The "National Anthem of the Isle of Man" (, ) was written and composed by
William Henry Gill (1839–1923), with the Manx translation by
John J. Kneen (1873–1939). It is often referred to by its
incipit
The incipit ( ) of a text is the first few words of the text, employed as an identifying label. In a musical composition, an incipit is an initial sequence of Musical note, notes, having the same purpose. The word ''incipit'' comes from Latin an ...
, "O Land of Our Birth"
(, ).
History
It is sung to an adaptation of the traditional Manx melody of "Mylecharaine’s March", which had been described as the "Manx national melody" long before Gill's composition. The words that originally accompanied the melody date to around 1800 and concern the impoverishment of a father to pay a dowry. However, those curious words have been identified as disparate pieces of older songs amalgamated together incompletely. The first verse of the song is: ' (O Mylecharaine, where did you get your store? / Did I not get it in the
Curragh
The Curragh ( ; ) is a flat open plain in County Kildare, Ireland. This area is well known for horse breeding and training. The Irish National Stud is on the edge of Kildare town, beside the Japanese Gardens. Pollardstown Fen, the larges ...
, deep, deep enough? / Alone you left me'').
[''Manannan's Cloak: An Anthology of Manx Literature'' by ]Robert Corteen Carswell
Robert Corteen Carswell Reih Bleeaney Vanannan, RBV (born 1950)[Tynwald
Tynwald (), or more formally, the High Court of Tynwald () or Tynwald Court, is the legislature of the Isle of Man. It consists of two chambers, known as the branches of Tynwald: the directly elected House of Keys and the indirectly chosen Leg ...](_blank)
, on 22 January 2003, with "God Save the King
"God Save the King" ("God Save the Queen" when the monarch is female) is ''de facto'' the national anthem of the United Kingdom. It is one of national anthems of New Zealand, two national anthems of New Zealand and the royal anthem of the Isle ...
" being designated as the royal anthem
The anthem for a person, office or rank is music played on formal or ceremonial occasions in the presence of the person, office-holder, or rank-holder, especially by a military band. The head of state in many countries is honored with a prescrib ...
. The National Anthem is used on official and ceremonial occasions and in schools; the Royal Anthem is normally reserved for use additionally on those occasions when the Sovereign, members of the Royal Family, or the Lieutenant Governor are present.
The traditional song "" ("Isle of Man") had up to that point vied to be an equal unofficial national anthem, and had been re-popularized by a 1997 Bee Gees
The Bee Gees
were a musical group formed in 1958 by brothers Barry Gibb, Barry, Robin Gibb, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio was especially successful in popular music in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and later as prominent performers in ...
recording of it released as a single.
Lyrics
See also
* List of British anthems
This is a list of national and regional anthems used in the countries of the United Kingdom, crown dependencies and British overseas territories.
United Kingdom songs Countries
Traditional counties
Crown Dependencies songs
British overse ...
Notes
References
{{Authority control
Manx music
National symbols of the Isle of Man
Regional songs
British anthems