Rise O Voices of Rhodesia
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Rise O Voices of Rhodesia was adopted as the national anthem of Rhodesia in 1974, following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from Britain in 1965. Embarrassingly, the tune was that of Beethoven's Choral Symphony (see Ode to Joy), which was also used by the Council of Europe, and subsequently by the European Community. The words, written by Mary Bloom, a South African, were chosen from a national competition.
- Rise O voices of Rhodesia,
- God may we thy bounty share,
- Give us strength to face all danger,
- And where challenge is, to dare.
- Guide us, Lord, to wise decision,
- Ever of thy grace aware.
- Oh, let our hearts beat bravely always
- For this land within thy care.
- Rise O voices of Rhodesia,
- Bringing her your proud acclaim,
- Grandly echoing through the mountains
- Rolling over far flung plain
- Roaring in the mighty rivers
- Joining in one grand refrain
- Ascending to the sunlit heavens
- Telling of her honoured name