Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

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The beautifulhymn ‘Abide With Me’ was written by Henry Francis Lyte in 1847 on his deathbed. He passed away three weeks after finishing it. Its honest expression of the fear of approaching death has made it popular with people of all religions and none. 

It was Mahatma Gandhi’s favourite hymn and it was the hymn that the band was playing on the Titanic when it sank. It has an indelible association with sport. It has been sung by tens of thousands of spectators at every FA Cup Final since 1927 and every Rugby Challenge Cup Final since 1929.

England (Jerusalem - Verse of William Blake)

And did those feet in ancient time

Walk upon England’s mountains green?

And was the holy Lamb of God

On England’s pleasant pastures seen?

And did the Countenance Divine

Shine forth upon our clouded hills?

And was Jerusalem builded here

Among these dark Satanic Mills?

Northern Ireland (Danny boy)

Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling

From glen to glen, and down the mountain side

The summer’s gone, and all the flowers are dying

’Tis you, ’tis you must go and I must bide.

But come ye back when summer’s in the meadow

Or when the valley’s hushed and white with snow

’Tis I’ll be here in sunshine or in shadow

Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so.

Scotland (Flower of Scotland)

O flower of Scotland,

When will we see your like again

That fought and died for

Your wee bit hill and glen.

And stood against him,

Proud Edward’s army,

And sent him homeward

Tae think again.

Wales (Cwm Rhondda)

Arglwydd, arwain trwy’r anialwch,

Fi, bererin gwael ei wedd,

Nad oes ynof nerth na bywyd

Fel yn gorwedd yn y bedd:

Hollalluog, Hollalluog,

Ydyw’r Un a’m cwyd i’r lan;

Ydyw’r Un a’m cwyd i’r lan.

Guide me, O thou great redeemer,

Pilgrim through this barren land;

I am weak, but thou art mighty,

Hold me with thy powerful hand;

Bread of heaven, bread of heaven

Feed me till I want no more;

Feed me till I want no more