O Sweet Saint Martin's Land

Volkslied van Sint MaartenO Sweet Saint Martin's LandSaint-Martin, si jolie
Regional anthem of Saint-Martin (France) / Sint Maarten (Netherlands)
Lyrics	Gerard Kemps
Music	Gerard Kemps
Adopted	1958

"O Sweet Saint Martin's Land", known in French as "Saint-Martin, si jolie" is the regional anthem of both the Dutch part and the French part of Saint Martin island in the Caribbean. It was written and composed in 1958 by Gerard Kemps.

History

After being appointed as priest for the Catholic Church of the French part of Saint-Martin in 1954, Gerard Kemps wanted to write a song about the island. Four years later, this song was born. In 1984 on Koningsdag, Kemps was knighted in the Order of Orange-Nassau.

Lyrics

National Anthem of Sint Maarten - O Sweet Saint Martin's Land (sint maarten anthem, 신트마르틴의 국가)

Gerard Kemps wrote the song in English and in French—each with a different meaning and different tune.

O Sweet Saint Martin's Land (English version)

Saint-Martin, si jolie (Version française)

Where in/over the world, say where, You find an island there, So lovely small with nations free With people French and Dutch Though talking English much, As thee Saint Martin in the sea? Chorus: O sweet Saint Martin's Land So bright by beach and strand With sailors on the sea and harbours free Where the chains of mountains green Variously/Colourful in sunlight sheen 𝄆 Oh I love thy Paradise, Nature('s) beauty fairly/very nice 𝄇 How pretty/fine between all green Flamboyants beaming gleam Of flowers red by sunlight set Thy cows and sheep and goats In meadows or on roads Thy donkeys keen I can't forget Chorus Thy useful birds in white Their morn and evening flight Like aircraft-wings in unity Their coming down for food Then turning back to roost Bring home to me their harmony Chorus Saint Martin I love thy name (I love Saint Martin's name) In which Columbus' fame And memories of old are closed For me a great delight Thy Southern Cross the night May God the Lord protect thy coast! Chorus

Trouvez-moi une perle si chère, comme l'île Saint-Martin en mer, chaîne de mornes et vallées; riche de plages bien dorées qui donne la paix, donne le repos dans ses mornes et toutes ses eaux. Refrain: 𝄆 Saint-Martin, Saint-Martin, Si jolie en tous ses coins! 𝄇 Quel charme ses flamboyants, leur fleurs un enchantement, tout un bouquet de flammes vives. Quand le soleil ici arrive, donnant splendeur, montrant beauté, Quel éclat de tout coté. Refrain Sa cime "le Pic Paradis", ravit les touristes ici, d'où sa verdure fait merveille; un panorama sans pareil, voyant les plaines, voyant la mer, colorée en bleu et vert. Refrain Le vol de ses pélicans, gracieux et si élégants quand ils planent haut en l'air, quand ils plongent dans la mer; Dites-moi l'endroit, où on les voit, lorsqu'ils fondent sur leur proie. Refrain Son nom toujours Saint-Martin rest'ra dans l'histoire sans fin, Christophe Colomb l'a découverte, lui a donné son nom si cher, Dieu protecteur, Dieu de bonté, garde-la bien en prospérité ! Refrain