NDP Songs & Lyrics

This year, 9 August marks the 44th National Day of Singapore since 1965 after Singapore gained independence from Malaysia.

During my school days, we enjoyed singing all the patriotic theme songs and evergreen community songs such as “Singapore Town”, “Di Tanjong Katong” and “Chan Mali Chan” (Malay songs), and even an Indian song- “Munnaeru Vaalibaa”! Till now, I still love them!

I tried to compile all the music videos of the National Day theme songs and community songs in the 80s from YouTube but only managed to find a few. Relive the good ‘ol days as we sing along with these all-time-favourites!

Let us start with “Stand Up for Singapore“, the first theme song released in 1985. In the video, you’ll see the late Mr Ong Teng Cheong, Singapore’s first elected president and Mr Goh Chok Tong who was then the Prime Minister of Singapore after succeeding Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

Stand Up for Singapore lyrics

Stand up for Singapore, do the best you can
Reach out for your fellow man
You’ve got to make a stand
Recognise you can play your part
Let it come right from your heart
Be prepared to give a little more
Stand up, stand up for Singapore

Stand up for Singapore, do it with a smile
If you stand up for Singapore
You’ll find it all worthwhile
Believe in yourself, you’ve got something to share
So show us all you really care
Be prepared to give a little more
Stand up, stand up for Singapore

Singapore our home and nation
Together with determination
Join in like we’ve never done before
Stand up, stand up for Singapore ( X 3 )

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“Count On Me Singapore” rocks forever! It was released in 1986. Feeling patriotic while listening to it. I found the official music video sang by the original singer Clement Chow, but the first part of the video was missing.

If you want to hear the complete song of “Count On Me Singapore“, this one presents the slide shows of Singapore in the 21 century. Enjoy!

Count On Me Singapore lyrics

We have a vision for tomorrow, just believe, just believe
We have a goal for Singapore, we can achieve, we can achieve
You and me, we’ll do our part, stand together, heart to heart
We’re going to show the world what Singapore can be
We can achieve, we can achieve

There is something down the road that we can strive for
We are told no dream’s too bold that we can’t try for
There’s a spirit in the air, it’s a feeling we all share
We’re going to build a better life, for you and me
We can achieve, we can achieve

Count on me Singapore, count on me to give my best and more
You and me, we’ll do our part, stand together, heart to heart
We’re going to show the world what Singapore can be
We can achieve, we can achieve

Chorus:
Count on me Singapore, Count on me Singapore
Count on me to give my best and more, count on me Singapore

( Repeat Chorus )

Together Singapore Singapore ( X 2 )

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“We are Singapore” is classic! Released in 1987 and it was when our pledge became a song too! I wonder who is the sucker that said Singapore won’t make it (listen to the first line LOL).

We Are Singapore lyrics

There was a time when people said
That Singapore won’t make it, but we did
There was a time when troubles seemed too much
For us to take, but we did
We built a nation, strong and free, reaching out together
For peace and harmony

Chorus 1:
This is my country, this is my flag
This is my future, this is my life
This is my family, these are my friends
We are Singapore, Singaporeans

Singapore our homeland, it’s here that we belong
All of us united, one people marching on
We’ve come so far together, our common destiny
Singapore forever, a nation strong and free

( Repeat Chorus 1 )

( Sung )
We the citizens of Singapore
Pledge ourselves as one united people
Regardless of race, language or religion
To build a democratic society
Based on justice and equality
So as to achieve happiness
Prosperity and progress for our nation

Chorus 2:
We are Singapore, we are Singapore
We will stand together, hear the lion roar
We are Singapore, we are Singapore
We’re a nation strong and free forevermore

( Repeat Chorus 1 & 2 )

We are Singapore, Singaporeans ( X 2 )

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“One People One Nation One Singapore” , released in 1990, depicts the olden days in Singapore when she was still under British ruling and flashes scenes of Singapore in the 50s – 60s before gaining independence from Malaysia. Very nice song which predates Singapore’s nationhood.

