The beautiful words of the National Song were written and put to music by one of Cayman’s best-known writers of poetry and song, the late Mrs. Leila Ross-Shier. An organist in the Presbyterian Church, she had a great love and talent for music. “Beloved Isle Cayman” was composed in 1930 and she sang it for years accompanying herself on the guitar before it was adopted as a National Song.

BELOVED ISLE CAYMAN

O, land of soft, fresh breezes, or verdant trees so fair

With Thy Creator’s glory, reflected ev’rywhere.

O sea of palest em’rald, merging to darkest blue,

Whene’er my thoughts fly Godward, I always think of you.

Chorus

Dear rarest juices, abundant rich and free,

When sweet churchbells are chiming, my fond heart yearns for
thee.

When tired of all excitement, and glam’rous worldly care,

How sweet they shores to reach, and find a welcome there.

And when comes on the season, of peace, goodwill to man,

Tis then I love thee best of all, Beloved Isle Cayman.

verdant island, set in blue Caribbean Sea,

I’m coming, coming very soon, O beauteous isle to thee.

Although I wandered far, my heart enshrines thee yet

Homeland fair Cayman Isle, I cannot thee forget.

Away from noise of cities, their fret and carking care,

With moonbeams’ soft caresses, unchecked by garish glare,

Thy fruit with