O Sweet Saint Martin's Land

"O Sweet Saint Martin's Land", also known by its French title, "Saint-Martin, si jolie" ("Saint Martin, So Pretty"),^[1][2] is the bi-national song of Saint-Martin / Sint Maarten island, an island divided between the French Republic and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It was written in English (the main language of Saint Martin) by Gerard Kemps in 1958.^[3] Kemps also wrote and composed a French version with its own lyrics and a different tune.^[2]

O Sweet Saint Martin's Land

Regional anthem of Saint-Martin  Sint Maarten
Lyrics	Gerard Kemps, 1958
Music	Gerard Kemps, 1958
Audio sample
Digital instrumental rendition of the English version file help

History

After being appointed as priest for the Catholic Church of French St-Martin in 1954, Father Gerard Kemps felt compelled to compose lyrics and a melody about the beauty of the land of Saint Martin. In 1958, Kemps created "O Sweet Saint Martin's Land". Because of the message the lyrics conveyed and the melody that carried the tune, it served the purpose of an island-wide song.^[4]

In 1984, on the occasion of the Dutch Queen's Birthday, Kemps was knighted in the Order of Orange-Nassau.^[4]

A wide-hole 7-inch vinyl record^[5] (made in the Netherlands) was issued by Kemps & the Marigot Catholic Church choir.

Lyrics

English version

I Where over[a] 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[b] in sunlight sheen 𝄆 Oh I love thy Paradise, Nature beauty fairly nice 𝄇[c] II How pretty[d] 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 III 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 IV Saint Martin I love thy name[e] 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[4][11][7]

French version

French original[1][2]

English translation

I 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! 𝄇 II 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 III 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 IV 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 V 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

I Find me a pearl so dear, as the island of St. Martin in the sea, chain of hills and valleys; rich golden brown beaches giving peace, give the rest in its bleak and all its waters. Chorus: 𝄆 St. Martin, St. Martin, So pretty in all its corners. 𝄇 II What his flamboyant charm, their enchanting flowers, a whole bunch of flames. When the sun comes here, giving splendor, showing beauty, What splendor on all sides. Chorus III Its top "Pic Paradis", delights tourists here, hence its green works wonders; an unparalleled panorama, Seeing the plains, seeing the sea, colored blue and green. Chorus IV Flight of its pelicans, graceful and elegant when they hover high into the air, when they dive into the sea; Tell me the place where we see them, when based on their prey Chorus V His name always St. Martin Will in the never ending story, Christopher Columbus discovered it, gave it its name so dear, Patron god, God of goodness, guard it well in prosperity! Chorus

Notes

1. Sometimes written "in".^[6][7]
2. Sometimes written "colorful".^[6][7]
3. "Fairly" is sometimes written as "graceful",^[6][7] and the whole line is sometimes sung as "Nature's beauty very nice".^[8][9][10]
4. Sometimes written "fine".^[6][7]
5. Sometimes written "I love Saint Martin's name".^[6][7]