Thailand National Anthem — Phleng Chat Thai

"Phleng Chat Thai" is a compact hymn to nationhood. It declares that Thailand "unites the flesh and blood of all Thais" and that every inch of the land belongs to its people, who have kept their sovereignty "because the Thais have always stood united".

Its second half balances peace and resolve: "Thais are peace-loving, but in war we are no cowards", vowing never to let independence be crushed and to "sacrifice every drop of blood for the nation" so that Thailand may "flourish in triumph". It ends on the triumphant cry "chayo!" ("hurrah!").

Phra Chenduriyang (born Peter Feit, of German-Thai descent) composed the melody around 1932, in the wake of the revolution that transformed Siam into a constitutional monarchy. After a national competition, lyrics by Luang Saranupraphan were adopted in 1939 — the same year Siam was renamed Thailand. The anthem replaced earlier versions and has remained unchanged since.

Thailand has a unique daily ritual: "Phleng Chat Thai" is played on radio and television nationwide at 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., and people are expected to stop and stand still as it sounds — in stations, parks and public squares. This twice-daily observance makes it one of the most frequently heard national anthems in the world.

"Phleng Chat Thai" is the national anthem of Thailand, one of the more concise of the world's national anthems. The music is by Phra Chenduriyang and the lyrics by Luang Saranupraphan.

The melody dates to about 1932 and the current words to 1939. Both are in the public domain.