Political parties and movements the world over use a song or anthem, or both at the same time, to express their beliefs and principles.

Locally, the ruling People’s National Party (PNP) and the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) are no different, and people steeped in the history of both political organisations will tell you of the great pride they feel while singing their party’s song, especially at annual conferences.

The official anthem of the PNP is Jamaica Arise, though some members of the party loosely refer to it as The Trumpet.

That most likely is due to the fact that those are the first two words of the lively number.

No one with whom the Jamaica Observer spoke could quite remember the year the song was written. However, former PNP President and Prime Minister PJ Patterson recalled that it was after the birth of the party in 1938.

“Commodore [William] Seiveright and a man named George Campbell wrote some of the words,” Patterson told the

Sunday Observer.

Seiveright, Patterson recalled, was a minister of agriculture.

“I have always heard that the music was created in Jamaica,” Patterson said in response to a query as to whether the tune was adopted from a Scandinavian country.

“It was being sung at the same time as The Red Flag,” he added in reference to the song associated with left-wing politics, particularly socialism, and which is regarded as the semi-official anthem of the British Labour Party.

Patterson confirmed that leading up to Independence in August 1962 there were suggestions that Jamaica Arise could be used as the country’s national anthem. However, he said the idea “obviously couldn’t spin”, despite the fact that “a lot of people believed that the words were such and the motivation was such that it would have been suitable”.

The JLP’s anthem, referred to as Stand Up For Your Rights in party circles, was written by Conroy Cooper, according to Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange.

“He also arranged and sang it,” Grange told the Sunday Observer.

She could not remember the year the song was written, neither could former JLP Leader and Prime Minister Edward Seaga.

However, Seaga said the song “spoke eminently to what the party believed in”.

He said that the song was very popular when it was released and has remained so to this day.

The PNP Anthem

(Jamaica Arise)

VERSE 1

The trumpet has sounded

My country men all

So awake from your slumber

And answer the call.

The torch has been lighted,

The dawn is at hand.

Who joins in the fight for

His own native land?

Chorus:

Land of my birth I pledge to be

Loyal and faithful true to thee

VERSE 2

Oh the toll may be heavy and the Campaign long

The road may be dreary, the barriers strong

Our progress may falter and energies wane

But steadfast in spirit our goal we will gain.

Chorus…..

VERSE 3In steadfast assurance that God will look downAnd give us His blessingOur efforts to crown.Let us all be united to build by His graceA nobler Jamaica, a loftier race!Chorus…..The JLP Anthem (Stand Up For Your Rights)VERSE 1Equal rights and justiceIs our everlasting song.Unity and progressWill make our nation strongCHORUS:Stand up for your rights, when you hear the bell,Stand up for justice Hear the freedom bell. Remember Bustamante,He served you well Stand up Jamaicans when you hear the bell.Stand up Jamaicans when you hear the bell.VERSE 2Stand up sons and daughters,Your only hope is in the bell.God will guide our progress,And make our nation strong.CHORUS:Stand up for your rights when you hear the bell,Stand up for justice Hear the freedom bell. Remember Bustamante,He served you well Stand up Jamaicans when you hear the bellStand up Jamaicans when you hear the bell.

VERSE 3

In steadfast assurance that God will look down

And give us His blessing

Our efforts to crown.

Let us all be united to build by His grace

A nobler Jamaica, a loftier race!

Chorus…..

The JLP Anthem (Stand Up For Your Rights)

VERSE 1

Equal rights and justice

Is our everlasting song.

Unity and progress

Will make our nation strong

CHORUS:

Stand up for your rights, when you hear the bell,

Stand up for justice

Hear the freedom bell. Remember Bustamante,

He served you well

Stand up Jamaicans when you hear the bell.

Stand up Jamaicans when you hear the bell.

VERSE 2

Stand up sons and daughters,

Your only hope is in the bell.

God will guide our progress,

And make our nation strong.

CHORUS:

Stand up for your rights when you hear the bell,

Stand up for justice

Hear the freedom bell. Remember Bustamante,

He served you well

Stand up Jamaicans when you hear the bell

Stand up Jamaicans when you hear the bell.