You’ve heard it at Wembley. You’ve heard it at royal weddings. Maybe you even heard it during that surreal moment in 2022 when the words suddenly shifted after seven decades. The gb national anthem lyrics are basically the background noise of British public life, but honestly, most people only know about four lines.
It’s a weird song. It’s not actually a national anthem by law. There is no Royal Proclamation or Act of Parliament that says "this is the official song." It just kind of became the thing we sing through custom and habit. That’s very British, isn't it? We just keep doing something until it becomes a rule.
The lyrics everyone actually knows (and the ones they don't)
When the crowd stands up, they’re usually singing the first verse. Since the accession of King Charles III, the "Queen" has been swapped for "King," and the pronouns have shifted from "she/her" to "he/him."
God save our gracious King, Long live our noble King, God save the King! Send him victorious, Happy and glorious, Long to reign over us, God save the King.
That’s the standard. It’s short. It’s punchy. It gets the job done before the football starts. But did you know there are actually more verses? Most people don't. Occasionally, at very formal events, you’ll hear the second verse, which talks about "scattering his enemies" and "frustrating their knavish tricks." It feels a bit like a medieval curse, which, to be fair, is exactly where the sentiment comes from.
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The "knavish tricks" line is a fan favorite for historians because it sounds so delightfully dated. It’s about political intrigue and 18th-century paranoia. If you’re at a Service of Remembrance, you might hear a third verse that’s much more "peace and love," focusing on "the choicest gifts in store."
Where did the gb national anthem lyrics actually come from?
Nobody really knows who wrote it. Seriously.
Historians have been arguing about this for a couple of hundred years. Some people point to John Bull in 1619. Others swear it was Henry Carey. There’s even a theory that it started as a Jacobite song—which is hilarious because the Jacobites were the ones trying to overthrow the very throne the song now celebrates.
The first time it really "went viral" (in 1745 terms) was at the Drury Lane Theatre. London was in a total panic because "Bonnie Prince Charlie" was marching south. The orchestra conductor arranged a version of "God Save The King" to drum up some patriotic fervor. It worked. People loved it. The practice spread to other theaters, and eventually, it just became the default "King song."
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It’s worth noting that the tune is used by about a dozen other places too. Liechtenstein still uses the exact same melody for their anthem, Oben am jungen Rhein. If you’re a fan of American history, you know it as "My Country, 'Tis of Thee." It’s the ultimate 18th-century earworm.
The "rebellious Scots" controversy
If you spend enough time on the internet, you’ll run into the "secret" verse. People often claim the gb national anthem lyrics contain a hidden, violent verse about "crushing" the Scots.
Is it real? Sort of.
During the 1745 Jacobite rising, an extra verse was indeed added. It specifically mentioned General Wade and asked God to help him "crush" the rebellious Scots. It was a product of a very specific, very bloody civil war. However, it was never "official." It was published in a few songbooks at the time, but it fell out of fashion almost immediately after the rebellion was over. You won't find it in any modern prayer book or official government program. It’s a historical footnote that gets dragged out whenever someone wants to start an argument on Twitter.
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Why the lyrics feel different in 2026
We are now well into the Carolean era. For most of us, "God Save the Queen" was the only version we ever knew. Switching to "King" felt clunky at first. The "m" sound in "him" creates a different resonance than the "r" in "her." It changes the way a stadium sounds.
But the anthem is also facing more scrutiny than it used to. In Wales, you’ll often hear Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau sung with way more passion. In Scotland, Flower of Scotland usually takes precedence at sporting events. The GB anthem is increasingly seen as the English anthem, even though it technically represents the whole United Kingdom.
There’s also the question of the lyrics' focus. Unlike the French La Marseillaise, which is about citizens taking up arms, or the American Star-Spangled Banner, which is about a flag surviving a battle, the British anthem is entirely about a single person. It’s a prayer for the monarch. In a modern democracy, some people find that a bit weird. They’d prefer a song about the land or the people. But the UK isn't great at changing things once they've been doing them for 280 years.
How to use this information
If you’re planning to attend a state event or just want to be the smartest person at the pub quiz, keep these nuances in mind.
- Mind the pronouns. It’s "King" and "him" now. It sounds obvious, but muscle memory is a powerful thing, and you’ll still hear people slip up.
- The second verse is the spicy one. If you’re in a setting where a second verse is called for, remember "knavish tricks." It’s the best line in the whole thing.
- Don't look for a law. If someone asks where the "official" version is kept, tell them it doesn't exist. It’s a matter of tradition, not legislation.
- Respect the silence. In many parts of the UK, the anthem is a point of contention. Knowing the history helps you understand why some people sing it at the top of their lungs while others stay silent.
The gb national anthem lyrics are a living piece of history. They’ve been tweaked, argued over, and adapted for centuries. They aren't perfect, and they certainly aren't modern, but they tell the story of a country that really, really likes its traditions—even the ones it can't quite explain.
Next Steps for the Curious:
- Listen to the 1745 arrangement: Search for recordings of the original Drury Lane version to hear how much the tempo has slowed down over the centuries.
- Compare the Commonwealth versions: Check out how Canada or Australia incorporate the anthem into their royal salutes; it’s often played alongside their own national songs.
- Fact-check the myths: Next time someone mentions the "anti-Scottish verse," you can correctly identify it as a temporary 18th-century addition rather than a part of the modern anthem.