BURMESE LYRICS

Ga ba ma kyae, myan ma pyi, 
Do bo bwa a mwae sit mo chit myat no bae. 
Ga ba ma kyae, myan ma pyi, 
Do bo bwa a mwae sit mo chit myat no bae. 
Pyi daung zu go a thèt pae lo to ka kwè ma lae, 
Da do byae da do myae do paing dae myae. 
Do byae do myae a kyo go nyi nya zwa do da twae 
Tan saung ba so lae do da(u) win bay a po tan myae. 

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ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Till the end of the world, Myanmar!,
Since she is the true inheritance from our forefathers, we love and value her.
We will fight and give our lives for the union
This is the country and land of our own
For her prosperity, we will responsibly shoulder the task,
Standing as one in duty to our precious land. 

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Myanmar
Kaba Ma Kyei ("Till the End of the World, Myanmar")

Words by:Saya Tin
Music by:Saya Tin
Adopted:1948

In 1934/35, Burman political organisations declared "Dobama Asiayone" ("We
Burmans") the first national song. (It is not clear whether these "political
organizations" were for or against the Japanese puppet administration.) The
music was composed by Saya Tin (later known as Thakin Tin), the exact year of
composition is unknown. During the Japanese occupation of Burma (during WW II
until May 1945) the song became a national symbol.

In 1947, before independence, a committee was formed to select proposals for
the future flag, coat of arms and national anthem. Thakin Tin became a member
of this committee in July 1947. It was decided to adopt Tin's composition with
some slight changes of the text. On 22nd September 1947, another correction of
the text was done and this version became valid upon independence in 1948. (A
slight change was also made to the words, presumably in 1988, when the name of
the country was changed to Myanmar).

There is also an interesting custom associated with the national anthem, and
that is that singers who sing the anthem must give a small bow upon the
conclusion of their singing, as a sign of respect for the anthem and the
nation.

Special thanks to:Jan Scotland for some of this information.

