Lyr Add: EU national anthem/Ode to Joy

I was helping organise an anti-Brexit demo about 18 months ago, and thought it would be good to sing the EU national anthem while we were there, so I googled to see what words already existed. I found Schiller's words, but it seemed like asking a lot to expect a crowd of Anglophones to sing in German with zero advance notice (I was doing this, of course, the night before the demo). The English translation didn't scan. (If you want to see either/both, check the Wikipedia entry ). Eventually I found some English words that did scan, but they were rather twee. In the end, I decided to have a go at it myself.

As last week was the anniversary of the UK voting to leave the EU, I decided to sing it during yesterday's Mudcat Zoom sing, and was encouraged to post it, so here you go:


ODE TO JOY
(new words ©Vikki Fielden, 15/1/19)

Let us sing in celebration
Of a union strong and free
Though we are of many nations
Europeans proud are we

As we join in joint endeavour
Let us strive for truth and peace
As our nations work together
May our friendships never cease

Let us sing in celebration
Of a union strong and free
Though we are of many nations
Europeans proud are we

Grant us grace, that we may we live our
Lives in peace and unity
And in future we may give our
Children hope and harmony

Let us sing in celebration
Of a union strong and free
Though we are of many nations
Europeans proud are we
Though we are of many nations
Europeans proud are we