Rule, Britannia! is a song based off of a poem by James Thomson and set to music composed by Thomas Arne. It has become the unofficial national anthem of the United Kingdom. Several games have used this tune, but most notably the Ultima series which has used the song in the majority of its games when you reach Lord British's castle.
The remixes of this song was also used in The Missing Monarch, Ending - Ultima: Quest of the Avatar (NES), Unity and Joyous Reunion tracks.
Games
Blue Max (A8)
Blue Max (C64)
Played at the title screen.
Ultima III: Exodus (A2)
Rule, Britannia! is played when you talk to Lord British.
Ultima III: Exodus (A8)
The song is play in the same location as the Apple II original.
Ultima III: Exodus (C64)
Like the Apple II port, Rule, Britannia! is played when you talk to Lord British.
The song is track 8 in the SID file and plays on the 6581.
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (A2)
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (C64)
In the Commodore 64 port of Ultima IV, Rule, Britannia! plays when you are talking to Lord British. The song is track 9 in the SID file.
Ultima III: Exodus (AMI)
The song is play in the same location as the Apple II original.
Ultima III: Exodus (AST)
The song is play in the same location as the Apple II original.
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (A8)
The song plays in the same location as the Apple II original.
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (AST)
The song plays in the same location as the Apple II original.
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (AMI)
The song plays in the same location as the Apple II original.
Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny (A2)
Rule, Britannia! is played in three different versions in Ultima V. It is played in a down beat from as The Missing Monarch, in normal form as Rule, Britannia!, and in a happy version as Joyous Reunion. The song loops.
Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny (C64)
Like the Apple II game, the Commodore 128 version plays Rule, Britannia! in three different versions. It is played in a down beat from as The Missing Monarch, in normal form as Rule, Britannia!, and in a happy version as Joyous Reunion. The song loops.
Ultima: Quest of the Avatar (NES)
Seiji Toda sneaked about a second of
Rule, Britannia! into the
Ending track. It can be heard around the 1:00 mark.
Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny (AST)
Like the Apple II game, the Atari ST version plays Rule, Britannia! in three different versions. It is played in a down beat from as The Missing Monarch, in normal form as Rule, Britannia!, and in a happy version as Joyous Reunion. The song loops.
Ultima VI: The False Prophet (DOS)
Unlike earlier games, Rule, Britannia! is not played specifically for Lord British's castle. Rather, it is one of the four tracks that plays randomly throughout the game after conversations. It its, however, played in the game's ending when Lord British is summoned to meet the Lord Draxinusom. The song is also integrated into the ending song, Unity.
The song file is named Brit.m.
Ultima: Warriors of Destiny (NES)
Played at the title screen.
Ultima VI: The False Prophet (C64)
The Commodore port of Ultima 6 uses the same version of Rule, Britannia! as the Commodore port of Ultima 5.
Stanley: The Search For Dr. Livingston (NES)
The first ten notes of the song are played at the map screen.
Ultima VII: The Black Gate (DOS)
Played when nearing Lord British's throne room.
Ultima VI: The False Prophet (SNES)
Ultima VI: The False Prophet (AST)
Ultima: Runes of Virtue II (SNES)
Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny - Exodus Project (DOS)
Lyrics
This song has lyrics, though no game uses them.
When Britain first, at Heaven's command
Arose from out the azure main;
This was the charter of the land,
And guardian angels sang this strain:
"Rule, Britannia! rule the waves:
"Britons never will be slaves."
The nations, not so blest as thee,
Must, in their turns, to tyrants fall;
While thou shalt flourish great and free,
The dread and envy of them all.
"Rule, Britannia! rule the waves:
"Britons never will be slaves."
Still more majestic shalt thou rise,
More dreadful, from each foreign stroke;
As the loud blast that tears the skies,
Serves but to root thy native oak.
"Rule, Britannia! rule the waves:
"Britons never will be slaves."
Thee haughty tyrants ne'er shall tame:
All their attempts to bend thee down,
Will but arouse thy generous flame;
But work their woe, and thy renown.
"Rule, Britannia! rule the waves:
"Britons never will be slaves."
To thee belongs the rural reign;
Thy cities shall with commerce shine:
All thine shall be the subject main,
And every shore it circles thine.
"Rule, Britannia! rule the waves:
"Britons never will be slaves."
The Muses, still with freedom found,
Shall to thy happy coast repair;
Blest Isle! With matchless beauty crown'd,
And manly hearts to guard the fair.
"Rule, Britannia! rule the waves:
"Britons never will be slaves."
Links