by Sherry Umlah

Throughout the world, people unite to collectively sing their nation’s anthem: a song that often tells the story of a country’s history, traditions, cultural beliefs and the values shared by its people. A nation’s anthem serves as an educational tool for significant historical and cultural events, unites its people through pride and patriotism, and is often a source of controversy as societies long for national attachment and a sense of belonging.

Highlighting their growth through historical events, or expressing their appreciation for religious rights and cultural freedoms, the lyrics of anthems educate a nation’s people about their country’s core values and identity. As explained in the Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour, “most national anthems contain lyrics that store collective memory of the past, thus creating knowledge of the past” (Liao, Zhang, and Zhang 106). For example, the lyrics of “The Star Spangled Banner,” an anthem with which Americans are most familiar, were written by poet Francis Scott Key who witnessed the British bombing of Fort McHenry in Baltimore during the War of 1812 (“America’s Song”). It was during this historical event that Key, inspired by an American flag waving during the battle, wrote the following words:

Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight
O’er the ramparts we watch’d were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there (“The Star-Spangled Banner”).

 

These lyrics describe a moment in the history of America’s ancestors. While many people may argue, based on the results of the results of a 2004 Harris interactive poll, that almost two-thirds of Americans do not even know the U.S. national anthem’s lyrics (Pointiff), it does not change the fact that the nation’s anthem still depicts the havoc of past war and the strength of a national symbol that continues to wave in triumph. The anthem’s lyrics salute bravery and pride as characteristics that lead to a nation’s freedom. They also illustrate a religious culture that demands justice in a fourth verse that includes the phrase “Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, and this be our motto: ‘In God is our trust’” (“The Star-Spangled Banner”). This anthem’s lyrics, taught to most American students by music teachers, represent the ideologies of America’s nation and the core values that most Americans want to pass on to their children.

In Canada, children quickly become educated about and memorize their national anthem’s lyrics as they are required to stand for the song daily in the classroom. This morning ritual occurs as part of the public education’s curriculum, with children singing words which teach of a patriotic culture that stands to protect their country:

With glowing heart 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 (“National Anthem: O Canada.”).

 

Canada’s anthem’s lyrics promote freedom and teach its nation’s people to stand and protect their glorious homeland.

Similar to Canada’s school system, Russia and the USSR educated their students about the nation’s anthem by printing the text of the anthem on the back cover of school exercise books that were manufactured in 2006. These lyrics served as educational material in these books which contained information that schoolchildren were taught to memorize, including “a multiplication table, values of physical constants, texts of patriotic songs and the national anthem” (“Anthem of Russia 2000”).

The lyrics of Germany’s 1933 co-national anthem, “Horst Wessel Lied,” also told an educational story of the reign of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi movement. Horst Wessel, the anthem’s lyricist, was a Nazi storm troop leader who was killed by persons with opposing political views (Halsall). Raising Wessel up as a heroic representative of the Nazi mission, Hitler declared “Horst Wessel Lied” as the official anthem: a song which includes the following English-translated lyrics:

Comrades shot by the red front and reaction, march in spirit with us in our ranks.
The street free for the brown battalions.
The street free for the Storm Troopers.
Millions, full of hope, look up at the swastika (Halsall).

 

This 1933 Germanic co-anthem documents a portion of its country’s history: the Nazi era. It tells a story of fallen comrades and Hitler’s promise for hope in the form of a national symbol: the swastika. This story, albeit true history, is not one which all Germans are proud to recall. In fact, at the end of Hitler’s reign after 1945, all evidence of Horst Wessel’s existence was destroyed. Monuments that were built in his honor were demolished and his once omnipresent song was banned (“A Song for Hitler”). Germany’s remaining co-anthem, written by Hoffmann von Fallersleben and titled “Lied der Deutschen,” sings of a much different educational tone, promoting a brotherly nation through the usage of the following English-translated lyrics:

Concord and Justice and freedom,
For the German fatherland,
Let us all strive for this,
Brotherly, with heart and hand! (Feinstein)

 

The core values expressed by Hoffmann von Fallersleben’s version of Germany’s anthem are more reflective of the culture and beliefs that Germans pass on to their children today.

