Norfolk Ode
Sung to the tune of ” Advance Australia Fair “
On Norfolk’s sunny sea-girt isle, we’ll raise our voices high
In praise of verdant hill and dale, beneath our kindly sky,
The laughing waves that lapping lave o’er loud in anger roar
Well join our song in cadence wild around our craggy shore.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
The waves’ tumultuous roar.
Our Island home though but a speck on ocean’s bosom wide
It’s dear to us, since boys and girls; it is our home and pride.
The lofty pines will beckon us if e’er abroad we roam,
And palms and ferns will welcome us back to our island home.
No heartier welcome shall we get
Though all the earth we roam.
Our land is rich with luscious fruit, with fish our waters swarm
Our valleys deep are gay and rich, our climate mild and warm.
Our land abounds in Nature’s gifts of beauty rich and rare
Let’s bless the Giver of good things who all this good did plan
And let us thankful be to Him, for His great gifts to man.
Yes, let us thankful be to Him,
For His great gifts to man.
Some believe this was composed by Gustav Quintal at the turn of the century, while others disagree and say it was written by a headmaster on Norfolk Island at the time (or both) a little later.
Click on the YouTube to get the background music