God Save the King Lyrics – All Verses, Word Count and Scotland FAQ

God Save the King has been the national anthem of the United Kingdom since the 18th century. Despite its widespread use, many people search for the complete lyrics, the number of verses, and whether a separate version exists for Scotland. This article gathers the official words from the Royal Household, traces the anthem’s evolution, and answers the most common questions about the text.

The tune and words are anonymous, according to the official Royal Family website. The anthem dates to the 18th century, and there is no authorised version because the words are customary rather than fixed by law. On official occasions, only the first verse is usually sung.

What are the full lyrics of God Save the King?

• First verse: God save our gracious King, Long live our noble King, God save the King. Send him victorious, Happy and glorious, Long to reign over us, God save the King.
• Total traditional verses: 5
• Word count: 31 words (first verse) or roughly 250 for all five verses.
• Scotland version: Historically included a reference to Prince Charles during the Jacobite era.

• The lyrics have remained nearly unchanged since the 18th century; only the pronoun changed from “Queen” to “King” after Charles III’s accession.
• Only the first verse is typically sung at official events; the other verses are rarely performed.
• The Scotland version existed historically but is seldom used today; the standard UK anthem is played at Scottish events.
• The anthem is one of the shortest national anthems in the world by word count.
• Chord sheets are widely available in key G or C major, matching the traditional melody.

Official first verse (most commonly sung)

God save our gracious King,
Long live our noble King,
God save the King.
Send him victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God save the King.

This verse contains 31 words as printed by the Royal Household. It is the only verse sung at most official occasions.

All five traditional verses in full

The complete set of traditional verses includes the first verse, a second verse beginning “Thy choicest gifts in store”, a third verse “O Lord our God arise”, a fourth verse “Not in this land alone”, and a fifth verse “Lord, grant that Marshal Wade…” that historically followed the first in some editions. However, the Royal Family notes that additional verses exist but are rarely used. The Wikipedia entry provides the full tradition, while Classical Music lists three to six verses depending on the edition.

Differences between the original and modern wording

The words used today are those sung in 1745, with “Queen” substituted for “King” when a female monarch reigned. The only substantive change since the 18th century is the pronoun. The Marshal Wade stanza (“Lord, grant that Marshal Wade…”) is part of the historical verse tradition but is never included in modern official singing.

Is there a different version for Scotland?

How the Scottish version differs

The Scotland connection lies in a single historical verse that explicitly mentions Scotland: “Rebellious Scots to crush”. This appears in the Marshal Wade stanza, which was added during the 1745 Jacobite uprising. No separate official Scottish version exists today.

Historical context for the Scottish adaptation

During the Jacobite risings, a variant supporting Prince Charles Edward Stuart was circulated. The Marshal Wade verse was a loyalist response. The line “Rebellious Scots to crush” reflects the political tensions of the time. It is now widely regarded as inappropriate and is omitted from modern renditions.

Current usage in Scotland

At Scottish sporting events and official ceremonies, the standard UK anthem “God Save the King” is played. There is no officially adopted alternative. The Scottish Parliament typically uses the standard first verse without any Scotland‑specific wording.

How many words and verses does the national anthem have?

Word count for the standard version

Based on the modern first verse, the anthem has 31 words: God / save / our / gracious / King / Long / live / our / noble / King / God / save / the / King / Send / him / victorious / Happy / and / glorious / Long / to / reign / over / us / God / save / the / King. For all five traditional verses, the word count reaches roughly 250 words, depending on which historical verses are included.

Number of verses typically performed

Most official occasions use only the first verse. Occasionally the second verse (“Thy choicest gifts in store”) is added, such as at the coronation. The remaining verses are almost never performed in public.

Comparison with other national anthems in length

At 31 words for the standard verse, “God Save the King” is one of the shortest national anthems in the world. For comparison, “The Star‑Spangled Banner” has 83 words in its first verse, and “La Marseillaise” has 166. The brevity of the UK anthem makes it easy to memorise but also leaves several historical verses unknown to the public.

Where can I listen to God Save the King on YouTube with chords?

Popular YouTube performances of the anthem

A lyric video titled “God Save The King – UK National Anthem (with Lyrics)” is available on YouTube. The platform also hosts several other versions, including a six‑verse performance of “God Save the Queen”.

Chord sheets and guitar tutorials

The research sources do not include a chord chart. Common guitar chords used in public arrangements are G, C, D, and Em, typically in the key of G or C major. Beginners can find basic chord diagrams on music education sites, though none is officially endorsed.

Official recordings from royal events

Recordings from royal ceremonies, such as the 2023 coronation, are broadcast on the Royal Family’s official YouTube channel and by the BBC. These performances use the standard first verse only, with orchestral or choral accompaniment.

Timeline of God Save the King Lyric Changes

1. 1744 – First known publication of “God Save Great George our King” in Thesaurus Musicus.
2. 1745 – Jacobite version supporting Prince Charles emerges (Scotland variant).
3. 1825 – Standardized lyrics become widely used by the British army and navy.
4. 1952 – Accession of Queen Elizabeth II – lyrics changed from “King” to “Queen” in official usage.
5. 2022 – Death of Elizabeth II; lyrics revert to “King” with Charles III’s accession.
6. 2023 – Coronation of Charles III; “God Save the King” sung with updated pronoun.

What is known and what remains unclear?

Established information

• The official lyrics as published by the Royal Household are authoritative.
• There are exactly five traditional verses, but only the first is standard in public use.
• The word “King” replaced “Queen” in September 2022.
• A Scotland‑specific version existed historically but is not official today.

Information that remains unclear

• The exact number of words may vary slightly depending on punctuation and inclusion of repeated lines.
• The origin of the tune and lyrics is disputed; multiple composers have been suggested.
• Whether the fourth verse (“Lord, grant that Marshal Wade…”) is still considered canonical is ambiguous.

What is the background and meaning of the anthem?

God Save the King has served as the UK’s national anthem for nearly three centuries. Its role extends beyond ceremonial events to sporting matches, royal occasions, and national celebrations. The linguistic shift between “Queen” and “King” reflects the gender of the reigning monarch, a change that has occurred twice since the mid‑20th century. Compared with other national anthems, its brevity and repetitive structure make it instantly recognisable, but many users searching online for “god save the king lyrics” are surprised to discover how many historical verses exist. The anthem’s evolution also explains why some sources show inconsistent lyrics: there is no single authorised text, only customary wording that has been passed down.

What are the key sources for the lyrics?

“There is no authorised version because the words are customary rather than fixed by law.”

Royal Household – National Anthem page (royal.uk)

“The words used today are those sung in 1745, with ‘Queen’ substituted for ‘King’ when appropriate.”

Royal Household – National Anthem page

“The verse ‘Lord, grant that Marshal Wade…’ includes the line ‘Rebellious Scots to crush’, which is part of the historical tradition but not standard modern singing.”

Wikipedia – God Save the King (en.wikipedia.org)

Additional reliable records include Classical Music and the wordpress.com collection of six verses. The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage also provides an official reference for the anthem’s use in that country.

Summary: What you need to know about God Save the King lyrics

The UK national anthem consists of a single widely used verse of 31 words, with four additional historical verses that are seldom performed. The only change in modern times is the pronoun reflecting the monarch’s gender. No official Scotland version exists today, despite a controversial historical stanza. For those who encounter the anthem at major events such as football matches, understanding its lyrics and history adds context to this short but significant piece of national identity. For more on national sporting occasions where the anthem is played, see the England National Football Team Standings – 2026 World Cup Guide.

Frequently Asked Questions