when britain first at heavens command arose from out the azure main arose arose arose from out the azure main this was the charter the charter of the land and guardian angels sang the strain rule britannia britannia rule the waves britons never never never shall be slaves the nations not so blest as thee must in their turn to tyrants fall must in their turn must in their turn to tyrants fall while thou shall flourish shall flourish great and free the dread and envy of them all rule britannia britannia rule the waves britons never never never shall be slaves still more majestic shalt thou rise more dreadful from each foreign stroke more dreadful more dreadful from each foreign stroke as the loud blast that tears the skies serves but to root thy native oak rule britannia britannia rule the waves britons never never never shall be slaves thee haughty tyrants neer shall tame all their attempts to bend thee down all their attempts all their attempts to bend thee down will but arouse thy generous flame but work their woe and thy renown rule britannia britannia rule the waves britons never never never shall be slaves to thee belongs the rural reign thy cities shall with commerce shine thy cities shall thy cities shall with commerce shine all thine shall be the subject main and every shore it circles thine rule britannia britannia rule the waves britons never never never shall be slaves the muses still with freedom found shall to thy happy coast repair shall to thy happy coast thy happy coasts repair best isle of beauty with matchless beauty crowned and manly hearts to guard the fair rule britannia britannia rule the waves britons never never never shall be slaves1