March On, Bahamaland

"March On, Bahamaland" is the national anthem of The Bahamas. Timothy Gibson composed the music and authored the lyrics. This was adopted as the national anthem in 1973, when the country gained independence from the United Kingdom. The previous anthem, "God Save the Queen", has been retained as the royal anthem.

March On, Bahamaland
National anthem of the  Bahamas
LyricsTimothy Gibson, 1973
MusicTimothy Gibson, 1973
AdoptedJuly 10, 1973 (1973-07-10)
Audio sample
National Anthem of the Bahamas
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Flag of the Bahamas

History

The Bahamas became a crown colony within the British Empire in 1717. Internal autonomy was eventually granted to the islands in 1964. Negotiations on independence commenced eight years later, when the Progressive Liberal Party emerged victorious in the 1972 elections after campaigning in favour of sovereignty.[1] Consequently, a contest was held to determine an anthem for the forthcoming state.[2]

In the end, the lyrics and tune composed by Timothy Gibson was selected.[2] Gibson was a school music teacher,[3] and also wrote the music to the country's national song, "God Bless Our Sunny Clime", together with E. Clement Bethel.[4] The song was officially adopted in 1973, the year the country gained independence.[2][5] One of the first public occasions where the anthem was played was at the midnight flag hoisting ceremony held at Clifford Park in Nassau on 10 July 1973, marking the end of British rule over The Bahamas.[6]

Since The Bahamas continued to be a Commonwealth realm after independence, "God Save the Queen" was retained as the country's royal anthem.[5] That anthem was twice played by mistake at the 1982 Commonwealth Games medal ceremony,[7] when Shonel Ferguson won gold in women's long jump.[8] She stepped off the podium on each occasion and expressed her wish that "March On, Bahamaland" be played. The officials realized that they did not have a recording of that song, so the Bahamian delegation sang their anthem themselves.[7]

Lyrics

Source:[9]

Lift up your head to the rising sun, Bahamaland;
March on to glory, your bright banners waving high.
See how the world marks the manner of your bearing!
Pledge to excel through love and unity.

Pressing onward, march together
to a common loftier goal;
Steady sunward, tho' the weather
hide the wide and treacherous shoal.

Lift up your head to the rising sun, Bahamaland,
'Til the road you've trod lead unto your God,

March on, Bahamaland!

References
  1. "Bahamas profile". BBC News. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  2. Minahan, James B. (December 23, 2009). The Complete Guide to National Symbols and Emblems. Volume 1. ABC-CLIO. p. 664. ISBN 9780313344978.
  3. Collie, Linda; Smith, Annamaria; Wright, Liesl (December 21, 2004). Perserving Our Heritage, Level 1. Heinemann. p. 45. ISBN 9780435984731.
  4. "National Symbols". Embassy of the Bahamas to the United States of America. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Bahamas. Archived from the original on June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  5. "Bahamas, The". The World Factbook. CIA. June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  6. "The Bahamas, Amid Pomp and Calypso, Becomes Independent". The New York Times. July 11, 1973. p. 2. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  7. Craton, Michael; Saunders, Gail (2000). A History of the Bahamian People: From the Ending of Slavery to the Twenty-First Century. University of Georgia Press. p. 475. ISBN 9780820322841.
  8. "Bahamas Gold Medals Brisbane 1982". Commonwealth Games Federation. Archived from the original on June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  9. "March On Bahamaland". Government of The Bahamas. Archived from the original on June 18, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
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