United we stand, divided we fall: Difference between revisions
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The phrase "United stand! Divided fall!" appears in the [[Norway|Norwegian]] [[folk metal]]/[[viking metal]] group [[Glittertind_(band)|Glittertinds]] song "Longships and Mead". |
The phrase "United stand! Divided fall!" appears in the [[Norway|Norwegian]] [[folk metal]]/[[viking metal]] group [[Glittertind_(band)|Glittertinds]] song "Longships and Mead". |
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"Together we stand, divided we fall" is repeated various times in the song "Killing ground" by longtime english metal band [[Saxon_(band)|Saxon]]. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 12:29, 19 September 2012
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2010) |
"United we stand, divided we fall" is a phrase that has been used in mottos, from nations and states to songs. The basic concept is that unless the people are united, it is easy to destroy them.
Early use
The phrase has been attributed to Aesop, both directly in his fable The Four Oxen and the Lion[1] and indirectly in The Bundle of Sticks.[2]
The first attributed use in modern times is to John Dickinson in his revolutionary war song The Liberty Song. In the song, first published in the Boston Gazette in July 1768, he wrote: “Then join hand in hand, brave Americans all! By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall!”
Patrick Henry used the phrase in his last public speech, given in March 1799, in which he denounced The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions. Clasping his hands and swaying unsteadily, Henry declaimed, “Let us trust God, and our better judgment to set us right hereafter. United we stand, divided we fall. Let us not split into factions which must destroy that union upon which our existence hangs.” At the end of his oration, Henry fell into the arms of bystanders and was carried almost lifeless into a nearby tavern. Two months afterward, he had died.
The phrase also appears in the New Testament, albeit in slightly different language. Mark 3:25, "A house divided against itself cannot stand"
Mottos
The U.S. state of Kentucky's first governor, Isaac Shelby, was particularly fond of the stanza from the Liberty Song. Since 1942, this phrase is the official non-Latin state motto of Kentucky.[3]
On the Missouri flag, the phrase is also stated surrounding the center circle.
India's founding fathers
This statement was also a common phrase used in India to garner political support during struggle for independence from the British Empire.
Ulster loyalism
The motto is also used by Ulster loyalists, and can be seen in some loyalist Northern Irish murals.
Popular culture
The lyrics "United we stand, divided we fall" are featured in the song "United We Stand" performed by The Brotherhood of Man (written by Tony Hiller and Peter Simons). This song was also performed by Sonny and Cher and Elton John.
Also, in the song "Hey You" performed and written by the band Pink Floyd, a similar term with the same meaning, "Together we stand, divided we fall", is used.
Wilbert Harrison used the similar "Together we'll stand, Divided we'll fall" in his song "Let's Work Together".
In the Sum 41 song "Confusion And Frustration In Modern Times", the phrase "Divided we stand, Together we fall" is used. New York Hardcore punk band Agnostic Front use the lyrics "United we stand, divided we fall, Gotta gotta go" in their song "Gotta Go", which was featured on Punk-O-Rama Vol. 3. Punk band Smoke or Fire also used the reverse lyric "United we stand, divided we'll fall" in their song "What Separates Us All", from their 2007 album This Sinking Ship.
The Dutch band "Heideroosjes" use the lyrics in their song "Time is Ticking Away". It is also used in The Dropkick Murphys' "Boy's on the Docks". The 3rd Mission in Operation flashpoint Dragon rising is called "United we stand". A slightly different version is mentioned by the heavy metal band Judas Priest in his song "United" ("united we stand, united we never shall fall"). 3T also used the exact words on their debut album Brotherhood, the song entitled "Brotherhood" too.
The reverse was also used by Def Leppard in the song "When Love & Hate Collide", "..divided we stand, baby, united we fall".
It also appears in the song "United", by the Finnish power metal group Stratovarius.
In the album Nero from Two Steps from Hell, one of the tracks is titled "United We Stand, Divided We Fall".
The phrase "United stand! Divided fall!" appears in the Norwegian folk metal/viking metal group Glittertinds song "Longships and Mead".
"Together we stand, divided we fall" is repeated various times in the song "Killing ground" by longtime english metal band Saxon.
References
- ^ The Four Oxen and the Lion Bartleby's famous quotations
- ^ The Bundle of Sticks Bartleby's famous quotations
- ^ The Kentucky official Latin motto, since 2002, is Deo gratiam habeamus ("Let us be grateful to God").
External links
Motto may be inspired by Biblical gospels recording remarks of Jesus. See Matthew 12:25; Mark 3:25; and Luke 11:17.