O Plough of the Heavens

O Plough of the Heavens

O Plough of the Heavens
National anthem of Surrow
Lyrics	Donnie Altman William Boyle, 1884
Music	Donnie Altman, 1884
Adopted	24 June, 1953

O Plough of the Heavens is the national anthem of Surrow. First written and composed by Donnie Altman in 1884, it was initially written as a prayer for fisherman to return home to the Surrowese archipelago safely. However, the song quickly became the de-facto national anthem of Surrow.

After Surrow gained independence from Rythene in 1950, the Surrowese government dithered on whether or not to adopt O Plough of the Heavens as the country's national anthem, as many legislators did not feel the anthem as it stood was "suitable enough" to become the Surrowese anthem. In 1952, William Boyle was asked by the Surrowese government to write a second verse, with the government asking Boyle that the verse emphasise the virtues of courageousness, freedom, and unity. Boyle would accept the task, and in January 1953, he presented his addition to Altman's first verse. The government would approve of it, and it officially became the national anthem on 24 June, 1953.

Lyrics

Rythene	Tyrnican	Rythenean translation
First verse
O Plough of the Heavens Guide us to our homeland O'er the waves to the northland With our mighty old hand Towards the Surrows! Towards the Surrows!	Führe uns nach Hause O Großer Wagen Zu den Inseln, die wir lieben Mit zehntausend Fischen Und sicheres Segeln! Und sicheres Segeln!	Lead us home O Big Dipper To the islands we love With ten thousand fish And safe sailing! And safe sailing!
Second verse
O brothers and sisters Who comingle from the sea Courageous we shall ever be We shall always be free On the Surrow Islands! On the Surrow Islands!	Steht auf, Brüder und Schwestern! Von allen Rassen und Kulturen Wir geloben, mutig zu sein Und immer frei zu sein Solange wir hier leben! Solange wir hier leben!	Arise, brothers and sisters! Of all races and cultures We vow to be brave And to always be free So long as we live here! So long as we live here!