Land of our Birth we Pledge to Thee

This is a hymn of pledge and petition to ones country.   Originally called ‘The Children’s Song’ it was the last hymn in the book "Puck of Pook’s Hill" (1906), a series based on episodes in English history.

It was written by Indian born English-raised poet and story teller Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936).

With meter 8.8.8.8, tunes it has been set to include:

• PENTECOST (Boyd) by William Boyd (1847-1928) - originally written for the hymn "Come, Holy Ghost, Our Souls Inspire"
• TRURO - anonymous - first published in 1789 and originally composed for "Now to the Lord a noble song"
• GALILEE (Armes) by English organist and composer Philip Armes (1836-1908)
• ARIZONA by English composer Robert Henry Earnshaw (1856-1933)  
• UNESN by A. E. Floyd (? - 1910)

Today it appears to be popular in both India and in parts of Africa.

No current sources of sheet music have been found.

Downloads

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PowerPoint slides

Examples

Choir with electronic keyboards:

Choir with organ accompaniment:

Instrumental - piano:

Small group performing the work as a memory poem:

Congregation with electronic organ accompaniment:

Lyrics

Land of our birth, we pledge to thee
our love and toil in the years to be,
when we are grown and take our place
as men and women with our race.

Father in heaven, who lovest all,
O help thy children when they call,
that they may build from age to age
an undefiled heritage.

Teach us to bear the yoke in youth,
with steadfastness and careful truth,
that, in our time, thy grace may give
the truth whereby the nations live.

Teach us to rule ourselves alway,
controlled and cleanly night and day,
that we may bring, if need arise,
no maimed or worthless sacrifice.

Teach us to look in all our ends,
on thee for Judge, and not our friends,
that we, with thee, may walk uncowed
by fear or favor of the crowd.

Teach us the strength that cannot seek,
by deed or thought, to hurt the weak,
that, under thee, we may possess
man's strength to comfort man's distress.

Teach us delight in simple things,
and mirth that has no bitter springs,
forgiveness free of evil done,
and love to all men 'neath the sun.

Land of our birth, our faith, our pride,
for whose dear sake our fathers died;
O Motherland, we pledge to thee
head, heart and hand through the years to be.

See more ...

• Hymns of petition
• Hymns for children