# Replace your national anthem. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 15, 2011, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replace-your-national-anthem/606292 "2011-12-15T11:42:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replace-your-national-anthem/606292/61 "2011-12-17T17:35:00Z")
It’s patriotic without being jingoistic, calls for national defense without being belligerent (like the boot in your ass song) and it’s not too long. _O Canada! Our home and native land! True patriot love in all thy sons command. With glowing hearts we see thee rise, The True North strong and free! From far and wide, O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. God keep our land glorious and free! O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. O Canada, we stand on guard for thee._ ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replace-your-national-anthem/606292/62 "2011-12-17T17:43:36Z")
For the U.S. I’d vote for America the Beautiful. I’d veto “God Bless America” or “God Bless the U.S.A.” I second standingwave’s admiration for “O Canada”. That is a beautiful and stirring song. For Australia I’d recommend “Waltzing Matilda”. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replace-your-national-anthem/606292/63 "2011-12-17T17:47:51Z")
> [@standingwave](#): > > It’s patriotic without being jingoistic, calls for national defense without being belligerent (like the boot in your ass song) and it’s not too long. > > _O Canada! > Our home and native land! > True patriot love in all thy sons command. > With glowing hearts we see thee rise, > The True North strong and free! > From far and wide, > O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. > God keep our land glorious and free! > O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. > O Canada, we stand on guard for thee._ On behalf of my adopted homeland, thank you. I would also not mess with Canada’s excellent national anthem. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replace-your-national-anthem/606292/64 "2011-12-17T17:48:53Z")
As a Brit I totally loathe and despise God save the Queen, the biggest pile of rhino shit ever put over as a work of music. As an Englishman the anthem for England should be either Jerusalem, or I vow to thee my country, though in a poll done in recent years Land of Hope and Glory was the most popular choice, which personally I think is dire. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replace-your-national-anthem/606292/65 "2011-12-17T18:54:53Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > See, **Qin** , the fact alone that you have to ask that question is telling of your lack of perspective in this case. I don’t think I have to teach you about the two great wars of the 20th century and who the baddies were. Its quite obvious that the aggressor in World War II were the Axis powers but World War I was a far more morally greyer conflict. > [@](#): > > The drive to fight these wars for Germany was rooted in extremely exaggerated nationalism and militarism, fueled by songs like the ones you want as our current anthem. “Deutschlandlied” is already the national anthem albeit just the third stanza and the song does not mention war or battle at all (ironically the Nazis also only used the first stanza because they didn’t like the calls for freedom in the third). And “Die Wacht Am Rhein” is no more militaristic then the “Marseillae” or our own national anthem. > [@](#): > > The majority of our people, including me, is proud of that fact, and getting told by a 15 year old American boy to resurrect those loaded songs is ridiculous. Anyways this thread is tongue-in-cheek. And I’m not telling Germans this, I’m just stating my preferences. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replace-your-national-anthem/606292/66 "2011-12-18T01:28:27Z")
> [@Lord\_Mondegreen](#): > > Not mine, but for England I recommend the previously mentioned “Jerusalem,” but probably more likely, [Oh England, my Lionheart](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1So6ok542jA) by Kate Bush. > > I dislike Australia’s national anthem (boring and hard to sing tune, and truly stupid lyrics), but I can’t immediately think of a replacement. You can’t think of a replacement? 'Cos I think your old unofficial song, “Waltzing Matilda,” is instantly recognizable as Aussie. But if we’re nominating prog-pop songs, you could try something like Midnight Oil’s [“Bullroarer”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kX1UGCIw0qI)–'cos their [“One Country”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DQzhUX-FQQ), while I love it, is probably too complex or particular or something. ---
**Author:** ![Docta\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Docta\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Docta_G)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replace-your-national-anthem/606292/67 "2011-12-18T03:45:46Z")
“I’m So Bored with the USA” — Clash ---
**Author:** ![Docta\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Docta\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Docta_G)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replace-your-national-anthem/606292/68 "2011-12-18T03:49:38Z")
_O Canada! Land of Guy Lapointe! Like Buffalo without as many plants. The Eskimo and Quebecois, Your people are so queer! Where freezing rain and driving snow Fall to the ground all year. Please say, “hello,” to Santa Claus! O Canada, you have Labatt’s. O Canada, you have Labatt’s._ ---
**Author:** ![Estilicon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Estilicon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Estilicon)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replace-your-national-anthem/606292/69 "2011-12-18T12:02:23Z")
The [Argentinian National Anathem](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BJPW8YmP_U&feature=fvsr) could be replaced by: 1. [Costumbres Argentinas](http://youtu.be/DNokYTCVU2w) by Los Abuelos de la Nada. 2. [Anathem from my heart](http://youtu.be/HKmqELWNBZM), also from Abuelos de la Nada. Or by Charly Garcia´s [version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrlexjmSpSY). ---
**Author:** ![UFC\_Is\_Sux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/46a35a/32.png) [@UFC\_Is\_Sux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UFC_Is_Sux)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replace-your-national-anthem/606292/70 "2011-12-18T12:07:40Z")
> [@BeaMyra](#): > > God Save The Queen is bad for the simple reason the Queen QEII can’t sing it Couldn’t she just sing “God Save Meeeee …”? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replace-your-national-anthem/606292/71 "2011-12-18T12:59:10Z")
Springsteen’s _Born in the USA_. That or his _Born to Run_; that’d liven up those Olympics awards ceremonies a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Apocalypso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Apocalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apocalypso)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replace-your-national-anthem/606292/72 "2011-12-23T03:01:43Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Springsteen’s _Born in the USA_. That or his _Born to Run_; that’d liven up those Olympics awards ceremonies a bit. Have you listened to the lyrics of Born in the USA? I don’t think I’d want to use that one. My nomination is Paul Simon’s American Tune. I am posting from an iPod so I can’t link it right now, but it’s easy enough to find on YouTube. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replace-your-national-anthem/606292/73 "2011-12-23T03:46:34Z")
> [@Apocalypso](#): > > Have you listened to the lyrics of Born in the USA? I don’t think I’d want to use that one. My nomination is Paul Simon’s American Tune. I am posting from an iPod so I can’t link it right now, but it’s easy enough to find on YouTube. Oh yes, I have indeed listened to the lyrics, hehehe. My nomination stands, thank you very much. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replace-your-national-anthem/606292.md?page=3)