Anthem
John Owen Jones Lyrics
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Though their sad power may prevail
Can possess, conquer, my country′s heart
They rise to fail
She is eternal
Long before nations' lines were drawn
When no flags flew, when no armies stood
My land was born
And you ask me why I love her
Through wars, death and despair
She is the constant, we who don′t care
And you wonder will I leave her - but how?
I cross over borders but I'm still there now
How can I leave her?
Where would I start?
Let man's petty nations tear themselves apart
My land′s only borders lie around my heart
The song "Anthem" by John Owen Jones is a powerful tribute to the singer's love for his homeland, Wales. Throughout the song, Jones expresses his unwavering loyalty to his country, stating that no man, no madness, can conquer the heart of Wales. He acknowledges that his country has seen wars, death, and despair, but despite these struggles, his love for Wales remains constant. He considers Wales eternal because it existed, long before any nation's lines were drawn, when no flags flew, and no armies stood, she was born.
Jones goes on to explain why he loves Wales so much. He has traveled to many different places, but he always finds himself drawn back to his homeland. He feels that his land is part of him and that he could never truly leave her behind. He talks about how his country's only borders lie around his heart, and no other nation can compare to the place he loves.
The song is a powerful testament to national pride and the deep love that many people have for their homeland. It is a reminder that no matter how far we may travel or how much we may change, there is always a part of us that belongs to our country of origin. "Anthem" is a beautiful tribute to the power and resilience of the human spirit.
Line by Line Meaning
No man, no madness
No individual or insanity
Though their sad power may prevail
Even if their sorrowful influence temporarily succeeds
Can possess, conquer, my country′s heart
Can own or overcome the heart of my homeland
They rise to fail
They will ultimately be unsuccessful
She is eternal
My country's spirit is everlasting
Long before nations' lines were drawn
Before borders were established between nations
When no flags flew, when no armies stood
When there were no flags to represent nations and no armies to defend them
My land was born
My country existed even before it was officially recognized
And you ask me why I love her
And you inquire why I have affection for it
Through wars, death and despair
Despite conflicts, fatalities, and hopelessness
She is the constant, we who don′t care
My country remains unwavering, although others may take it for granted
And you wonder will I leave her - but how?
And you ponder if I will abandon my country - but it's impossible to imagine
I cross over borders but I'm still there now
I may travel beyond my country's borders, but it remains with me always
How can I leave her?
How could I depart from something that is an inseparable component of me?
Where would I start?
What would be the starting point for such a preposterous notion?
Let man's petty nations tear themselves apart
Allow other insignificant countries to implode due to their own issues
My land′s only borders lie around my heart
The only limitations my country has are bound by the love and affection within my own heart
Writer(s): Elfed Alexander Morris, Bjoern K. Ulvaeus, Benny Goran Bror Andersson, Tim Rice, Martin Cook
Contributed by Lucy L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
EditorOfSL
I know this song was written about Russia but when JOJ sings it I can’t help thinking he’s actually singing about Wales.
Mayim1982
any version I heard makes me think about context for the particular singer...
pjb2773
I have always thought the same.
Jymster46
Beautiful, Heather! He has such a great voice and this is such a great song. Thank you for posting it! Take care, my friend :))
Jim
TheSorrowfulFlower
+Jymster46 I think it's beautiful, too, Jim! I love his voice, I could listen to him sing for hours. I'd love to see him perform live, but I doubt he'll be touring in central MN! Thanks so much for watching and commenting! Have a great rest of your week, my friend :))
Kieran Sutcliffe
Incredible! What a voice! That too A last note beautiful! 🎭😊🎤❤️
Nick Flynn
Simply wonderful.
michael galt
John’s voice is like a marshmallow falling on a pillow... that soothing.
The Raven Queen
Irish here. My Mum made me listen to this with my 14yr old son. All three of us sobbed like babies. I'm a life long Michael Ball simp but this transcends anything I've ever heard.