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'''God Save the Queen''' is the national anthem of the [[United Kingdom]], and the royal anthem of many [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] realms. Words and music are anonymous, though various theories as to authorship exist. The first known performance of the song was at a banquet in London in 1740. A fourth verse was added after the defeat of the Scottish rebellion of 1745, which spoke of crushing the Scots and such like, but was removed in Victorian times as not being particularly conducive to a harmonious union between England and Scotland. A different fourth verse, called the peace verse, was added at the end of the First World War, but this too was later removed.  

'''"God Save the Queen"''' is the national anthem of the [[United Kingdom]], and the royal anthem of many [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] realms. Words and music are anonymous, though various theories as to authorship exist. The first known performance of the song was at a banquet in London in 1740. A fourth verse was added after the defeat of the Scottish rebellion of 1745, which spoke of crushing the Scots and such like, but was removed in Victorian times as not being particularly conducive to a harmonious union between England and Scotland. A different fourth verse, called the peace verse, was added at the end of the First World War, but this too was later removed.  

W. S. Gilbert, the librettist and lyricist of the [[Gilbert and Sullivan]] collaboration, professed to know little about music and famously said "I only know two songs. One is God Save the Queen and the other isn't."<ref>[http://www.labsoftware.com/Troupers/pirates2001/glossary_of_obscure_references_i.htm Glossary of Obscure References in ''Pirates'']</ref>. An American version of the same tune exists, as "My Country, 'Tis of Thee", or "America", with the only differentiating feature in the lyrics.

W. S. Gilbert, the librettist and lyricist of the [[Gilbert and Sullivan]] collaboration, professed to know little about music and famously said, "I only know two songs. One is 'God Save the Queen' and the other isn't."<ref>[http://www.labsoftware.com/Troupers/pirates2001/glossary_of_obscure_references_i.htm Glossary of Obscure References in ''Pirates'']</ref>. An American version of the same tune exists, as "My Country, 'Tis of Thee", or "America", with the only differentiating feature in the lyrics.

==Lyrics==

==Lyrics==

:God save the Queen.

:God save the Queen.

''Note'': When the monarch of the time is male, the word ''Queen'' is replaced with ''King'', ''her'' with ''him'' and ''she'' with ''he''.

Note: When the monarch of the time is male, the word ''Queen'' is replaced with ''King'', ''her'' with ''him'' and ''she'' with ''he''.

== Outside the United Kingdom ==

== Outside the United Kingdom ==

In the United States, the same tune is the setting for the familiar patriotic hymn entitled ''America'' (but universally referred to by its first line, "My Country, 'Tis of Thee.")<ref>[http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh697.sht America (My Country, 'Tis of Thee)]</ref>. It is often sung in elementary schools, perhaps because it is much easier for young children than ''The Star-Spangled Banner.'' The song was written by Samuel F. Smith in 1831 and first performed by Lowell Mason on July 4, 1831, at a children's service at the Park Street Church in Boston, Massachusetts.<ref name=loc>[http://memory.loc.gov/cocoon/ihas/loc.natlib.ihas.200000012/default.html My Country, 'Tis of Thee], Library of Congress American Memory project</ref>

In the United States, the same tune is the setting for the familiar patriotic hymn entitled "America" (but universally referred to by its first line, "My Country, 'Tis of Thee.")<ref>[http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh697.sht America (My Country, 'Tis of Thee)]</ref>. It is often sung in elementary schools, perhaps because it is much easier for young children than "The Star-Spangled Banner." The song was written by Samuel F. Smith in 1831 and first performed by Lowell Mason on July 4, 1831, at a children's service at the Park Street Church in Boston, Massachusetts.<ref name=loc>[http://memory.loc.gov/cocoon/ihas/loc.natlib.ihas.200000012/default.html My Country, 'Tis of Thee], Library of Congress American Memory project</ref>

== In popular music ==

== In popular music ==