# Best national anthem/patriotic song? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 10, 2009, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710 "2009-01-10T20:48:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710/21 "2009-01-11T02:08:59Z")
Another one of my favorites, of course, is the US Air Force song, appropriately titled _The U.S. Air Force_, although they no longer seem to teach the full song to airmen. The last verse is one of my favorites: _Off we go into the wild sky yonder, Keep the wings level and true; If you’d live to be a grey-haired wonder Keep the nose out of the blue! Flying men, guarding the nation’s border, We’ll be there, followed by more! In echelon we carry on. Nothing can stop the Air Force! Nothing can stop the U.S. Air Force!_ ---
**Author:** ![Vox\_Imperatoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Vox\_Imperatoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vox_Imperatoris)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710/22 "2009-01-11T02:15:37Z")
> [@ryobserver](#): > > Speaking of the Civil War, I’ve always liked “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”. But is it a patriotic song or a religious one? It’s patriotic if you’re a damnyankee 😉 (or a Republican, in fact—it’s the official anthem of the Republican Party). And Dixie is also a good tune; I like both of them. Valete, Vox Imperatoris ---
**Author:** ![Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uosdwis_R.Dewoh)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710/23 "2009-01-11T03:46:18Z")
[Waltzing Matilda](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58vujCL2dJI) is a good example of the good kind of quirkiness that defines the Australians. Only Australians would consider a song patriotic that nobody else understands. 🙂 > [@ryobserver](#): > > If you like that you might like the Corries’ “Flower of Scotland”, the closest Scotland has to a formal national anthem. Sung wherever the Scottish soccer team plays. Found a good [rendition](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPaJhlIIYjM&NR=1). > [@Westrogothia](#): > > Let me suggest the March of the Pori Regiment. Our regiment marched to this [one](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbd517ebm5U&feature=related). It’s called the Jaeger march. ---
**Author:** ![Vox\_Imperatoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Vox\_Imperatoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vox_Imperatoris)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710/24 "2009-01-11T04:17:31Z")
[Deutschland über alles](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEdoLKknCi0) is also good. I didn’t realize it was still the national anthem; the words \*have \*apparently been changed. I read that it’s blocked in Germany on Youtube by the censors, though (I don’t know how they put up with that kind of stuff). Also, is there some reason I can’t hear them saying the words “Deutschland über alles” in any of the ones labeled “[Nazi Germany National Anthem](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ciid6-1_M44)”, or am I just not hearing right? Valete, Vox Imperatoris ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710/25 "2009-01-11T04:22:37Z")
I have always thought that it is incredibly cool that [God Defend New Zealand](http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=DB1zn3MyFF0) is sung in two languages. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710/26 "2009-01-11T05:08:25Z")
> [@ryobserver](#): > > Speaking of the Civil War, I’ve always liked “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”. I’ve always greatly preferred Battle Hymn of the Republic to the Star-spangled Banner. I also like [Battle Cry of Freedom](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhCheCryopA&feature=related). > [@](#): > > We will welcome to our numbers the loyal, true and brave, > Shouting the battle cry of freedom! > And although he may be poor, not a man shall be a slave, > Shouting the battle cry of freedom! ---
**Author:** ![JXJohns](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jxjohns/32/469_2.png) [@JXJohns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JXJohns)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710/27 "2009-01-11T05:59:13Z")
> [@WormTheRed](#): > > Not many beat the Red Army Choir singing the [Soviet\* National Anthem](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLi_m656tQQ) > \*I know Russia has it now as well, but to me, it’s the Soviet 😉 That was the first Anthem that I thought of. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710/28 "2009-01-11T06:39:20Z")
> [@Vox\_Imperatoris](#): > > (I don’t know how they put up with that kind of stuff). Simply by telling Youtube to abide by German law or stop doing business in Germany. Easy, really. ---
**Author:** ![Vox\_Imperatoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Vox\_Imperatoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vox_Imperatoris)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710/29 "2009-01-11T06:55:28Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > Simply by telling Youtube to abide by German law or stop doing business in Germany. Easy, really. No, I mean I don’t see how the Germans put up with it. It’s in every WWII game, too—no Nazi flags or insignia, so the Allies are fighting the evil empire under the flag of the Iron Cross. Valete, Vox Imperatoris ---
**Author:** ![Mbossa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@Mbossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mbossa)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710/30 "2009-01-11T09:04:38Z")
Back before I had the internet, I remember listening to various crappy MIDI versions of national anthems in Encarta, and Qatar’s one stood out to me as the coolest-sounding one. Found it on YouTube, and yeah, [Qatar’s anthem still sounds pretty cool](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h88KQZC_Z6k&feature=related). I could picture myself singing it with pride (although I don’t know what the words mean). ---
