Forged from the Love of Liberty

Forged from the Love of Liberty

National anthem of  Trinidad and Tobago
Lyrics	Patrick Castagne, 1962
Music	Patrick Castagne, 1962
Adopted	1962 by Trinidad and Tobago
Music sample
Forged from the Love of Liberty

"Forged from the Love of Liberty" is the national anthem of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Originally composed as the national anthem for the short-lived West Indies Federation (1958-1962), this song was edited and adopted by Trinidad and Tobago when it became independent in 1962.^[1]

Patrick S. Castagne composed the words and music of the National Anthem in 1962.^[2] Mr Castagne, a renowned West Indian songwriter, was employed at the Trinidad and Tobago Commission in London.^[1] One of his compositions, called "A Song for the Islands"^[2] or A Song for Federation,^[1] was submitted to the West Indies Federation as a possible anthem.^[2]

When the Federation collapsed, he changed some of the lines and resubmitted the song to Trinidad and Tobago^[2] for the competition to choose the National Anthem. In total, the competition received 834 word only entries, 33 music only entries and 306 word and music entries. Mr. Castagne's submission came out on top and he won the price of $5,000.00 in Government Bonds and a gold medal inscribed with the Coat of Arms of Trinidad and Tobago.^[1]

Castagne's alteration of A Song for Federation was deemed to be most suitable for a twin-island state that consisted of "islands of the blue Caribbean Sea" standing "side by side" in promoting the values of "every creed and race" finding "an equal place" in the multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-cultural society of Trinidad and Tobago as it existed in 1962.^[1] It was considered to have reflected the nature and the strength of the people of Trinidad and Tobago and their courage as one nation working towards living in unity despite the existing diversity.^[2] According to an excerpt from the editorial in the Sunday Guardian of 19 August 1962: "In its solemn declaration of brotherhood and unity, it very neatly includes Tobago with Trinidad without mentioning the name of either ("Side by side we stand, islands of the blue Caribbean Sea"); and as an added impulse to unity it goes on to describe them together as "our native land," ending with the petition, "And may God bless our nation."^[1]

Lyrics

Words and music by Patrick Castagne (1916-2000).^[3]

Forged from the love of liberty

In the fires of hope and prayer

With boundless faith in our destiny

We solemnly declare:

Side by side we stand

Islands of the blue Caribbean sea,

This our native land

We pledge our lives to thee.

Here every creed and race find an equal place,

And may God bless our nation

Here every creed and race find an equal place,

And may God bless our nation.

Lyrics for A Song for Federation

Castagne’s A Song For Federation provided the musical inspiration that could have matched the foundation of a strong federation had it survived. The close resemblance between the National Anthem of Trinidad and Tobago and A Song For Federation can seen from the lyrics of the latter as follows:^[1]

Forged from the love of unity

In the fires of hope and prayer

With boundless faith in our liberty

West Indians all declare:

Side by side we stand

With our hearts joined across the sea,

This our native land

We pledge ourselves for thee.

Here every creed and race find an equal place,

And may God bless our nation

Here every creed and race find an equal place,

And may God bless our nation.

References