The Bonny White Flag

"Excellent, we have won the battle! Play The Bonny White Flag, let the would-be conquerors hear the anthem of Confederate freedom! Our beloved Blue Star Flag continues to fly high in the winds of Confederate liberty!"

- Jane Zarkan upon the Confederate victory in the First Battle of Earth



The Bonny White Flag (also known as the King Thomas Banner, see below) was the popular national anthem of the Confederate States of Earth, both the original Confederacy of 21 BBY - 18 BBY and the restored Confederacy from 4 ABY and onwards, the song was written by songwriter Michael Yarwood.

The song was about the first 13 states of the Confederacy, as well as the "Blue Star Flag", the unofficial first national flag of the Confederacy, which was flown as such prior to the adoption of the "Stars and Bars" flag, the "Blue Star Flag" continued to be flown as a symbol of independence after this, and quickly became a beloved patriotic symbol to Confederates, with its likeness printed on different items to appeal to particularly patriotic Confederates. The flag was first used as personal banner of King Thomas Zarkan I during the Zarkanian War of Independence in 1,000 BBY, this flag was called the "King Thomas Banner", and inspired the "Zarkan Secession Flag", which was flown by the Zarkan Kingdom during the deliverance of her Declaration of Secession to the Union Senate and subsequent withdrawal from the Union of Earth States.

The song was written after Michael Yarwood witnessed the raising of the flag in the Kingdom of Westland after Westland's secession, he was so moved by the emotions of the crowd he decided to write a song about the flag.

The song was popular in the Confederacy of Independent Systems, to the point that a Separatist version of it called "The Bonny Blue Flag" was viewed as the unofficial Separatist anthem. The song was included in a song book entitled Patriotic Songs and Anthems of Confederate Earth, the tune of the song was also a popular quick march in the Confederate States of Earth Army.

Following the conquest of the Confederacy by the Galactic Empire and the Earth Empire the song was banned, along with all of other Confederate patriotic songs, and merely humming or whistling the tune could result in a fine or even imprisonment.

At the extreme end of punishment for playing the song was the Imperial Victory Gala incident, in which the commander of the Earth Imperial forces in the former Confederacy demanded a band of the Confederate Army to play the "national anthem", meaning "Earth, Arise!", the national anthem of the Earth Empire, the band started playing "The Bonny White Flag" to spite the Empire and to remind the Confederate citizens that their freedom wasn't fully lost yet, the band members were executed for treason, despite a mass public outcry, leading to the Zarkan County Uprising. The band members were later posthumously honoured for their actions in giving their lives in the name of freedom, and their names later were added to the Monument of Confederate Liberators, those who gave their lives to defend Confederate liberty.

Lyrics (Full; original)
We are a band of brothers,

And native to the soil,

Fighting for our liberty

With Pounds, blood and toil,

And when our rights were threatened,

the cry rose near and far,

Hurrah for the Bonny White Flag that bears the blued star!

''Hurrah! Hurrah!'',

For Confederate rights, hurrah!,

Hurrah for the Bonny White Flag that bears the blued star!,

''Hurrah! Hurrah!'',

For Confederate rights, hurrah!

Hurrah for the Bonny White Flag that bears the blued star!

So long as the Union was faithful to her trust,

like friends and like brothers, kind we were, and just,

but now with Federalist treachery attempts our rights to mar,

we hoist on high the Bonny White Flag that bears the blued star!

''Hurrah! Hurrah!'',

For Confederate rights, hurrah!,

Hurrah for the Bonny White Flag that bears the blued star!,

''Hurrah! Hurrah!'',

For Confederate rights, hurrah!

Hurrah for the Bonny White Flag that bears the blued star!

First, valiant Zarkania nobly made her stand,

then came Adin-Morin, who took her by the hand,

next, quickly, Westlandia, Tomania and Erastan

all raised on high the Bonny White Flag that bears the blued star!

''Hurrah! Hurrah!'',

For Confederate rights, hurrah!,

Hurrah for the Bonny White Flag that bears the blued star!,

''Hurrah! Hurrah!'',

For Confederate rights, hurrah!

Hurrah for the Bonny White Flag that bears the blued star!

Ye men of honour, gather 'round the banner of the right,

Norland and fair Selandia join us in the fight

Zarkan, our beloved president, and Stephens statesmen rare,

now honour aloud the Bonny White Flag that bears the blued star!

''Hurrah! Hurrah!'',

For Confederate rights, hurrah!,

Hurrah for the Bonny White Flag that bears the blued star!,

''Hurrah! Hurrah!'',

For Confederate rights, hurrah!

Hurrah for the Bonny White Flag that bears the blued star!

And here's to brave Princelandia, that great princely state,

with our young Confederacy at length has linked her fate,

compelled by her example, now other states prepare,,

to hoist on high the Bonny White Flag that bears the blued star!

''Hurrah! Hurrah!'',

For Confederate rights, hurrah!,

Hurrah for the Bonny White Flag that bears the blued star!,

''Hurrah! Hurrah!'',

For Confederate rights, hurrah!

Hurrah for the Bonny White Flag that bears the blued star!

Then cheer, boys, cheer, raise a joyous shout

For Aerlandia and the Drelan River at last have both gone out

and let another rousing cheer for Sothlandia be given,

The single star of the Bonny White Flag has grown to be eleven!

