Liechtenstein’s national anthem uses the melody of the British anthem “God Save the King.” Liechtenstein’s song is titled “Oben am jungen Rhein,” meaning “High Above the Young Rhine.”
The melody became associated with Liechtenstein in the nineteenth century, when many monarchies used the same tune for patriotic or royal songs. The Liechtenstein lyrics were written by Jakob Josef Jauch, and the anthem was adopted in 1963 after revisions to its wording. The country retained the familiar melody while changing the text to reflect Liechtenstein’s own landscape, history, and identity.
This shared tune can cause confusion because the two anthems are musically recognizable as relatives but have different words and national meanings. Liechtenstein’s anthem refers to the Rhine and the Alpine landscape rather than Britain’s monarch. The British anthem itself changed its royal wording from “Queen” to “King” when the monarch changed, while Liechtenstein’s national title remained unchanged.