This edition was prepared by James Gibb — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Hail to the Chief
Staff Notation • Secular, Partsongs
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Hail to the Chief by Henry David Leslie — Lyrics
Hail to the Chief who in triumph advances!
Honoured and blessed be the evergreen Pine!
Long may the tree, in his banner that glances,
Flourish, the shelter and grace of our line!
Heaven send it happy dew,
Earth lend it sap anew,
Gaily to bourgeon and broadly to grow,
While every Highland glen
Sends our shout back agen,
'Roderich Vich Alpine dhu, ho! ieroe!'
Ours is no sapling, chancesown by the fountain,
Blooming at Beltane, in winter to fade;
When the whirlwind has stripped every leaf on the mountain,
The more shall ClanAlpine exult in her shade.
Moored in the rifted rock,
Proof to the tempest's shock,
Firmer he roots him the ruder it blow;
Menteith and Breadalbane, then,
Echo his praise again,
'Roderich Vich Alpine dhu, ho! ieroe!'
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About Hail to the Chief
These stirring words celebrate a powerful leader, personified by the evergreen Pine, a symbol of strength and endurance. The text paints a vivid scene of the Scottish Highlands, where the resilient Clan Alpine finds shelter and exults under the shade of this mighty tree, even when storms rage. The composer Henry David Leslie captures this sense of unwavering loyalty and majestic protection in this SATB setting. The music aims to reflect the triumphant spirit and the deep-rooted connection to heritage, mirroring the text's powerful imagery of a leader and his people standing firm against adversity. It's a robust and patriotic anthem.
