Guyana’s National Anthem is the chief of Guyana’s many national songs. When the National Anthem of Guyana is being played or sung, patriotic citizens of Guyana are expected to stand “at attention” to show their respect and loyalty to the country of Guyana.
Although it begins with “Dear Land of Guyana,” the title of the National Anthem is actually “Green Land of Guyana.”
The music of Guyana’s National Anthem was composed by Robert Cyril Gladstone Potter and the lyrics were authored by Archibald Leonard Luker. This song was adopted as Guyana’s National Anthem at the start of Guyana’s Independence in 1966.
The lyrics of Guyana’s National Anthem carry deep cultural and historical significance to the people of Guyana. The first stanza of the National Song touches on Guyana’s natural beauty and landscape, as well as its geography: gem-like and fair, made rich by the sunshine, mountains and seas. It also speaks about Guyana’s children, comparing it to a mother. Indeed, patriotic Guyanese refer to their country as their “motherland” even though most of them migrated from a different country. The last line of the first stanza calls Guyana “the land of the free.” Although slavery was practiced in Guyana by the Europeans, emancipation was eventually granted and Guyanese have vowed to never again allow the evil of bondage to take foothold on its shores.
The second stanza of the National Anthem of Guyana addresses the sacrifices that Guyanese throughout history made to build this great land: both bondsmen and free laid their bones on your shore. The sacrifice of the previous generations enriched Guyana as they handed down a stronger and richer Guyana to their children: This soil so they hallowed, and from them are we.
The third stanza pays deeper homage to the sacrifices of our fore parents as they fought and labored to build a better, freer Guyana: we are born of their sacrifice; heirs of the pains; and ours is the glory their eyes did not see.
The fourth and final stanza expresses Guyanese resolve to love, cherish, and protect our homeland: to you will we give our homage, our service, each day that we live.
Green Land of Guyana
Dear land of Guyana, of rivers and plains
Made rich by the sunshine, and lush by the rains,
Set gem-like and fair, between mountains and seas,
Your children salute you, dear land of the free.
II
Green land of Guyana, our heroes of yore,
Both bondsmen and free, laid their bones on your shore.
This soil so they hallowed, and from them are we,
All sons of one Mother, Guyana the free.
III
Great land of Guyana, diverse though our strains,
We’re born of their sacrifice, heirs of their pains,