These four countries’ anthems, which are thematically representative of many nations’ anthems, illustrate how history and core values can be taught and shared in the form of anthem lyrics. The songs, and their words, represent a nation’s social identity and the values and heritage that its people desire to sing and pass on from one generation to the next. They serve as an educational tool that recounts significant historical events and the cultural beliefs of a nation.
In addition to serving as an educational tool, national anthems unite people through song, pride, and patriotism. The very act of collectively singing unites and forms an allegiance among people. This notion is exemplified by Americana through songs like the New Seekers band’s tune, titled “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing,” which included the following lyrics written by Billy Davis, Roger Cook, and Roger Greenaway (“The ‘Hilltop’ Ad: The Story of a Commercial”):

I’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony.
I’d like to hold it in my arms and keep it company.
I’d like to see the world for once all standing hand in hand,
and hear them echo through the hills for peace throughout the land.

 

The lyrics of this song, which were modified after their use in advertisement by America’s popular soft drink producer Coca-Cola, illustrate the power and hope created through singing as a group and standing united. Although rumors about American President Barack Obama’s desire to have this song be the United States of America’s new anthem are untrue (“The Coke Theme Song and More Ridiculous Allegations”), the lyrics of the New Seeker’s song bear the same thematic focus of many nations’ anthems: unity, a desire for peace, and a sense of belonging. Anthems that sing of these themes aid citizens in forming ‘national attachment’ which, as author David Butz explains, can be described as one’s personal feeling of closeness or attachment to one’s nation. “Feeling attached to one’s nation may provide a sense of belongingness that fulfills one of people’s basic psychological needs” (Butz 779). A nation’s anthem is a significant factor in the motivation of its people and nations are one of the biggest social groups to which mankind can relate and attribute a sense of belonging.

Some people may argue that anthems have also been used in protests; therefore, they serve as a barrier between opposing groups. While anthems are mostly used to unite a nation’s people, history shows that a nation’s anthem’s lyrics can also be the source of controversy or used in controversial ways to unify a nation’s protestors. For example, after a series of Japanese textbooks that misrepresented World War II history were released, Chinese citizens protested by singing the lyrics of an earlier, 20th century, Chinese national anthem which bore lyrics reminiscent of the Sino-Japanese War between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan (Liao, Zhang, and Zhang 107). As author David Butz points out “one response to threat may be increased psychological attachment to national symbols” (783). Although used for controversial, protesting purposes, China’s earlier anthem’s lyrics united its nation against Japanese textbook publishers during a time when they felt their heritage and identities were being misrepresented and threatened. Through individuals’ identification with a national anthem, societies are able to unite with each other, sometimes in opposition of other countries, in protection, pride, and love for their own nation.

In addition to serving controversial purposes as a national symbol for protestors, anthems often become a source of controversy as a country evolves and its people struggle to relate to outdated lyrics and maintain a sense of belonging. The ideologies expressed in anthems represent a national identity which is constantly changing and is subject to the interpretation by a nation’s current society. Thus, as author J. Martin Daughtry explains, controversy can often arise when change occurs and results in disparity between a nation’s self-image, as defined by popular consensus, and the image portrayed by its anthem (Daughtry 42). Sometimes, this results in a call for the revision of an anthem’s lyrics. This is especially true in cases when countries change regime as in 1953 when the lyrics of Russia’s anthem, “Unbreakable Union,” were removed as part of the denunciation of the de facto leader of the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin, and his supporters (Daughtry 48). The former lyrics of 1944’s version of “Unbreakable Union,” written by Sergei Mikhalkov, focused on inspiring a war-weary country under Stalin’s ruling and translate to English as:
The sun of freedom glowed through the storm and the great Lenin illuminated our path. Thus, Stalin has raised us, to be loyal to the people, and he inspired us to labor and do great deeds. Glory to our free fatherland. The reliable bastion of the peoples’ happiness! May the Soviet banner, the people’s banner lead us from one victory to the next! (Daughtry 47)

While Russia’s people could find national attachment to these lyrics during the period of Stalin’s leadership, a change in the political leadership of the country resulted in controversy and the desire to find a new anthem that better represented their nation’s people. With another change in regime in 1990, Boris Yeltsin chose “Patrioticheskaya Pesnya” (The Patriotic Song) as the nation’s anthem. It, too, was instrumental for the majority of its existence. However, in late 2000, with yet another change in regime, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law changing the national anthem back to “Unbreakable Union” (“National Anthem”). This sparked social controversy as supporters and denouncers voiced their opinions. As Daughtry described, supporters praised the return of a former anthem and viewed it proudly as an act that represented the former Soviet Union’s successful history at war. Denouncers, however, viewed the anthem’s resurrection as offensive to the millions of people who had died during this historical period. They also feared that the return of the anthem was indicative of an inevitable return to an authoritarian government (43). Although the melody for today’s national anthem of Russia once stood as the Soviet Union’s anthem during World War II, its current version is accompanied by revised lyrics. An article in The Moscow Times newspaper details a story of when Russia’s soccer team members, the Spartak Moscow, had written to Putin requesting him to find a set of lyrics for Russia’s anthem because players found their inability to sing their anthem was affecting their morale and performance (Yablokova). They required anthem lyrics in order to sing of their pride for their nation. In response to the country’s overall dissatisfaction with their anthem, Putin established a commission to propose a solution to finding a new anthem and announced the reinstatement of “Unbreakable Union” without the former Soviet-themed lyrics. In their place were new lyrics written, again, by Sergei Mikhalkov:

