On Saturday, November 11, 2017, there were many celebrations marking St. Martin’s Day. In Amsterdam, a fundraiser was being held to benefit Rebuild SXM. It’s an organization that has raised a lot of money and awareness in the Netherlands for Sint Maarten.
During The Official St. Maarten Day Celebration, a group of young Sint Maarteners belted out Sint Maarten’s anthem — O Sweet Saint Martin’s Land — in A cappella. And it was amazing. Check it out. The words are below if you want to sing along!
Please help rebuild SXM and give today. Click here to visit the SXM Strong donate page. Thank you!
Where 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 harbors free
Where the chains of mountains green
Variously in sunlight sheen
Oh I love thy Paradise,
Nature beauty fairly nice (twice)”
How pretty between all green
Flamboyants beaming gleam
Of flowers red by sunlight set
Thy cows and sheep and goats
In meadows or on the roads
Thy donkeys keen I can’t forget
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
Saint Martin I like thy 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!