# Unofficial "National" songs that young and old know **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [March 18, 2021, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unofficial-national-songs-that-young-and-old-know/938143 "2021-03-18T02:49:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Didi44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@Didi44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Didi44)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unofficial-national-songs-that-young-and-old-know/938143/1 "2021-03-18T02:49:34Z")
I was listening to three versions of _[Arirang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arirang)_ on my way home and thought of the topic question. Ask any Korean and the vast majority of them will know the traditional version of _[Arirang](https://youtu.be/_2z6qvMcgoY?t=35)_ and probably other local versions. The lyrics vary, but they all are some variation of a woman having lost or bemoaning the weakness of her love. Likewise anyone of Japanese heritage is like to know at least the melody of _[Sakura, Sakura](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakura_Sakura)_, even if like me they don’t know the lyrics. There are variations of the musical treatment, but as far as I know, the lyrics never change. Edit: Thinking about it, I think _Arirang_ and _Sakura Sakura_ are national songs, but not officially like say the _Star Spangled Banner_ ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unofficial-national-songs-that-young-and-old-know/938143/2 "2021-03-18T05:21:58Z")
I’m sure there are plenty both young and old would recognize but not know the lyrics (or maybe even the titles) to. “Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean” and “The Stars and Stripes Forever” come immediately come to mind. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unofficial-national-songs-that-young-and-old-know/938143/3 "2021-03-18T05:28:41Z")
I also wonder how many Brits can sing anything other than the chorus to “Rule, Britannia!” ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unofficial-national-songs-that-young-and-old-know/938143/4 "2021-03-18T05:30:54Z")
_America_ (aka _My Country, 'Tis of Thee_) and _America the Beautiful_ come to mind. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unofficial-national-songs-that-young-and-old-know/938143/5 "2021-03-18T05:33:24Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > _America (aka My Country, 'Tis of Thee)_ and _Ameica the Beautiful_ come to mind. Ditto for “Off We Go, Into the Wild Blue Yonder” (the USAF anthem), “Anchors Aweigh!” (US Navy), “The Marines’ Hymn” (USMC), and “The Caisson Song” (US Army). ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unofficial-national-songs-that-young-and-old-know/938143/6 "2021-03-18T05:35:46Z")
For Scotland, “Scotland the Brave” likely qualifies. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vBKBI7DOLHA/hqdefault.jpg "Scotland the Brave (Bagpipes)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBKBI7DOLHA) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unofficial-national-songs-that-young-and-old-know/938143/7 "2021-03-18T05:40:29Z")
For Canadians, “The Maple Leaf Forever,” which has been superseded by “O Canada”: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OxOhk4Lk9aE/hqdefault.jpg "The Maple Leaf forever (original version)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxOhk4Lk9aE) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unofficial-national-songs-that-young-and-old-know/938143/8 "2021-03-18T05:45:35Z")
How about “Men of Harlech,” “British Grenadiers,” “Heart of Oak,” “Life on the Ocean Wave,” and (my favorite) “RAF Quick March”? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/GV3hscgyuAs/hqdefault.jpg "Royal Air Force March") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GV3hscgyuAs) ---
**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:** [March 18, 2021, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unofficial-national-songs-that-young-and-old-know/938143/9 "2021-03-18T06:20:31Z")
For Israelis, it’s undoubtedly “A Walk to Caesarea (Eli, Eli)”, written in 1942 by poet and WW2 resistance fighter Hannah Szenes, with music by David Zahavi. It’s very short: _My God, my God,_ _may it never end –_ _the sand and the sea,_ _the rustle of the water,_ _the brilliance of the sky,_ _the prayer of man._ (Mods - it’s not copyrighted). It’s been covered hundreds of times. Here’s one version: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/v9s1iRut6YA/hqdefault.jpg "נתנאלה - הליכה לקיסריה") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9s1iRut6YA) ---
**Author:** ![steepone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@steepone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steepone)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unofficial-national-songs-that-young-and-old-know/938143/10 "2021-03-18T06:30:41Z")
In Australia it would have to be Waltzing Matilda, at one point it was in the running to become our national anthem but lost to Advance Australia Fair ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unofficial-national-songs-that-young-and-old-know/938143/11 "2021-03-18T06:31:33Z")
