MUSIC - Advance Australia Fair

MUSIC
Advance Australia Fair

he national anthem of Australia, and not Waltzing Matilda as many think. First played as our anthem at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, 1984.

Prime Minister Edward Gough Whitlam announced the new anthem to replace God Save The Queen on April 8th, 1974.

The anthem was composed by Peter Dodds McCormick in 1878. The writer went under the pen name of Amicus.

The Australian National Anthem
"Advance Australia Fair"

1, Australians all 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 gifts,
Of beauty, rich and rare,
In History’s page let every stage,
ADVANCE AUSTRALIA FAIR,
In joyful strains then let us sing
ADVANCE AUSTRALIA FAIR.

2, Beneath our radiant Southern Cross
We’ll toil with heart and hands
To make this Commonwealth of ours
Renowned of all the lands.
For those who’ve come across the seas
We’ve boundless plains to share;
With courage let us all combine
ADVANCE AUSTRALIA FAIR,
In joyful strains then let us sing
ADVANCE AUSTRALIA FAIR.

Words and music by Amicus, ie Scotsman Peter Dodds McCormick, first played and sung in Sydney on November 30th, St. Andrew's Day, 1878.