Russia – our sacred state, Russia – our beloved country.
Mighty will-power, great glory shall remain your honors for all time!
Praise our free Fatherland, long-lasting union of brotherly peoples,
Ancestor-given wisdom of the people!
Long live, Country! We are proud of you! (“Russians to hail their holy country”)

 

These new lyrics symbolize a change, initiated by controversy, in Russian society. The new lyrics reflect a Russian nation that is holy and under God’s protection. As Daughtry interpreted, the old lyrics that referred to atheism, socialism, and communism were replaced by an anthem that promises its nation a “wide space for dreams and for life:” a drastically different nation for the Russian people to imagine (Daughtry 53).

The decision Putin made to reinstate a former anthem, despite its progressive and promising new lyrics, was met with controversy and months of political debate after the lyrics were released. Since a nation’s people look for a national symbol with which they can attach and relate, it’s no surprise that the new anthem came under scrutiny and highlighted the divide between subcultures of Russia’s society. People have an innate, psychological desire to belong to a higher group such as their nation. They desire and proudly present national symbols, like anthems, that reflect their core values and beliefs. However, these beliefs must truly represent their own personal values to create national attachment and a sense of belonging. As author David Butz illustrates in the journal titled Political Psychology, people gravitate toward national symbols when threats emerge. Given the multiple changes in regime and the country’s newfound, lesser image as a ‘former superpower,’ it would not be surprising if the nation’s people felt their identity was unstable and threatened. Thus, their need for an anthem comprised of lyrics to which they can relate is expected. From this perspective, one can see that anthem lyrics can become a source of controversy when a society outgrows an identity portrayed by original, outdated lyrics.

In a related controversy over a desire for national attachment, the lyrics of Canada’s anthem, written by Adolphe-Basile Routhier and Robert Stanley Weir, have also been met with scrutiny by its citizens due to its heavily male-oriented lyrics which include the phrase “true patriot love in all thy sons command” (“National Anthem: O Canada”). Given that the lyrics predominantly speak to men, it is not surprising that some of Canada’s population may find it difficult to relate to its words. In the controversial uproar, however, the idea of changing the lyrics in favor of lesser gender-based words was dropped by Canada’s government. Moffett explained that Canada’s government was met with great rebellion from people who liked the current anthem, as-is, so it remains unchanged due to its approval by the nation’s apparent majority.

Unlike the decision made by Canada’s majority, the government of Austria experienced similar controversy but elected to modify its anthem’s lyrics to better represent its nation’s people and all genders. After decades of debate, the lyrics were changed from “Home you are to great sons” to “Home of great daughters, sons” (Homola). This change, which was initiated by people’s desire to relate and belong to their nation, allowed all genders of Austria’s people to form an attachment to the anthem, as it better represented everyone and opened the doors for women to be part of its membership.

In further support of outdated anthem lyrics as a source of social controversy, Matt Moffett of The Wall Street Journal tells the story of activist Julio Cesar Rivera Davalos: a citizen of Peru, who invested over $100,000 in an effort to change Peru’s depressing national anthem’s lyrics. Davalos, like many of Peru’s citizens, believes the anthem’s lyrics express a tone of “alienation, indifference, apathy, pessimism and disintegration” (Moffett). The depressing tone of the anthem is evident in its stanzas which include lyrics by Jose Del La Torre Ugarte like:

For a long time the oppressed Peruvian
Dragged the ominous chain;
Condemned to cruel servitude
He moaned for a long time in silence. (Moffett)

 

In their desire to have a motivational anthem to which they could relate, it’s no surprise that controversy arose as Peruvians evolved and found these lyrics to lack the qualities of a positive national symbol. Moffet explains that, in response, the Peruvian government agreed that the nation was deserving of a more positive anthem and ordered educational institutions to replace the depressing first stanza of the anthem with its last: a verse that boasts of freedom and the country’s beautiful geography:

On its summit may the Andes hold
The two-colored flag or standard,
May it announce to the centuries the struggle
That set us free forever. (Moffett)

This last stanza of the anthem bears meaning with which today’s Peruvian society can be proud to relate. It stands as a positive national symbol that unites its people together and is sung as the nation’s anthem today.

