National Anthems of the World Trivia Quiz

Answer: Barbados

The title of the national anthem of Barbados is "In Plenty and In Time of Need" and was written by Irvin Bergie, music by C. Van Roland Edwards.

"In plenty and in time of need
When this fair land was young
Our brave forefathers sowed the seed
From which our pride has sprung
A pride that makes no wanton boast
Of what it has withstood
That binds our hearts from coast to coast
The pride of nationhood
(Chorus)
We loyal sons and daughters all
Do hereby make it known
These fields and hills beyond recall
Are now our very own
We write our names on history's page
With expectations great
Strict guardians of our heritage
Firm craftsmen of our fate
The Lord has been the people's guide
For past three hundred years.
With Him still on the people's side
We have no doubts or fears.
Upward and onward we shall go,
Inspired, exulting, free,
And greater will our nation grow
In strength and unity."

Answer: Canada

The English lyric was written by Robert Stanley Weir. It is not a translation of the original French lyrics. "O Canada" became Canada's national anthem in 1980.

"O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee."

Answer: Egypt

"Bilady, Bilady, Bilady" ("My country, my country, my country") is the national anthem of Egypt. The tune was written by Sayed Darwish. The chorus was suggested by a speech given by an early Egyptian leader, Mustafa Kamel. It officially became Egypt's anthem in 1979.

"My country, my country, my country.
You have my love and my heart.
My country, my country, my country,
You have my love and my heart.

Egypt! O mother of all lands,
My hope and my ambition,
And on all people
Your Nile has countless graces

My country, my country, my country,
My love and my heart are for thee.
My country, my country, my country,
My love and my heart are for thee.

Egypt! Most precious jewel,
Shining on the brow of eternity!
O my homeland, be for ever free,
Safe from every foe!

My homeland, my homeland, my homeland,
My love and my heart are for thee.
My homeland, my homeland, my homeland,
My love and my heart are for thee.

Egypt! Noble are thy children,
Loyal, and guardians of the reins.
It will attain high aspirations
With their unity and with mine.

My homeland, my homeland, my homeland,
My love and my heart are for thee.
My homeland, my homeland, my homeland,
My love and my heart are for thee.

Egypt, land of bounties
You ruled with ancient glory
My purpose is to repel the enemy
And on God I rely

My homeland, my homeland, my homeland,
My love and my heart are for thee."

Answer: Kenya

"O God of all creation
Bless this our land and nation
Justice be our shield and defender
May we dwell in unity
Peace and liberty
Plenty be found within our borders.

Let one and all arise
With hearts both strong and true
Service be our earnest endeavor
And our homeland of Kenya
Heritage of splendor
Firm may we stand to defend.

Let all with one accord
In common bond united
Build this our nation together
And the glory of Kenya
The fruit of our labor
Fill every heart with thanksgiving."

Answer: India

"Jana Gana Mana" is the national anthem of India. The lyrics are taken from a hymn that was composed and scored by Rabindranath Tagore. It was officially adopted as the national anthem on January 24, 1950.

"Thou art the rulers of the minds of all people,
Dispenser of India's destiny.
Thy name rouses the hearts of Punjab, Sind, Gujarat and Maratha,
Of the Dravida and Orissa and Bengal;
It echoes in the hills of the Vindhyas and Himalayas,
Mingles in the music of Yamuna and Ganga and is chanted by
The waves of the Indian Sea.
They pray for thy blessings and sing thy praise.
The saving of all people waits in thy hand,
Thou dispenser of India's destiny,
Victory, victory, victory to thee."

Answer: Uruguay

"Orientals, our nation or the grave,
Liberty or with glory we die.
Its the vows that our souls pronounce
And which heroically we will fulfill.
Liberty, Liberty, Orientals.
This is the outcry which our nation saved
And it's braves in fierce battles
Of sublime enthusiasm enflamed
This Holy gift of Glory we deserved
Tyrants: Tremble!
Liberty in combat we will Cry Out!
And even dying, Freedom we shall also Shout!"

The complete "National Anthem of Uruguay" takes about five minutes to sing, making it the longest national anthem in terms of time. The anthem's lyrics are by Francisco Acuna de Figueroa. The lyrics were officially adopted on July 8, 1833.

Answer: United States of America

"Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, now conceals, now discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines on the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! O long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wiped out their foul footstep's pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation!
Blessed with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner forever shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!"

"The Star Spangled Banner" is the United States of America's national anthem. The lyrics come from "Defense of Fort McHenry", written in 1814 by Francis Scott Key. The tune was taken from a British drinking song, written by John Stafford Smith, called "The Anacreontic Song".

Answer: Turkey

"Fear not, the crimson flag, waving in these dawns will never fade
Before the last hearth that is burning in my nation vanishes.
That is my nation's star, it will shine;
That is mine, it belongs solely to my nation.
Oh coy crescent do not frown for I am ready to sacrifice myself for you!
Please smile upon my heroic nation, why that anger, why that rage?
If you frown, our blood she'd for you will not be worthy.
Freedom is the right of my nation who worships God and seeks what is right."


The anthem is called, in Turkish, 'Istiklal Marsy' (Independence March). It was adopted in March of 1921. The anthem was written by Mehmet Akif Ersoy and composed by Osman Zeki Üngor.

Answer: Jamaica

The Anthem is the work of four people, Rev. Hugh Sherlock, Robert Lightbourne, Mapletoft Poulle and Mrs. Poulle.

"Eternal Father, bless our land,
Guard us with Thy mighty hand,
Keep us free from evil powers,
Be our light through countless hours.
To our leaders, Great Defender,
Grant true wisdom from above.

Justice, truth, be ours forever,
Jamaica, land we love.
Jamaica, Jamaica, Jamaica, land we love.

Teach us true respect for all,
Stir response to duty's call,
Strengthen us the weak to cherish,
Give us vision lest we perish.
Knowledge send us, Heavenly Father,
Grant true wisdom from above."

Answer: Greece

The Greek national anthem is based on a poem inspired by the Greek Revolution of 1821. What appears below is a 1918 translation by Rudyard Kipling.

"We knew thee of old,
Oh, divinely restored,
By the lights of thine eyes
And the light of thy Sword
From the graves of our slain
Shall thy valor prevail
As we greet thee again-
Hail, Liberty! Hail!
Long time didst thou dwell
Mid the peoples that mourn,
Awaiting some voice
That should bid thee return.
Ah, slow broke that day
And no man dared call,
For the shadow of tyranny
Lay over all:
And we saw thee sad-eyed,
The tears on thy cheeks
While thy raiment was dyed
In the blood of the Greeks.
Yet, behold now thy sons
With impetuous breath
Go forth to the fight
Seeking Freedom or Death.
From the graves of our slain
Shall thy valor prevail
As we greet thee again-
Hail, Liberty! Hail!"