Advance Australia Fair

Advance Australia Fair (Avanza bella Australia) è l'inno nazionale ufficiale dell'Australia.

Peter Dodds McCormick, scozzese, compose Advance Australia Fair con lo pseudonimo di "Amicus" (amico in latino). Venne eseguito per la prima volta a Sydney il giorno di Sant'Andrea, il 30 novembre del 1878. Peter McCormick morì nel 1916 e i diritti d'autore su Advance Australia Fair cessarono nel 1966.

L'attuale testo ufficiale dell'inno è diverso in alcuni passaggi rispetto alle parole originarie composte da McCormick. Sono stati eliminati i numerosi riferimenti alla Gran Bretagna, mentre le espressioni maschili sono state riformulate in modo neutro. Per esempio Australia's sons, "figli maschi d'Australia", è diventato Australians, "australiani", plurale che in lingua inglese vale sia per gli uomini che per le donne.

Testo ufficiale in lingua originale

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!"

Beneath our radiant southern Cross,

We'll toil with hearts 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

To advance Australia fair.

In joyful strains then let us sing

"Advance Australia fair!"

Testo originario di Dodds McCormick

Australia's sons 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!"

When gallant Cook from Albion sail'd,

To trace wide oceans o'er,

True British courage bore him on,

Till he landed on our shore.

Then here he raised Old England's flag,

The standard of the brave;

With all her faults we love her still,

"Britannia rules the wave!"

In joyful strains then let us sing

"Advance Australia fair!"

Beneath our radiant southern Cross,

We'll toil with hearts and hands;

To make this youthful Commonwealth

Renowned of all the lands;

For loyal sons beyond the seas

We've boundless plains to share;

With courage let us all combine

To advance Australia fair.

In joyful strains then let us sing

"Advance Australia fair!"

While other nations of the globe

Behold us from afar,

We'll rise to high renown and shine

Like our glorious southern star;

From England, Scotia, Erin's Isle,

Who come our lot to share,

Let all combine with heart and hand

To advance Australia fair!

In joyful strains then let us sing

"Advance Australia fair!"

Shou'd foreign foe e'er sight our coast,

Or dare a foot to land,

We'll rouse to arms like sires of yore

To guard our native strand;

Britannia then shall surely know,

Beyond wide ocean's roll,

Her sons in fair Australia's land

Still keep a British soul.

In joyful strains then let us sing

"Advance Australia fair!"

See also: Advance Australia Fair, 1878, 1916, 1966, 30 novembre, Australia, Diritto d'autore, Gran Bretagna, Inno nazionale