A wonderful march, my friend! If you be so kind, I would much like to adopt your piece as my personal theme
—Jane Zarkan to Michael Yarwood, on his new Grand March dedicated to her
President Zarkan's Grand March was a marching piece written by Michael Yarwood, OCM, the "Songsmith of the Confederacy", in 21 BBY, Michael Yarwood who also wrote such classic tunes as The Bonny White Flag, the most popular anthem of the Confederate States of Earth, and Valand, Great Land of the East, in which he pleaded with the Republic of Valand to secede from the Union in the wake of the Valand Campaign.
President Zarkan's Grand March was one of his few instrumental pieces, though he did write lyrics for the tune, they were rarely sung. He dedicated his march to his President, Jane Zarkan, to which he had absolute loyalty.
Michael described the tune as being "Light" and "Happy", which he described as reflecting Jane Zarkan's general personality, as well as his joy at being able to dedicate his tune to her.
Jane Zarkan loved the tune and adopted it as her personal theme, to be played to signify her entrance, Elizabeth Zarkan, her cousin who was the Empress of the Imperial Kingdom of Zarkania, before restoring the Confederacy in 4 ABY, made the tune the official presidential theme of the President of the Confederate States after she became Provisional President during the Great Restoration.
The tune was included in the patriotic songbook titled Patriotic Songs and Anthems of Confederate Earth.
President Zarkan's Grand March
Original lyrics[]
Despite Michael Yarwood writing lyrics, it wasn't common for the lyrics to be sung, most often only the Instrumental version of the song was played.
Lo! Let us all raise a mighty, loud three cheers,
for President Jane Zarkan,
Our beloved leader!
She leads our land to freedom,
Her heart is firmly with her home.
And to the Confederacy she is a mother.
And when the tyrant's bloody,
and murderous Union,
foolishly decided, to invade her threshold,
She rallied us all around,
and led our march to liberty,
She shall see the Confederacy be e'er free!
And onwards, onwards, my Confederates,
Carry forth, carry forth, our banner upon the winds,
Let that starred banner fly in the winds e'er free,
And like our wondrous President, she shall e'er be!