I think these should qualify as well (the first is also the melody to an Anglican hymn): [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/r7Si2H479Es/hqdefault.jpg "Dam Busters Theme [Highest Quality]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7Si2H479Es) [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XWXQUhBsUVM/hqdefault.jpg "633 squadron theme") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWXQUhBsUVM) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/FDi0ElqwHrY/maxresdefault.jpg "Great Escape March (From "the Great Escape')") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDi0ElqwHrY) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unofficial-national-songs-that-young-and-old-know/938143/12 "2021-03-18T06:38:45Z")
I’d’ve picked this one: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/i0MklIdTiaU/maxresdefault.jpg "Scottish National Anthem ~ Flower Of Scotland (Lyrics)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0MklIdTiaU) ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unofficial-national-songs-that-young-and-old-know/938143/13 "2021-03-18T06:45:33Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I also wonder how many Brits can sing anything other than the chorus to “Rule, Britannia!” Damn difficult to sing the verse, though many will recognise it. There’s always “Jerusalem”. Strictly speaking we have no “official” national anthems or songs - it’s all just custom and practice. But Scotland and Wales have several alternatives used by different organisations for different purposes at different times, either “national” or (especially in Wales) familiar hymns: “Scots Wha Hae”, “Flower of Scotland”, “Cwm Rhondda”, “Calon Lân”. Come to think of it, the English FA Cup Final used to have community singing which always included “Abide With Me”. And in Cornwall, there’s “The March of the Western Men”, and a fair number of other songs identified with more local or regional areas, such as “Ilkley Moor” or “Blaydon Races”. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unofficial-national-songs-that-young-and-old-know/938143/14 "2021-03-18T06:45:53Z")
From Scotland to Ireland: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/KZ3E7kIYtR0/maxresdefault.jpg ""Danny Boy" | GENTRI Covers") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZ3E7kIYtR0) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unofficial-national-songs-that-young-and-old-know/938143/15 "2021-03-18T06:56:29Z")
> [@PatrickLondon](#): > > Strictly speaking we have no “official” national anthems or songs - it’s all just custom and practice. Here’s a few more for you; the first was played at the London Olympics: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/J9-cDa4JCwM/maxresdefault.jpg "BBC Proms 2011: James Bond Theme") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9-cDa4JCwM) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/GeK3Lkd_XL4/hqdefault.jpg "The Avengers Series 5 Opening Titles and Closing Credits") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeK3Lkd_XL4) [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EP9pKQ5N6Qg/hqdefault.jpg "'The Saint' Theme In Stereo") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EP9pKQ5N6Qg) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/6Sy_MXRta8o/hqdefault.jpg "Ron Grainer - The Prisoner - Main Titles Full Version") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Sy_MXRta8o) [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bphbzFtcDNs/hqdefault.jpg "Danger Man TV Show Theme Song") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bphbzFtcDNs) ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unofficial-national-songs-that-young-and-old-know/938143/16 "2021-03-18T07:05:39Z")
I think most if not all Filipinos regard “Bayan Ko” as a second national anthem. Here’s Lea Salonga singing it as only Lea Salonga can: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/KZ9L7fEnGhU/hqdefault.jpg "Lea Salonga - Bayan Ko") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZ9L7fEnGhU) Wikipedia includes lyrics in three different languages: > **[Bayan Ko](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayan_Ko)** > > Events/Artifacts > (north to south) > Events/Artifacts > Artifacts ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unofficial-national-songs-that-young-and-old-know/938143/17 "2021-03-18T07:13:22Z")
> Here’s a few more for you; Billy Connolly’s often said that if we need a new national anthem, it should be the theme tune for The Archers: [https://youtu.be/CKVGFP93bPg](https://youtu.be/CKVGFP93bPg) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unofficial-national-songs-that-young-and-old-know/938143/18 "2021-03-18T07:14:22Z")
This is my favorite Russian folk ballad. It’s a thinly disguised love song about a mountain ash who pines\* for a tall oak, with whom she can never be together: _Why do you stand swaying, slender ash, with your head bent down so far?_ _What an awful fate, to sway alone_ _for all eternity!_ [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/6ApW5GZvOfk/hqdefault.jpg "Chto stoish kachayas, tonkaya ryabina") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ApW5GZvOfk) \*Pun intended. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unofficial-national-songs-that-young-and-old-know/938143/19 "2021-03-18T07:32:38Z")
An inspired choice! ✌ ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unofficial-national-songs-that-young-and-old-know/938143/20 "2021-03-18T07:39:37Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > “The Caisson Song” (US Army) I wouldn’t call those “National Songs”, but rather “Service Songs”. Also, this one’s actually called [_The Army Goes Rolling Along_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Army_Goes_Rolling_Along) . [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unofficial-national-songs-that-young-and-old-know/938143.md?page=2)