I sort of missed Bastille Day, and come to think of it, the Fourth of July as well. In fact, I would recommend that you never allow one of your family members to get sick on the 3rd of July, since very little happens the next day. And oddly enough, just a month or so ago I read an article about hospitals in which the author, a surgeon as I remember, talked about how early July is the very worst time to be in a hospital, since that’s when the interns change over and the doctors take their holidays. Oh well.
In any case, it’s taken me a while to catch up with things, and one of the items I overlooked was a posting by my friend Cara Black for Bastille day. I didn’t remember how deliciously bloodthirsty the French national anthem was. Makes bombs bursting in air seem positively homey.
Any other national anthems you know of that are so, well, graphic?
Sara says
July 23, 2006 at 10:42 pmThere is a website with the unimaginative name of “National Anthems” (www.national-anthems.net) that catalogs anthems from around the world, but unfortunately, most are written in their own languages and alphabets.
Anyone know how to read Armenian?
Trix says
July 23, 2006 at 11:08 pmThe NZ national anthem is graphic in an er, masochistic sense:
God of nations, at thy feet
In the bonds of love we meet,
Hear our voices, we entreat,
God defend our free land.
caroline says
July 24, 2006 at 1:28 amno anthems to offer up, but am sending all best wishes for a quick and thorough recovery for your husband.
all the best,
caroline
myninki says
July 24, 2006 at 2:59 pmMine!
“Hasten to battle, men of Bayamo,
For the Homeland looks Proudly to you.
You do not fear a glorious death,
Because to die for the country is to live.
To live in chains
Is to live in dishonor and ignominy.
Hear the clarion call,
Hasten, brave ones, to battle!
It sound much better in spanish!
Daisy says
July 24, 2006 at 9:09 pmI have no anthem to plug, but I will say that my mean high school french teacher made us memorize La Marseillaise (which is not why I thought she was mean) and on Bastille Day, when it played on my very cool local NPR station, I still knew all of the words.
Cornelia says
July 25, 2006 at 8:17 amHow about the Italian one?
Italian brothers,
Italy has arisen,
With Scipio’s helmet
binding her head.
Where is Victory?
Let her bow down,
For God has made her
The slave of Rome.
Let us gather in legions,
Ready to die!
Italy has called!
Makes our German one seem so harmonic, peaceful and innocent …
chorus girl says
July 29, 2006 at 1:51 pmDon’t know about national anthems, but the state anthem (state song?) of my home state, Maryland, appears to be a Civil War fight song… for the South!