O Sweet St. Maarten’s Land Original recording by Arno Peterson St. Maarten with the R.C. Church Choir of Marigot, featuring soloists Rev. Gerard Kemps and Léléne. Written by Rev. Gerard Kemps, 1958. This song became the unofficial national anthem of the island.
This recording was apparently made in 1980.
O Sweet St. Maarten’s Land
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!
