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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 was the popular national anthem and marching song 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, OCM, the "Songsmith of the Confederacy", the tune Yarwood used for his song was from that of an old Zarkanian folk song.
The song was about the first 13 states of the Confederacy, as well as the "Blue Star Flag", an unofficial national flag of the Confederacy, along with the "Stainless Banner", and was sometimes flown as such prior to the adoption of the "Stars and Bars" flag (which happened to have been designed by Alexander M. Yarwood, OCM, Michael Yarwood's brother), 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 has some of the states' secessions in the wrong order, which Michael did in order to make the song flow better, an example of this is the Kingdom of Westland was stated as being the third state to secede in the song, when in reality the third state to secede was the Kingdom of Princeland, and Westland was the seventh state.
The song became highly popular thanks to its stirring tune and lyrics, as well as the relative ease with which it could be sung, the song very quickly became the most popular unofficial national anthem of the Confederacy. A number of other songs used the song's tune, including The Homespun Dress, the Ode to Jane Zarkan, the Song of the Confederate States Signal Corps and The Confederate Soldier Lad, other composers took inspiration from the song to compose their own pieces, an example being Edwin Thomas Hatton's improvised piece, Fanfare of The Bonny White Flag.
After his signal success with the song he went on to author some other of the Confederacy's most beloved songs and tunes, other popular works of his included "President Zarkan's Grand March", Jane Zarkan's personal theme, and later adopted as the official presidential theme of the Confederacy, as well as "Valand, Great Land of the East", which he wrote as a plea to the Republic of Valand to secede from the Union in the wake of the Valand Campaign.
The song also became popular in the Confederacy of Independent Systems for much of the same reasons, to the point that a Separatist version of it called "The Bonny Blue Flag" was adopted by the Separatist Parliament as the official 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 Army.
The song was even popular in the Union, the song was very popular with the Sympathisers, Union citizens who opposed the war and sympathised with the Confederacy, the rousing tune was also adapted to the Union's own version, The Bonny White Flag with the Blued Stripes
The Union's parody version was very unpopular with Confederates, who viewed the song as an abomination and a twisted monstrosity of their de facto national anthem, amongst Confederates with a particular hatred for the song was Michael Yarwood, OCM, nicknamed the "Songsmith of the Confederacy" for the number of popular pieces he composed, a fervent Confederate patriot and author of the original song, who viewed the Union's parody as a disrespectful plagiarised version of his own song, for the rest of his life, Michael disavowed the fact that the song was made from his own, and openly condemned the song's very existence, he considered the very song itself to be an insult to himself, and the song he created, which he considered to be his "Pride and Joy", and his Magnum Opus.
That monstrosity of a song has absolutely nothing in common with my song which sings of my love for our Confederate States and the nations which founded her! That disrespectful plagiarised version is an insult to both me and the actual song that I created! I would say that had I known that the Union would've parodied my song I would never have written it, but I can't because that would be a lie, The Bonny White Flag is my pride and joy, my Magnum Opus!
—Michael Yarwood giving his thoughts on The Bonny White Flag with the Blued Stripes
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. The song continued to be sung and respected within the Imperial Kingdom of Zarkania, however, owing to the song's relation to Western Nationalism.
In 40 ABY the Confederate States joined the Confederation, an alliance of systems which supported Corellia in her secession from the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances, in order to celebrate the joining of the Confederation an 87 year old veteran called Edward Miller, who had been a Major of the Confederate States Army, and had served in the Confederate Army from the day the Confederacy was born, 61 years prior, having served during the Earth Civil War, the Third Battle of Earth, as well as a member of the Confederate National Revolutionary Army of Liberation during the First and Second Earth Rebellions, was invited to sing the song at the end of President Jane Zarkan II's special radio broadcast, in which she spoke to the Confederate people about their decision to join the Confederation.
Lyrics (Full; original)[]
Note that whilst the chorus was most often only sung once, as was written in the original song lyrics and is displayed here, sometimes the chorus was sung twice, as the music piece above demonstrates.
We are a band of brothers,
And native to the soil,
We're fighting for our liberty
with Pounds, blood, and toil,
And when our rights were threaten'd,
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!
So long as the Union was faithful to its 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!
First, valiant Zarkania nobly made her stand,
Then came Adin-Morin, who took her by the hand,
Next, quickly, Westlandia, Tomania and Erastan
All rais'd 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!
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, statesman 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!
And here's to brave Princelandia, that great princely state,
With our young Confederacy at length has link'd her fate,
Compell'd by her example, now other lands 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!
Then cheer, boys, cheer, now raise a joyous shout
For Valandia, 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 has gain'd her eleventh 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 our farms!
Hurrah! Hurrah!
For Confederate rights, hurrah!
Hurrah for our Bonny White Flag has emblazoned thirteen stars!
