Love is a universal theme for the artist. This theme remains evergreen due to two main reasons. There are different types of love and this affords the writer the opportunity, throughout the ages, to bring fresh perspectives to the subject.
Love for country is one type of love, a love that is straightforward without intrigue and complexities. Here are some examples about this love for country.
O Beautiful Guyana
Words by Walter Mac A Lawrence
O beautiful Guyana
O my lovely native land
More dear to me than all the world
….
I love thee, Oh I love thee.
My Guyana, Eldorado
Words by Walter Mac A Lawrence
My Guyana, Eldorado
Best of all the world to me
In my heart where’er I wander
Memory enshrineth thee;
All my hopes and aspirations,
All my longings only tie
Everlasting bonds around us
As the fleeting years roll by.
Walter Mac A. Lawrence added sumptuous servings of nationalistic flavour to Guyanese Literature long before the words ‘independence’ and ‘republic’ became integral parts of the country’s vocabulary.
Song of the Republic
Words by Cleveland W. Hamilton
From Pakaraima’s peaks of pow’r
To Courentyne’s lush sands,
Her children pledge each faithful hour
To guard Guyana’s lands.
What sentiments, what a flow of patriotism, what a call to action, what a charge, what rhyme and rhythm, what rhyme and reason, what craft and technique and yet the ‘Song of the Republic’ almost never was (that story in another article).
The National Anthem of Guyana
Words by A. L. Luker
Dear Land of Guyana, to you will we give
Our homage, our service each day that we live;
God guard you, great Mother, and make us to be
More worthy our heritage – land of the free.
My Native Land
M. A. Cossou
Oh I care not that others rave over fair lands afar,
Where silvern lakes and placid streams mirror the evening star;
I care not though their wealth be great, their scenery be grand,
For none so fair as can compare with my own native land.
Hymn for Guyana’s Children
Valerie Rodway
With humble hearts and heads bowed down
…..
O children of Guyana, rise…..
And vow to serve her through the years.
GUYANA THE FREE
Valerie Rodway
Guyana, Guyana, this fair land of ours
Has broken the bondage of far distant powers,
We love you Guyana from high land to sea,
And pray God make worthy your children to be.
Rodway, Cossou, Luker, and Hamilton wrote hymns. Hymns are usually songs of praise and adoration, exhortation and commitment, devotion and sacrifice.
To the above we must add ‘Simple Charms’ by J W Chinapen ‘Name Poem’ by A J Seymour before moving to contemporary sentiments.
Guyana
Poonam Singh
Look down from your window
No big city lights just greenery
You know when the sun kiss your skin
You’re in the right place
You know with the wind in your hair
You’re in the right place
BEAUTIFUL GUYANA
Hilton Hemerding
There’s a land just off the Atlantic,
Land of jungles, waterfalls and sweet scenery….
With Kaieteur tumbling to the river,
How I love to see your foaming tide;…
O Guyana, beautiful Guyana,
O Guyana, independent and free,.
O Guyana, beautiful Guyana.
Hemerding putting his soul into this song, casting a spell on Guyanese and non-Guyanese alike, sending chills down the spine, raising up goose pimples.
I am leaving this piece open-ended with:
Guyana
Performed by Jackie ‘Jaxx’ Hanover
If I think about the ways you make me smile
I’d be sitting here and smiling for a while
Although I know I make you cry sometimes
Your happiness is ever on my mind
I cannot repay for everything you’ve done
But my love for you burns brighter than the sun
No matter where my feet and mind may go
My heart will lead to you and you alone
Guyana
Guyana
I’ll be holding on to you forever more….
Let’s not overlook, nay, let’s not forget these songs of our soul and hymns of our struggles, songs that brought a glow to our cheeks and fostered national pride in our hearts.
Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com
