There's a land, a dear land, where the rights of the free Though firm as the Earth are as wide as the Sea; Where the primroses bloom, and the nightingales sing, And the honest poor man is as good as a king. Show'ry! Flow'ry! Tearful! Cheerful! Cheerful! Tearful! England, wave-guarded, and green to the shore! West land! Best land! Thy land! My land! Glory be with her, and Peace evermore! There's a land, a dear land, where our vigour of soul Is fed by the tempests that blow from the Pole; Where a slave cannot breathe or invader presume, To ask for more Earth than will cover his tomb. Sea land! Free land! Fairest! Rarest! Home of brave men and the girls they adore! Fearless! Peerless! Thy land! My land! Glory be with her, and Peace evermore!
There's a land
Set by Frances Allitsen (1848 - 1912), "There's a land", published 1897 [ voice and piano ], London : Boosey & Co., 1897 [Sung Text]
Note: this setting is made up of several separate texts.
Text Authorship:
- by Charles Mackay (1814 - 1889), "There's a land, a dear land", appears in Studies from the antique: and sketches from nature, first published 1864
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]There's a Realm, a vast Realm, that, from East unto West, Through the wide spreading world, is the noblest and best; Where the people love Peace, but, at sound of the drum, A myriad of soldiers and heroes become. Purest! Surest! Royal! Loyal! This year and all years we'll sing and we'll pray:-- Glorious! Victorious! Thy Realm! My Realm! God bless our Empire both now and for aye.
Text Authorship:
- by Agnes M. Sibly (flourished 1900s)
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Note: another verse by this author was also sung (instead?) at at least one performance of Allitsen's song, cf. Richard, Jeffrey. Imperialism and Music: Britain, 1876-1953. Manchester University Press, Manchester and New York: 2001, p. 38. That verse follows:
There's a Queen, a dear Queen, whom no Briton forgets, And upon whose dominion the sun never sets: -- Who has governed by love, and has helped us to fight For conquest of evil and succour of right. Best reign! Blest reign! Longest! Strongest! This year of all years we'll sing and we'll pray! "Glorious! Victorious! Thy Queen! My Queen! God bless her and keep her to-night and for aye."Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
Author(s): Charles Mackay (1814 - 1889), Agnes M. Sibly (flourished 1900s)