Sarnia Cherie is used as the anthem of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands. 'Sarnia' is a traditional Latin name for the island, hence, the title translates as 'Guernsey Dear'. George Deighton wrote Sarnia Cherie in 1911, with Domenico Santangelo subsequently composing the tune later that year. The song was first performed at St. Julian’s Theatre - which is now the Gaumont Cinema - in November 1911.^[1] In 2005, the then Chief Minister, Laurie Morgan, called for an updated version, which seems to have been abandoned after it met with near-universal opposition. The sheet music has been republished (c)2009 Ray Lowe, Sark. A CD of 13 renditions of the song has been released. Included on the CD is a recording from May 9 1945, when British Troops landed in St. Peter Port to Liberate the Island after 5 years of German Occupation during WWII. CD available from the Guernsey Visitor Centre, St. Peter Port, Guernsey.

Sarnia; dear Homeland, Gem of the sea.

Island of beauty, my heart longs for thee.

Thy voice calls me ever, in waking, or sleep,

Till my soul cries with anguish, my eyes ache to weep.

In fancy I see thee, again as of yore,

Thy verdure clad hills and thy wave beaten shore.

Thy rock sheltered bays, ah; of all thou art best,

I'm returning to greet thee, dear island of rest.

CHORUS

Sarnia Cherie. Gem of the sea.

Home of my childhood, my heart longs for thee.

Thy voice calls me ever, forget thee I'll never,

Island of beauty. Sarnia Cherie.

I left thee in anger, I knew not thy worth.

Journeyed afar, to the ends of the earth.

Was told of far countries, the heav'n of the bold,

Where the soil gave up diamonds, silver and gold.

The sun always shone, and "race" took no part,

But thy cry always reached me, its pain wrenched my heart.

So I'm coming home, thou of all art the best.

Returning to greet thee, dear island of rest.

CHORUS

  Guernesiais version

A version in Guernesiais (Guernsey-French), Guernsey's own langue d'oïl (Norman variant), has also been made:

Sarnia, chière patrie, bijou d'la maïr,

Ile plloinne dé biautai, dans d'iaoue si cllaire

Ta vouaix m'appeule terjous, mon tcheur plloin d'envie,

Et mon âme té crie en poine, mes iars voudraient t'veis.

Quaend j'saonge, j'té vaie derchier, mesme comme t'étais d'vànt,

Tes côtis si vaerts et ton sabllaon si bllànc,

Tes bànques et tes rotchets. Ah! Dé toutes la pus belle.

Mon réfuge et mon r'pos, chière île qu'est si belle.

Sarnia Chérie, ma chière patrie,

D'l'île dé ma nèissance, mon tcheur a envie

Ta vouaix m'appeule terjours,

Et j'pense à té chaque jour.

Ile plloinne dé biautai, Sarnia Chérie.

Sàns saver ta valeur, j'm'en fus en colère,

Je v'yagis si llian, à l'aute but dé la terre.

I m'dirent dé biaux pays, et j'm'en fus brâment

Oueque la terre baillait à haut d'l'or et dé l'argent.

Nous 'tait tous amis et i fit bal chaque jeur,

Mais ta vouaix m'applait terjours, a m'déteurtait l'tcheur.

Ch'est pourtchi qué j'm'en vians. Ah! té veis, la millaeure.

Ma chière île dé répos, dé chenna j'sis saeure.

Sarnia Chérie, ma chière patrie,

D'l'île dé ma nèissance, mon tcheur a envie

Ta vouaix m'appeule terjours,

Et j'pense à té chaque jour.

Ile plloinne dé biautai, Sarnia Chérie.

  References

  External links

• Sarnia Cherie page with midi
• 'Updated' Island Games 2003 version by Jim Delbridge and Tim Bran (mp3)