Advance Australia Fair

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Advance Australia Fair (1879)
by Peter Dodds McCormick

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Advance Australia Fair is the official national anthem of Australia. It was composed by Peter Dodds McCormick in the late 19th century, and first performed by Andrew Fairfax at a Highland Society function in Sydney on St Andrew's Day, (November 30, 1878). The song quickly gained popularity and an amended version was sung by a choir of 10,000 at the inauguration of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. In 1907, the Australian Government awarded McCormick £100 for its composition.

Even though any copyright of Peter Dodds McCormick' original lyrics has expired as he died in 1916, the Commonwealth of Australia does copyright the officially proclaimed lyrics and particular arrangements of music. Non-commercial use of the anthem is permitted without case-by-case permission, but commercial use does require permission.

— Excerpted from Advance Australia Fair on Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia.

6444Advance Australia Fair1879Peter Dodds McCormick

Australia's sons let us rejoice,For we are young and free;We've golden soil and wealth for toil,Our home is girt by sea;Our land abounds in Nature's giftsOf beauty rich and rare;In history's page, let every stageAdvance Australia fair!In joyful strains then let us sing,"Advance Australia fair!"

When gallant Cook from Albion sail'd,To trace wide oceans o'er,True British courage bore him on,Till he landed on our shore.Then here he raised Old England's flag,The standard of the brave;With all her faults we love her still,"Britannia rules the wave!"In joyful strains then let us sing"Advance Australia fair!"

Beneath our radiant southern Cross,We'll toil with hearts and hands;To make this youthful CommonwealthRenowned of all the lands;For loyal sons beyond the seasWe've boundless plains to share;With courage let us all combineTo advance Australia fair.In joyful strains then let us sing"Advance Australia fair!"

While other nations of the globeBehold us from afar,We'll rise to high renown and shineLike our glorious southern star;From England, Scotia, Erin's Isle,Who come our lot to share,Let all combine with heart and handTo advance Australia fair!In joyful strains then let us sing"Advance Australia fair!"

Shou'd foreign foe e'er sight our coast,Or dare a foot to land,We'll rouse to arms like sires of yoreTo guard our native strand;Britannia then shall surely know,Beyond wide ocean's roll,Her sons in fair Australia's landStill keep a British soul.In joyful strains then let us sing"Advance Australia fair!"

This work was published before January 1, 1930, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.

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