One of the pleasing eccentricities of the Olympics is that it gives us the rare opportunity to hear a multitude of national anthems. They\u2019ve always been mysterious and exotic to me, like postmarked stamps from foreign countries, suggesting a culture imagined but never lived. Even something familiar and iconic like La Marseillaise remained an undiscovered country.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Whenever I hear it I think of Casablanca\u2014the music is an inspiring pulse of light that surges through me and lifts me up, inspiring me to save Ingrid Bergman from the Nazis. I had always assumed that they lyrics would convey that noble simplicity, too, but it wasn\u2019t until a friend read me the lyrics that I actually realized what they were saying.<\/p>\n

I had no fucking idea.<\/p>\n

The Anthem is crazy.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s an excerpt:<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you hear, in the countryside,<\/p>\n

The roar of those ferocious soldiers?<\/p>\n

They\u2019re coming right into your arms<\/p>\n

To cut the throats of your sons and wives<\/p>\n

And rape your mistresses!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I started to look around at the lyrics of a number of other countries and this is some of what I found:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

An excerpt from the Chinese National Anthem:<\/p>\n

\u201cWithout resting day or night,<\/p>\n

Follow the Principles.<\/p>\n

Swear to be diligent, play the violin<\/p>\n

And master mathematics!<\/p>\n

With one heart and one virtue,<\/p>\n

We carry through until the very end!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Egypt:<\/p>\n

“Egypt! Most precious gem,<\/p>\n

A blaze on the brow of eternity!<\/p>\n

O my homeland, be for ever free,<\/p>\n

Until mummies walk the land!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Japan:<\/p>\n

\u201cMay your reign<\/p>\n

Continue for a thousand,<\/p>\n

Eight thousand,<\/p>\n

One hundred thousand generations,<\/p>\n

Until the pebbles<\/p>\n

Grow into boulders<\/p>\n

Lush with moss.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lithuania:<\/p>\n

\u201cTiny Lithuania, as true as a bullet<\/p>\n

That flies through the sky<\/p>\n

To pierce our enemies heart!<\/p>\n

Our homeland is mighty,<\/p>\n

We fear no dangers!<\/p>\n

Live forever and be happy,<\/p>\n

Dear, sweet Lithuania!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mexico:<\/p>\n

\u201cWar, war without quarter to any who dare!<\/p>\n

War, war! Let the national banners<\/p>\n

Be soaked in waves of blood.<\/p>\n

War, war! In the mountain, in the valley,<\/p>\n

Let the cannons thunder in horrid unison,<\/p>\n

War, war, war, war, war, Mexico will always win!\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Brazil:<\/p>\n

\u201cBrazil, an intense dream, a vivid ray<\/p>\n

Of love and hope that descends to earth.<\/p>\n

Come closer she whispers in the night,<\/p>\n

I am your lover and you mine,<\/p>\n

Brazil, in thy luscious, smiling skies<\/p>\n

And curvy hills,<\/p>\n

Do I make my eternal love.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Canada:<\/p>\n

“Good governance, good governance<\/p>\n

Shall lead us true and free!<\/p>\n

Good governance, good governance,<\/p>\n

Bonne gouvernance, bonne gouvernance,<\/p>\n

Canada sera toujours tirer et marquer!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Laos:<\/p>\n

“The Lao people of all origins are equal<\/p>\n

And will no longer allow imperialists<\/p>\n

And traitors to harm them.<\/p>\n

Landlocked we may be,<\/p>\n

But united and determined, we need no shining sea!”<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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