All Hail, Liberia, Hail!

"All Hail, Liberia, Hail!" is the national anthem of Liberia. The lyrics were written by Daniel Bashiel Warner (1815–1880), who later became the third president of Liberia, and the music was composed by Olmstead Luca (1826–1869). It became the official national anthem upon Liberia's independence in 1847.

History

1974 proposed change to lyrics

On 22 July 1974, the Legislature of Liberia passed an act giving authorization to the president to establish a commission to give consideration to possible changes to a number of national symbols, including "All Hail, Liberia, Hail!" and the flag. President William Tolbert appointed 51 members to the Commission on National Unity. The commission was headed by McKinley Alfred Deshield Sr., and was also called the Deshield Commission. The commission sought to reexamine the symbols and remove divisive aspects of them. The commission submitted their report on 24 January 1978. The report recommended changing the word "benighted" in the anthem to the word "undaunted". The proposed change to the anthem was never made.<ref name="diction">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp

Lyrics

<poem>I 𝄆 All hail, Liberia, hail! (All hail!) 𝄇 This glorious land of liberty Shall long be ours. 𝄆 Though new her name, Green be her fame,Template:Efn And mighty be her powers, 𝄇 𝄆 And mighty be her powers, 𝄇 In joy and gladness With our hearts united, We'll shout the freedom Of a race benighted, Long live Liberia, happy land! 𝄆 A home of glorious liberty, By God's command! 𝄇 II 𝄆 All hail, Liberia, hail! (All hail!) 𝄇 In union strong success is sure We cannot fail! 𝄆 With God above Our rights to prove We will o'er all prevail, 𝄇 𝄆 We will o'er all prevail, 𝄇 With heart and hand Our country's cause defending We'll meet the foe With valor unpretending. Long live Liberia, happy land! 𝄆 A home of glorious liberty, By God's command! 𝄇<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> </poem>

External links

• Liberian national anthem sung by a Liberian choir in a Baptist Church. (archive link)