Arranged for Brass Quintet, My Saint Helena Island is the
unofficial territorial anthem of Saint Helena. It was written by Dave
Mitchell in 1975, after persuasion from the inhabitants of Saint Helena.
As British Overseas Territory the official anthem is God Save the
Queen.
Dave Mitchell, nicknamed "Old Saddlebags", was a Country &
Western Disc jockey on AFN Volcano Radio on Ascension Island. Dave was
introduced to Saints on Ascension by one of his best friends, Charlie
Renn, and became involved with them, playing for parties all over the
island. It was Charlie who suggested that Dave write a song for St.
Helena. Dave was reluctant to do so, as he had never been to St Helena
so Charlie, who had visited the island, promptly brought Dave some large
colour postcards of St. Helena. Sitting in his room for a night or two
studying the postcards, Dave picked up his guitar and in a few minutes
the song was written. It is, appropriately, a Country song.
The song was an immediate hit with the Saints on Ascension. With the
help of recording company Camaro Records, Dave made two 45-rpm records
(4 songs) in Memphis, Tennessee in 1975. Dave and Charlie had planned to
make a trip to St. Helena to deliver the records and some photographs
of himself in person but it proved not to be possible so he had to mail
them instead. The reaction on St. Helena was as enthusiastic as that of
the Saints on Ascension and "My St. Helena Island" quickly became the de
facto National Song of St. Helena.
It is played regularly as a request on Saint FM Community Radio and
also over the ships PA system every time the RMS St. Helena leaves
port.
The lyrics are:
1: My heart is drifting southward / To my home down in the sea / Its
the isle of St. Helena / Where my loved ones wait for me / Long since I
left it / But Ill soon be going home / To my St. Helena island / And
swear Ill never roam
2: Diamonds they are pretty / So is your fancy cars / But St. Helena
island / Is prettier by far / All the wonders of this world / Im told
they number seven / But St. Helena Island / Is the nearest one to heaven
3: Diamonds they are pretty / So is your fancy cars / But St. Helena
island / Is prettier by far / Someday if the Lord above / Comes out of
heavens gate / Im sure Hell pick St. Helena / And use it as His place