These evolving nations represent and share the same innate desire of all nations: a need for national attachment and a sense of belonging. Anthems are one symbol of identity for a nation’s people. Thus, as illustrated by these controversial events, the lyrics of a nation’s anthem can become a threat to a society’s identity if its people outgrow the values expressed by its song.

As evident from these nations’ people’s attachment to their national symbol of song, anthems play a significant role in educating societies about their historical and cultural events, uniting their people through shared values via lyrics, and can become a source of controversy as societies evolve and outdated anthem lyrics leave them longing for a continued sense of belonging. A country’s heritage, its historical tradition and culture, is shared by its united people through their singing of its national anthem: a depiction of a nation’s identity in the form of poetic lyrics.

Works Cited
“A Song For Hitler.” History Today 57.10 (2007): 23-29. Academic Search Premier. Web. 7 Jan. 2013.

“America’s Song.” U.S. News & World Report 120.9 (1996): 21. Academic Search Premier. Web. 7 Jan. 2013.

“Anthem of Russia 2000.” Russian Anthems Museum, n.d. Web. 7 Jan. 2013. <http://www.hymn.ru/anthem-russia-2000-en.html>

Butz, David A. “National Symbols as Agents of Psychological and Social Change.” Political
Psychology 30.5 (2009): 779-804. Print.

Daughtry, J. Martin. “Russia’s New Anthem And The Negotiation Of National Identity.” Ethnomusicology 47.1 (2003): 42. Academic Search Premier. Web. 7 Jan. 2013.

Feinstein, Margarete Myers. “Deutschland Über Alles?: The National Anthem Debate In The Federal Republic Of Germany.” Central European History 33.4 (2000): 505-531. Print.

Halsall, Paul. “Modern History Sourcebook: The Horst Wessel Song.” Internet History Sourcebooks. Fordham University, 1998. Web. 07 Jan. 2013.

Homola, Victor. “Austria: Anthem to Undergo a Wording Change.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 14 July 2011. Web. 07 Jan. 2013.

Liao, Tim F., Gehu Zhang, and Libin Zhang. “Social Foundations of National Anthems: Theorizing for a Better Understanding of the Changing Fate of the National Anthem of China.” Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour 42.1 (2012): 106-27. Print.

Moffett, Matt. “Oh, Say, Can You See New Lyrics for This Anthem?” The Wall Street Journal, 25 Jan. 2011. Web. 07 Jan. 2013 <http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703954004576089701241775090.html>.

“National Anthem.” The Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Zimbabwe. The Embassy of the Russian Federation, 2013. Web. 07 Jan. 2013. <http://www.ruszim.org.zw/index.php?option=com_content>.

“National Anthem: O Canada.” Canadian Heritage. Government of Canada, n.d. Web. 08 Jan. 2013.

Pontiff, Elizabeth. “MENC And The National Anthem: From The Early 1900S To Today’s National Anthem Project.” Teaching Music 13.2 (2005): 30-35. Academic Search Premier. Web. 8 Jan. 2013.

“Russians to hail their ‘holy country.'” CNN.com. Cable News Network, 30 Dec. 2000. Web. 07 Jan. 2013.

“The Coke Theme Song and More Ridiculous Allegations.” PolitiFact.com. Tampa Bay Times, 2008. Web. 07 Jan. 2013.

“The ‘Hilltop’ Ad: The Story of a Commercial.” Coca-Cola Television Advertisements: Hilltop. The Library of Congress – American Memory, n.d. Web. 07 Jan. 2013. <http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/ccmphtml/colaadv.html>

“The Star-Spangled Banner.” Smithsonian. Smithsonian National Museum of American History, n.d. Web. 07 Jan. 2013. <http://amhistory.si.edu/starspangledbanner/the-lyrics.aspx>

Yablokova, Oksana. “Anthem Dispute Shows House Divided.” The Moscow Times. The Moscow Times, 21 Nov. 2000. Web. 07 Jan. 2013. <http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/anthem-dispute-shows-house-divided/257335.html>.