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!
Lyrics (James H. Huber, ca. late 21 BBY)[]
These alternate lyrics were composed by James Henry Huber, author of Patriotic Western Song and The Song of the West, in late 21 BBY.
We are a land of kinsmen,
Marching forth, one and all,
Across our wide Western land,
We hear our country's call,
We come from Zarkania, and Westlandia, too,
From Princeland and Selandia 'neath our great star of blue!
Hurrah! Hurrah!
For the Western land, hurrah!
Hurrah for the Bonny White Flag that bears the blued star!
The mountains of Valandia,
Standing high like spires,
Her sons march with their hearts fill'd with battle-fires,
And to little Adin-Morin, greets friends all around,
The West rises as one man, each heart does rebound!
Hurrah! Hurrah!
For the Western land, hurrah!
Hurrah for the Bonny White Flag that bears the blued star!
And down in Sothlandia,
Gathers our fleet,
Lo! There be plucky Norland,
The foe she deigns to meet,
The fair daughters of the Drelan River cheer our men on,
Each heart is united, each voice shares our song!
Hurrah! Hurrah!
For the Western land, hurrah!
Hurrah for the Bonny White Flag that bears the blued star!
From ev'ry wide tract of land,
By each city and town,
From each and ev'ry walk of life,
Come our warriors to face the strife,
They swear to do little but strike the foemen down!
'Neath our bonny blued star, they make their gallant stand!
Hurrah! Hurrah!
For the Western land, hurrah!
Hurrah for the Bonny White Flag that bears the blued star!
O, fellows, with pride, I say
That grey coats march o'er the hill,
The brave boys of Toman-eye-ay,
Will make the foe feel quite ill,
The braves of Erastan, and Vertania, too,
Will make the tyrant fear the sight of our star of blue!
Hurrah! Hurrah!
For the Western land, hurrah!
Hurrah for the Bonny White Flag that bears the blued star!
O, those dear, sweet belles of our Western land,
With their shining eyes, and golden locks,
Soothe the hearts of our Western band!
Their delicate skin, their calming voice,
Our hearts, they do unlock,
To hug them, and cherish them would be our foremost choice!
Hurrah! Hurrah!
For the Western land, hurrah!
Hurrah for the Bonny White Flag that bears the blued star!
The Bonny White Flag advances with honour,
As her sons carry her to the fight,
She stirs each true Wester's heart who sets his eyes on her,
Her purest silver folds shine with God's holy light!
Beaming proudly on high, her form is a wondrous sight!
Hurrah! Hurrah!
For the Western land, hurrah!
Hurrah for the Bonny White Flag that bears the blued star!
Our belov'd Confederate land shall win this bloody war,
The tyrant foe can ne'er withstand a cause that's pure to the core!
Upon war's final end, our braves shall parade wide and far,
And at their head be our Bonny White Flag that bears blued star!
Hurrah! Hurrah!
For the Western land, hurrah!
Hurrah for the Bonny White Flag that bears the blued star!
Separatist lyrics[]
The Separatist lyrics sing of the dark blue Hexagonal flag of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, as well as the secession of some of the home worlds of the member races of the Separatist Council, along with some other worlds. As with The Bonny White Flag the song takes liberties on the actual order in which the systems and planets seceded.
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 the Hexagon!
Hurrah! Hurrah!,
For Separatist rights, hurrah!,
Hurrah for the Bonny Blue Flag that bears the Hexagon!,
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 the Hexagon!
Hurrah! Hurrah!,
For Separatist rights, hurrah!,
Hurrah for the Bonny Blue Flag that bears the Hexagon!,
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 the Hexagon!
Hurrah! Hurrah!,
For Separatist rights, hurrah!,
Hurrah for the Bonny Blue Flag that bears the Hexagon!,
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 the Hexagon!
Hurrah! Hurrah!,
For Separatist rights, hurrah!,
Hurrah for the Bonny Blue Flag that bears the Hexagon!,
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 the Hexagon!
Hurrah! Hurrah!,
For Separatist rights, hurrah!,
Hurrah for the Bonny Blue Flag that bears the Hexagon!,
Then cheer, boys, cheer, let cry a joyous shout
For Dac and Geonosis now have both gone out
and let another rousing cheer for Onderon be given,
The Hexagon of the Bonny Blue Flag has grown to be eleven!
Hurrah! Hurrah!,
For Separatist rights, hurrah!,
Hurrah for the Bonny Blue Flag that bears the Hexagon!,
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 our farms!
Hurrah! Hurrah!,
For Separatist rights, hurrah!,
Hurrah for the Bonny Blue Flag that bears the Hexagon!,
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 the Hexagon!
Hurrah! Hurrah!,
For Separatist rights, hurrah!,
Hurrah for the Bonny Blue Flag that bears the Hexagon!