1.
When Britain first, at heaven’s command,
‖: Arose from out the azure main; :‖
This was ‖: the charter :‖ of the land,
And guardian angels sung this strain:
Chorus:
‘Rule, ‖: Britannia, :‖ rule the waves;
Britons never will be slaves.’
2.
The nations, not so blest as thee,
‖: Must, in their turns, to tyrants fall: :‖
While thou ‖: shalt flourish :‖ great and free,
The dread and envy of them all.
Chorus
3.
Still more majestic shalt thou rise,
‖: More dreadful, from each foreign stroke: :‖
As the ‖: loud blast that :‖ tears the skies,
Serves but to root thy native oak.
Chorus
4.
Thee haughty tyrants ne’er shall tame:
‖: All their attempts to bend thee down, :‖
Will but ‖: arouse thy :‖ generous flame;
But work their woe, and thy renown.
Chorus
5.
To thee belongs the rural reign;
‖: Thy cities shall with commerce shine: :‖
All thine ‖: shall be the :‖ subject main,
And every shore it circles thine.
Chorus
6.
The Muses, still with freedom found,
‖: Shall to thy happy coast repair: :‖
Blest isle! ‖: with matchless :‖ beauty crowned,
And manly hearts to guard the fair.
Chorus