THE STORY OF JAMAICA’S NATIONAL ANTHEM

The National Anthem 

Published: August 7, 2025 
Jamaica Daily Gleaner
Written by: Paul H. Williams/Gleaner Writer

Photos from the Jamaica National Library collection

ON SEPTEMBER 30, 1961, with Jamaica on the cusp of political independence, the government announced a contest for a national anthem, starting with a competition for the words. The successful lyrics would be published so that they could be set to music, which engendered another competition. The winner of each competition would receive £100.

One hundred entries were received for the lyrics contest, and it was announced on March 17, 1962 that the contest would have closed on Saturday, March 31. The music competition would still continue, however, and one person could submit lyrics and music for the same song.
Of the 100 entries, not one was found suitable. There was one written and set to music by Warrant Officer E. H. Wade, British-born bandmaster of the West India Regiment Band. It was agreed at an informal meeting that that song should have been submitted as the national anthem. However, it was rejected by the House.

Another one was selected and approved, but not without tension. The words were written by the Reverend Hugh Sherlock and the music composed by Robert Lightbourne, minister of trade and industry. It was arranged by Mapletoft Poulle, a Kingston solicitor and musician, and his wife.
The selection by the joint committee of the House of Representatives, headed by Premier Sir Alexander Bustamante, ended the tension surrounding it. At the sitting of the committee members of the House, it was presented to them under not-so-good a condition when they heard it for the first time in the lounge of the House.

So, before the sitting of the committee, members of both chambers listened to the songs at St George’s Church in Kingston. The police band, an organist, and singers were the performers. However, taking the listening from Parliament to a church did not sit well with Norman Manley, leader of the Opposition.

He said that “the procedure that took the matter of the anthem out of the hands of the House in formal session into other meetings was unfortunate and irregular”. Yet, he was happy with the one selected.

On July 19, 1962, Jamaica’s House of Representatives unanimously approved the song that came to be known as the Jamaican national anthem. Such a song was needed by August 6 to commemorate this political milestone. Edward Seaga, then minister of development and welfare and member of the joint selection committee, said the government had proposed to put into effect a crash programme to popularise the anthem, actually a Christian prayer, before August 6.

Lyrics and Music of the National Anthem

Eternal Father, Bless our Land,
Guard us with thy mighty hand,
Keep us free from evil powers,
Be our light through countless hours,
To our leaders, great defender,
Grant true wisdom from above,
Justice, truth be ours forever,
Jamaica, land we love,
Jamaica, Jamaica, Jamaica, land we love

Teach us true respect for all,
Stir response to duty's call,
Strengthen us the weak to cherish,
Give us vision lest we perish,
Knowledge send us Heavenly Father,
Grant true wisdom from above,
Justice, truth be ours forever,
Jamaica, land we love,
Jamaica, Jamaica, Jamaica, land we love

August 2025