**Author:** ![Vox\_Imperatoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Vox\_Imperatoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vox_Imperatoris)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710/31 "2009-01-11T09:10:58Z")
> [@Mbossa](#): > > Back before I had the internet, I remember listening to various crappy MIDI versions of national anthems in Encarta, and Qatar’s one stood out to me as the coolest-sounding one. > > Found it on YouTube, and yeah, [Qatar’s anthem still sounds pretty cool](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h88KQZC_Z6k&feature=related). I could picture myself singing it with pride (although I don’t know what the words mean). Hint: they’re on the YouTube video you linked. 😉 That anthem sounds like it’s in German, for some reason. I don’t know why it seems like that to me, but without context, that’s what I’d say it was. Valete, Vox Imperatoris ---
**Author:** ![Art\_Rock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/art_rock/32/525_2.png) [@Art\_Rock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Art_Rock)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710/32 "2009-01-11T10:00:40Z")
The South African still moves me. Having been there and having heard it sung by locals on a BBQ evening helps. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710/33 "2009-01-11T10:07:38Z")
I don’t know a lot of anthems, but I just have to say that [My Country Tis of Thee](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pG1W7JDWv50) totally kicks [God Save the Queen](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN9EC3Gy6Nk)’s ass. ---
**Author:** ![Mbossa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@Mbossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mbossa)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710/34 "2009-01-11T10:33:52Z")
> [@Vox\_Imperatoris](#): > > Hint: they’re on the YouTube video you linked. 😉 Heh, so they are. Didn’t think to click on the More Info link. A wee bit too religious for my tastes, but I could say the same thing about many national anthems (including my own). I could still see myself singing those words with pride. But I’d draw the line at kissing the sand like the guy in the picture. ---
**Author:** ![Hellestal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ab097/32.png) [@Hellestal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hellestal)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710/35 "2009-01-11T11:53:58Z")
> [@Vox\_Imperatoris](#): > > [Deutschland über alles](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEdoLKknCi0) is also good. I didn’t realize it was still the national anthem; the words \*have \*apparently been changed. The words to the song itself haven’t been changed. The Germans just use the third stanza of the [Deutschlandlied](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deutschlandlied) today as their national anthem instead of using the first. > [@Vox\_Imperatoris](#): > > Also, is there some reason I can’t hear them saying the words “Deutschland über alles” in any of the ones labeled “[Nazi Germany National Anthem](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ciid6-1_M44)”, or am I just not hearing right? The linked song is the [Horst-Wessel-Lied](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horst_Wessel_Lied), the anthem of the Nazi Party. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710/36 "2009-01-11T12:13:12Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > [HaTikvah](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hrndugmRMQ&feature=related), Israel’s National Anthem. Hatikvah has nothing on Jerusalem of Gold, performed [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRijgRZmqvI&feature=related)by the great Ofra Haza. ---
**Author:** ![II\_Gyan\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710/37 "2009-01-11T15:21:41Z")
Though overexposed in its original guise, the [EU anthem](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZ9lhoo8fZo) has to be it, musically. ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710/38 "2009-01-11T15:40:30Z")
I can hardly believe that I’m the first person to 2nd the Russian National Anthem. Hearing it I want to jump on the nearest T-34 and ride to Berlin and slaughter every Fascist I see for the glory of Comrade Stalin. On the other hand Waltzing Matilda brings a tear to my eye…I always enjoy the versions where the singer sounds half-drunk. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710/39 "2009-01-11T15:45:17Z")
> [@WormTheRed](#): > > Not many beat the Red Army Choir singing the [Soviet\* National Anthem](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLi_m656tQQ) > \*I know Russia has it now as well, but to me, it’s the Soviet 😉 That’s what I came in to say. ---
**Author:** ![GraceTX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c4cdca/32.png) [@GraceTX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GraceTX)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710/40 "2009-01-11T15:52:55Z")
Not really a national anthem, but you gotta love New Zealand’s [Haka](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqnimvUMCAk&feature=related) chants/dance. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710.md?page=3)