O_Sweet_Saint_Martin's_Land

O Sweet Saint Martin's Land

O Sweet Saint Martin's Land

Anthem of Saint-Martin / Sint Maarten

"O Sweet Saint Martin's Land", also known by its French title, "Saint-Martin, si jolie" ("Saint Martin, So Pretty"),[1][2] is the bi-national song of Saint-Martin / Sint Maarten island, an island divided between the French Republic and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It was written in English (the main language of Saint Martin) by Gerard Kemps in 1958.[3] Kemps also wrote and composed a French version with its own lyrics and a different tune.[2]

Quick Facts Lyrics, Music ...

History

After being appointed as priest for the Catholic Church of French St-Martin in 1954, Father Gerard Kemps felt compelled to compose lyrics and a melody about the beauty of the land of Saint Martin. In 1958, Kemps created "O Sweet Saint Martin's Land". Because of the message the lyrics conveyed and the melody that carried the tune, it served the purpose of a island-wide song.[4]

In 1984, on the occasion of the Dutch Queen's Birthday, Kemps was knighted in the Order of Orange-Nassau.[4]

A wide-hole 7-inch vinyl record[5] (made in the Netherlands) was issued by Kemps & the Marigot Catholic Church choir.

Lyrics

English version

I
Where over[lower-alpha 1] the world, say where,
You find an island there,
So lovely small with nations free
With people French and Dutch
Though talking English much,
As thee Saint Martin in the sea?

Chorus:
O sweet Saint Martin's Land
So bright by beach and strand
With sailors on the sea and harbours free
Where the chains of mountains green
Variously[lower-alpha 2] in sunlight sheen
𝄆 Oh I love thy Paradise,
Nature beauty fairly nice 𝄇[lower-alpha 3]

II
How pretty[lower-alpha 4] between all green
Flamboyants beaming gleam
Of flowers red by sunlight set
Thy cows and sheep and goats
In meadows or on roads
Thy donkeys keen I can't forget

Chorus

III
Thy useful birds in white
Their morn and evening flight
Like aircraft-wings in unity
Their coming down for food
Then turning back to roost
Bring home to me their harmony

Chorus

IV
Saint Martin I love thy name[lower-alpha 5]
In which Columbus' fame
And memories of old are closed
For me a great delight
Thy Southern Cross the night
May God the Lord protect thy coast!

Chorus[4][11][7]

French version

More information French original, English translation ...

Notes

  1. Sometimes written "in".[6][7]
  2. Sometimes written "colorful".[6][7]
  3. "Fairly" is sometimes written as "graceful",[6][7] and the whole line is sometimes sung as "Nature's beauty very nice".[8][9][10]
  4. Sometimes written "fine".[6][7]
  5. Sometimes written "I love Saint Martin's name".[6][7]

References

  1. [1]
    babyphatsxm (2007-01-20). "ST.MARTIN, SI JOLIE: NOTRE HYMNE NATIONAL". Skyrock. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  2. [2]
    Les Fruits de Mer (2020-10-11). "St Martin, Si Jolie". YouTube. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  3. [3]
    "CIA World Factbook – Saint Martin". Cia.gov. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  4. [4]
    "Sint Maarten Song". Government of Sint Maarten. Archived from the original on 2013-09-27. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  5. [5]
    Text and melodies : Rev. G. Kemps C.S. SP. Eindredaktie in samen werking met Tony Vissenberg.
    Originele opname : Arno Peterson St.Marteen with the R.C. Choir of Marigot.
    Eindbewerking : Studio Theelen, Munstergeleen Holland.
    Soloists : Rev. Kemps x Hélène. Jacket design : Jesus x Tony
  6. [6]
    Les Fruits de Mer (2020-10-11). "O Sweet Saint Maarten's Land - Gerard Kemps". YouTube. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  7. [7]
    Fouke, Bruce William (1994). Deposition, Diagenesis and Dolomitization of Neogene Seroe Domi Formation Coral Reef Limestones on Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles. Publications Foundation for scientific research in the Caribbean region. p. 244. ISBN 978-90-74624-03-9.
  8. [8]
    "How to Travel to Anguilla from Saint Martin". 3rd Culture Wife. 2016-09-24. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  9. [9]
    Be The Change Foundation St.Maarten (2014-11-11). "'O Sweet St. Martin Land' - St. Maarten/Martin's National Anthem (short acapella version)". YouTube. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  10. [10]
    shechris2000 (2011-11-10). "041.MOV". YouTube. Retrieved 2022-02-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. [11]
    Henocq, Christophe (4 November 2009). "HERITAGE 2". Issuu. p. 11. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
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