One People One Nation One Singapore lyrics

We’ve built a nation with our hands
The toil of people from a dozen lands
Strangers when we first began, now we’re Singaporean
Let’s reach out for Singapore, join our hands forevermore

Chorus:
One people, one nation, one Singapore
That’s the way that we will be forevermore
Every creed and every race, has its role and has its place
One people, one nation, one Singapore

And when the time comes for the test
Our vigilance will never rest
We’ll be united, hand in hand
We’ll show the world just where we stand
And reach out for Singapore, join our hands forevermore

( Repeat Chorus x 2 )

One people, one nation, one Singapore

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“Five Stars arising” (dated back in 1969) is yet another very inspirational song that we always hear and sing on National Day. I couldn’t find the 80s version which has an upbeat tempo, and we sang it cheerfully in our school days. This video is not an official one. The tempo is slower and I still prefer the older version.

Five Stars Arising lyrics

There’s a new moon arising, out of the stormy sea
Youthful and bright and bearing hope, and tranquil as can be
Reach out for the moon above, savour freedom, truth and love
There’s a new moon arising, out of the stormy sea

There are five stars arising, out of the stormy sea
Each is a lamp to guide our way; a lamp for all to see
Reach out for the stars above, savour freedom, truth and love
There are five stars arising, out of the stormy sea

There’s a new flag arising, out of the stormy sea
Crimson as the blood of all mankind, yet white and pure and free
Reach out for the flag above, savour freedom, truth and love
There’s a new flag arising, happy and proud are we

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Oooh love this “Singapore Town” song! I remembered we could play this song with our recorder! Too bad I couldn’t find the official music video, or maybe there isn’t at all? Though some says this video is quite lame, but I still want to add it to my list of 80s favourites here. Enjoy the song!

Singapore Town lyrics

You could take a little trip around Singapore town
In Singapore city bus
To see Collyer Quay and Raffles Place
The Esplanade and all of us

Chorus:
Because in Singapore, Singapore
Their hearts are big and wide you’ll find
Because in Singapore, Singapore
You’ll find happiness for everyone

Let’s go down to the riverside, it’s an unforgettable sight
To see the sunrise on a faraway isle, turning darkness into light

( Repeat Chorus )

The buildings are climbing all the way to the sky
And there’s a hundred other people who are striving
For people like you and I

( Repeat Chorus )

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I don’t recall hearing  “The Singapore Song” by Rony Tan before. But you must watch this very touching video! It’s a good representation of how Singapore suffered during the Japanese Occupation in WWII when the British left the colony within six days after defeat; how life was very hard for the first generation Singaporeans; and how Singapore has progressed so quickly over 44 years of independence to become one of the top finance centres in the world.

So, what’s new? This year’s NDP (National Day Parade) song is “What Do You See“, with a very different tune and setting as compared to those MVs of the yesteryears you’ve just watched here. The last part of the MV shows Marina Barrage, a new recreational site in Singapore.

What Do You See lyrics

There’s a jewel on the ocean,
a gem upon the sea
Where the future is an open book
A land of destiny
We could set our sights into the wind and sail the seven seas
or climb the highest mountain top as long as we believe
What do you see? What do you see?

See the moon and the stars, look how far we have come
Look around at our faces, they shine brightly in the sun
With our hopes and dreams, imagine what tomorrow it may bring
What do you see? What do you see?

Now the time has come to reach out,
To open up to see
That we stand together in this land
Cos we are family
As thoughts of reaching to the sky are carried on a dream
With hearts and minds united, our dreams we will achieve
What do you see? What do you see?

See the moon and the stars, look how far we have come
Look around at our faces, they shine brightly in the sun
With our hopes and dreams, imagine what tomorrow it may bring
What do you see

What do you see when life makes you take on a mountain
Youll see that nothings gonna stand in your way
Together we can share
The strength of a million
and the courage of a million more

See the moon and the stars, look how far we have come
Look around at our faces, they shine brightly in the sun
With our hopes and dreams, imagine what tomorrow it may bring
Cos the skys the only limit when youre not afraid to dream
What do you see? What do you see…

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If u have other National Day songs that you want to share, please send it to me and I shall update this list of compilation. You are encouraged to send this link (https://travelerfolio.com/singapore-44th-national-day-song-lyrics-video/) to your friends to share the joy of the 44th National Day Celebration! Hope you’ve enjoyed this compilation of National Day and community songs!

Location: The 44th National Day Parade will be held at 6.15pm on 9 Aug at the Marina Floating Platform. No ticket for me. I can only watch the NDP ‘live’ on TV, perhaps, lucky enough to catch glimpses of a few performing fighter planes zooming across the sky from my window.

Let’s wish Singapore a happy and prosperous year ahead!