better judgment to set us right hereafter. United we stand, divided we fall. Let us not split into factions which must destroy that union upon which our existence hangs.” At the end of his oration, Henry fell into the arms of bystanders and was carried almost lifeless into a nearby tavern. Two months afterward, he had died.
Mottos
KentuckyKentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
's second governor, Isaac Shelby
Isaac Shelby
Isaac Shelby was the first and fifth Governor of the U.S. state of Kentucky and served in the state legislatures of Virginia and North Carolina. He was also a soldier in Lord Dunmore's War, the Revolutionary War, and the War of 1812...
, was particularly fond of the stanza
Stanza
In poetry, a stanza is a unit within a larger poem. In modern poetry, the term is often equivalent with strophe; in popular vocal music, a stanza is typically referred to as a "verse"...
from the Liberty Song. Since 1942, this phrase is the official non-Latin state motto of Kentucky.
On the Missouri flag
Flag of Missouri
The Flag of the State of Missouri was designed and stitched in Jackson, Missouri, by Marie Elizabeth Watkins Oliver , the wife of former State Senator R.B. Oliver. Her design was adopted in 1913 and remains unchanged to this day....
, the phrase is also stated surrounding the center circle.
India's founding fathers
This statement was also a common phrase used in IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
to garner political support during struggle for independence from the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
.
Ulster loyalism
The motto is also used by Ulster loyalistsUlster loyalism
Ulster loyalism is an ideology that is opposed to a united Ireland. It can mean either support for upholding Northern Ireland's status as a constituent part of the United Kingdom , support for Northern Ireland independence, or support for loyalist paramilitaries...
, and can be seen in some loyalist Northern Irish murals
Northern Irish murals
Murals in Northern Ireland have become symbols of Northern Ireland, depicting the region's past and present political and religious divisions.Northern Ireland contains arguably the most famous political murals. Almost 2,000 murals have been documented in Northern Ireland since the 1970s...
.
Popular culture
The lyrics "United we stand, divided we fall" are featured in the song "United We Stand"United We Stand (song)
"United We Stand" is a popular song by Tony Hiller and Peter Simmons. It was first recorded in 1970 by The Brotherhood of Man , becoming the band's first hit, peaking at #13 in the U.S., #9 in Canada, and #10 in the U.K. It is considered a worldwide standard and has been recorded by over 100...
performed by The Brotherhood of Man (written by Tony Hiller
Tony Hiller
Tony Hiller is a British songwriter. He began his musical career as a member of the song and dance duo The Hiller Brothers, sharing the stage with his brother Irving...
and Peter Simons). This song was also performed by Sonny and Cher and Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
.
Also, in the song "Hey You" performed and written by the band Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
, a similar term with the same meaning, "Together we stand, divided we fall", is used.
Wilbert Harrison
Wilbert Harrison
Wilbert Harrison was an American rhythm and blues singer, pianist, guitarist and harmonica player.Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States, Harrison had a Billboard #1 record in 1959 with the song "Kansas City". The song was written in 1952 and was one of the first credited collaborations...
used the similar "Together we'll stand, Divided we'll fall" in his song "Let's Work Together
Let's Work Together
"Let's Stick Together" or "Let's Work Together" as it was subsequently titled, is a blues song written by Wilbert Harrison, which was released in 1962...
".
In the Sum 41
Sum 41
Sum 41 is a Canadian rock band from Ajax, Ontario. The band was formed in 1996 and currently consists of members Deryck Whibley , Tom Thacker , Jason McCaslin and Steve Jocz .In 1999, the band signed an international record deal with Island Records...
song "Confusion And Frustration In Modern Times", the phrase "Divided we stand, Together we fall" is used. New York Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
band Agnostic Front
Agnostic Front
Agnostic Front is an American hardcore band. The band began playing hardcore similar to their contemporaries, and were thrust to the forefront of the burgeoning New York hardcore scene in the mid-1980s with their widely regarded 1984 classic Victim in Pain before evolving to incorporate thrash...
use the lyrics "United we stand, divided we fall, Gotta gotta go" in their song "Gotta Go", which was featured on Punk-O-Rama Vol. 3
Punk-O-Rama Vol. 3
Punk-O-Rama III is the third compilation album in the Punk-O-Rama series.This entry features two previously unreleased tracks, "We Threw Gasoline on the Fire and Now All We Have Stumps for Arms and Legs and No Eyebrows" by NOFX and "Wake Up" by Pennywise...
. Punk band Smoke or Fire
Smoke or Fire
Smoke or Fire is an American punk rock band from Boston, Massachusetts.The band originally formed in 1998, when western Massachusetts native Joe McMahon got together with Chris Brand , Bill Ironfield , and Nick Maggiore , hailing from New Hampshire...
also used the reverse lyric "United we stand, divided we'll fall" in their song "What Separates Us All", from their 2007 album This Sinking Ship
This Sinking Ship
This Sinking Ship was released on February 20, 2007 on Fat Wreck Chords. It is the second record from punk band Smoke or Fire. A music video was made for The Patty Hearst Syndrome.- Track listing :# What Separates Us All...
.
The dutch band "Heideroosjes
Heideroosjes
Heideroosjes , is a punk rock band from Horst aan de Maas, Netherlands. The band is known for their energetic shows and songs with lyrics mostly in Dutch and English, and a few songs in German and Limburgs...
" use the lyrics in their song "Time is Ticking Away". It is also used in The Dropkick Murphys
Dropkick Murphys
Dropkick Murphys are an Irish-American punk rock band formed in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1996. The band was initially signed to independent punk record label Hellcat Records, releasing five albums for the label, and making a name for themselves locally through constant playing and yearly St....
' "Boy's on the Docks". The 3rd Mission in Operation flashpoint Dragon rising is called "United we stand". A slightly different version is mentioned by the heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
in his song "United" ("united we stand, united we never shall fall"). 3T also used the exact words on their debut album Brotherhood, the song entitled "Brotherhood" too.
The reverse was also used by Def Leppard
Def Leppard
Def Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. Since 1992, the band have consisted of Joe Elliott , Rick Savage , Rick Allen , Phil Collen , and Vivian Campbell...
in the song "When Love & Hate Collide
When Love & Hate Collide
"When Love & Hate Collide" is a power ballad by British rock band Def Leppard from their 1995 greatest hits album Vault, written by Joe Elliott and Rick Savage. It was originally written and demoed for Adrenalize, but not finalized until 1995 for its inclusion on Vault...
", "..divided we stand, baby, united we fall".
The phrase appears in the song "United", by the Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
power metal
Power metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
group Stratovarius
Stratovarius
Stratovarius are a Finnish power metal band that formed in 1984. Since their formation they have released 13 studio albums and one live album. Along with Helloween, Blind Guardian, Rhapsody of Fire and Gamma Ray, Stratovarius are considered one of the leading groups of the power metal and symphonic...
.
In the album Nero from Two Steps from Hell
Two Steps From Hell
Two Steps From Hell is a production music company based in Los Angeles, California. Founded by Nick Phoenix and Thomas J. Bergersen, the company produces music for movie trailers and top ten classical albums on iTunes, Amazon and CD Baby....
, one of the tracks is titled "United We Stand, Divided We Fall".