''Hurrah! Hurrah!'',

For Confederate rights, hurrah!,

Hurrah for the Bonny White Flag that bears the blued star!,

''Hurrah! Hurrah!'',

For Confederate rights, hurrah!

Hurrah for the Bonny White Flag that bears the blued star!

And yet another two states pledge their support,

those of Vertania and Arstotzka, we report,

Then let us welcome these brothers in with open arms,

they are also willing to provide defence to our homes and farms!

''Hurrah! Hurrah!'',

For Confederate rights, hurrah!,

Hurrah for the Bonny White Flag that bears the blued star!,

''Hurrah! Hurrah!'',

For Confederate rights, hurrah!

Hurrah for the Bonny White Flag that bears the blued star!

Then here's to our Confederacy, strong we are, and brave,

like liberators of old we'll fight, our liberty to save;

And rather than submit to shame, to die we would prefer!

So cheer for the Bonny White Flag that bears the blued star!

''Hurrah! Hurrah!'',

For Confederate rights, hurrah!,

Hurrah for the Bonny White Flag that bears the blued star!,

''Hurrah! Hurrah!'',

For Confederate rights, hurrah!

Hurrah for the Bonny White Flag that bears the blued star!

Separatist lyrics
The Separatist lyrics sing of the flag of the CIS, as well as the secession of some of the home worlds of the member races of the Separatist Council, along with some other worlds..

We are a band of brothers,

And native to the Rim,

Fighting for our liberty

With Credits, droids and toil,

And when our rights were threatened,

the cry rose near and far,

Hurrah for the Bonny Blue Flag that bears a single Hex!

''Hurrah! Hurrah!'',

For Separatist rights, hurrah!,

Hurrah for the Bonny Blue Flag that bears a single Hex!,

''Hurrah! Hurrah!'',

For Separatist rights, hurrah!

Hurrah for the Bonny Blue Flag that bears a single Hex!

So long as the Republic was faithful to her trust,

like friends and like bretheren, kind we were, and just,

but now with Coruscant's treachery attempts our rights to mar,

we hoist on high the Bonny Blue Flag that bears a single Hex!

''Hurrah! Hurrah!'',

For Separatist rights, hurrah!,

Hurrah for the Bonny Blue Flag that bears a single Hex!,

''Hurrah! Hurrah!'',

For Separatist rights, hurrah!

Hurrah for the Bonny Blue Flag that bears a single Hex!

First, gallant Serenno nobly made her stand,

then came Neimoidia, who took her by the hand,

next, quickly, Kooriva, Castell and Skako

all raised on high the Bonny Blue Flag that bears a single Hex!

''Hurrah! Hurrah!'',

For Separatist rights, hurrah!,

Hurrah for the Bonny Blue Flag that bears a single Hex!,

''Hurrah! Hurrah!'',

For Separatist rights, hurrah!

Hurrah for the Bonny Blue Flag that bears a single Hex!

Ye men of honour, gather 'round the banner of the right,

Ando and fair Zygerria join us in the fight

Dooku, our loved Head of State, and Grievous, General rare,

now rally 'round the Bonny Blue Flag that bears a single Hex!

''Hurrah! Hurrah!'',

For Separatist rights, hurrah!,

Hurrah for the Bonny Blue Flag that bears a single Hex!,

''Hurrah! Hurrah!'',

For Separatist rights, hurrah!

Hurrah for the Bonny Blue Flag that bears a single Hex!

And here's to great Muunilinst, the great banking state,

with our young Confederacy at length has linked her fate,

compelled by her example, now other systems prepare,,

to hoist on high the Bonny Blue Flag that bears a single Hex!

''Hurrah! Hurrah!'',

For Separatist rights, hurrah!,

Hurrah for the Bonny Blu Flag that bears a single Hex!,

''Hurrah! Hurrah!'',

For Separatist rights, hurrah!

Hurrah for the Bonny Blue Flag that bears a single Hex!

Then cheer, boys, cheer, raise a joyous shout

For Dac and Geonosis now have both gone out

and let another rousing cheer for Onderon be given,

The single Hex of the Bonny Blue Flag has grown to be eleven!

''Hurrah! Hurrah!'',

For Separatist rights, hurrah!,

Hurrah for the Bonny Blue Flag that bears a single Hex!,

''Hurrah! Hurrah!'',

For Separatist rights, hurrah!

Hurrah for the Bonny Blue Flag that bears a single Hex!

And yet another two states pledge their support,

those of Alliga and Fondor, we report,

Then let us welcome these brothers in with open arms,

they are also willing to provide defence to our homes and farms!

''Hurrah! Hurrah!'',

For Separatist rights, hurrah!,

Hurrah for the Bonny Blue Flag that bears a single Hex!,

''Hurrah! Hurrah!'',

For Separatist rights, hurrah!

Hurrah for the Bonny Blue Flag that bears a single Hex!

Then here's to our Confederacy, strong we are, and brave,

like liberators of old we'll fight, our liberty to save;

And rather than submit to shame, to die we would prefer!

So cheer for the Bonny Blue Flag that bears a single Hex!

''Hurrah! Hurrah!'',

For Separatist rights, hurrah!,

Hurrah for the Bonny Blue Flag that bears a single Hex,

''Hurrah! Hurrah!'',

For Separatist rights, hurrah!

Hurrah for the Bonny Blue Flag that bears a single Hex!