For most of us, the anthem starts and ends with the first verse: “God save our gracious King! Long live our noble King!” That’s the bit you hear before kick-off, at the end of a royal speech, or in a movie when the Union Jack flaps in the wind. But did you know there are six official verses, plus a few unofficial ones floating around?
That’s right. There’s a whole second verse about “scatter her enemies” and making them “confound their politics.” It sounds more like a battle cry than a polite song, doesn’t it? It’s like the polite neighbor who suddenly pulls out a sword.
