Rule, Britannia! is a song about British imperialism based off of a poem by James Thomson and set to music composed by Thomas Arne. It has become the de facto national anthem of the United Kingdom. Several games have used this tune, most notably the Ultima series which has used the song in the majority of its games as a theme for Lord British.
Additional songs in the Ultima series have remixed the song including The Missing Monarch, Ending - Ultima: Quest of the Avatar (NES), Unity, and Joyous Reunion.
Games
Ultima III: Exodus (A2)
This rendition of Rule, Britannia! plays when you speak to Lord British. When it finishes, the background music returns to Lord British's Castle. This is the original version of the song as composed by Ken Arnold for Ultima III: Exodus which was later ported to several platforms. It is rendered on the AY-3-8930 chip of the Mockingboard.
Blue Max (A8)
Blue Max (C64)
Played at the title screen.
Navarone (C64)
Ultima III: Exodus (A8)
The song is play in the same location as the Apple II original.
Ultima III: Exodus (C64)
When Ultima III: Exodus was ported to the Commodore 64, the music was arranged for the SID chip, probably by Ken Arnold, but it may have been done by the game's porter, Chuck Bueche. The music functions in the same manner as the Apple II release, but has a "buzzy" sound compared to the original.
The song is track 3 in the SID file and plays on the 6581.
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (A2)
For those equipped with a Mockingboard, they will hear Rule, Britannia! when talking to Lord British, rendered on an AY-3-8910.
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 and rendered on the 6581.
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 (PC98)
The PC-9801 port plays slightly faster than the original. It is likewise played while speaking to Lord British, and is rendered on the YM2203 (OPN).
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (PC88)
Like the PC-9801 port, the song is rendered on the YM2203, but it uses a lower quality sound.
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 (MSX2)
It is rendered on the YM2149.
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (X1)
It is rendered on the YM2151.
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 IV: Quest of the Avatar (AMI)
The song plays in the same location as the Apple II original.
Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny (C128)
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 III: Exodus (PC98)
The PC-98 port plays Rule, Britannia! slightly faster than the original Apple II port, but gives it a more brassy sound. The song is rendered on the YM2203 (OPN) and uses the file name M08.BIN.
Ultima III: Exodus (PC88)
Like the PC-98 port, the PC-88 renders the song on the YM2203, but at a lower quality.
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)
Rule, Britannia! plays all over the city of Britain.
The song is track 23 in the game's data files.
Ultima VI: The False Prophet (SNES)
Ultima VI: The False Prophet (AST)
Ultima: Runes of Virtue II (SNES)
BreakThru! (GB)
Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny - Exodus Project (DOS)
Ultima III: Exodus (GBC)
A bootleg Game Boy Color part was made which includes this song rendered on the APU of the Game Boy's DMG-CPU B.
Sheet Music
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
