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This song is the bi-national song of Saint-Martin/Sint-Maarten island, in the Caribbean, this island being divided between France and Kingdom of the Netherlands.

This full original version was written by the french side catholic Father Gerard Kemps on 1958.



Where over the world, say where,

You find an island there,

So lovely small with nations free

With people French and Dutch

Though talking English much,

As thee Saint-Martin in the sea ?



Chorus :

O sweet Saint-Martin's Land

So bright by beach and strand

With sailors on the sea and harbors free

Where the chains of mountains green

Variously in sunlight sheen



O I love thy Paradise,

Nature-beauty fairly nice (twice)



How pretty between all green

Flamboyants beaming gleam

Of flowers red by sunlight set

Thy cows and sheep and goats

In meadows or on roads

Thy donkeys keen can't I forget



Saint-Martin I love thy name

In which Columbus fame

And memories of old are those

For me a great delight

Thy Southern Cross the night

May God the Lord protect thy coast !

Contents

Father Kemp's Legacy

Father Kemp's Legacy

Many year ago, Father Gerard Kemps, after being appoited as priest for the Catholic church of French St-Martin, in 1954, felt compelled four years later to composelyrics and a melody to sing of the sweetmess, the grace, and the incomparable beauty of the land that was unfolding before his eyes.

In 1958, Father Gerard Kemps created "O Sweet Saint-Martin's Land". Because of the message the lyrics conveyed and the melody that carried the tune, it served the purpose of a national song.

In 1984, on the occasion of the Queen's Birthday, Father Kemps was knighted "Ridder in de Orde van Oranje van Nassau".

Although there are some now on St-Martin who are unaware of Father Kemps, his legacy lives on in the St-Martin's song.