The book covers the history of Singapore National songs, starting with the search for folk songs that could be considered a National song. It follows the history of Majulah Singapura written by Zubir Said, which was officially adopted as Singapore's national anthem in 1959.

The book traces the first three official National Day Parade songs written by Hugh Harrison in 1985 to 1987.

This was followed by the Sing Singapore competition which gave rise to Dick Lee's winning song, Home.

The book follows all Singapore National Day Parade songs from 1985 to the present, and it highlights notable personalities involved in the writing and production of Singapore National songs.

The year 2025 is the 60th Anniversary of Singapore's Independence as well as the 40th Anniversary of National Day Parade songs. Both are celebrated by the publication of this book.

Contents: Home, Truly: A History of Singapore National Songs; Foreword; Preface; About Kenneth Lyen; Why do We Need National Songs?; Folk Songs; Majulah Singapura; Singapore Songs of the 1980s; Sing Singapore; National Day Songs 1988; National Day Songs 21st Century 2000s; Notable Personalities; The Future; Appendix: List of National Day Songs and Links to Videos; Index;

Readership: General public, secondary and JC school students.

Key Features:

It is the first and only book available on the history of Singapore National songs
It explores the importance of National songs in the promotion of peace and cooperation in a multicultural multiethnic and multilingual society
It celebrates the 60th Anniversary of Singapore's independence as well as the 40th Anniversary of National Day songs

About the Author:

Dr Kenneth Lyen is a paediatrician, writer, and composer involved in special education. He graduated from Oxford University Medical School before undertaking specialist paediatric training at the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London, and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Upon his return to Singapore, he was appointed as a senior lecturer and consultant at the National University of Singapore.
 

Besides clinical work, he has been involved in special education. He was on the board of management of the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS) which held its meetings at the Lee Kong Chian Garden School. He also founded three schools under the Rainbow Centre which helps disabled and autistic children, namely the Rainbow Centre at Margaret Drive (1987), Yishun Park (1995), and Woodlands (2018). He is grateful to the Lee Foundation for supporting these special schools. For his work with disabled children, Kenneth received the Public Service Medal in 1997 and the Public Service Star in 2022.
 

Dr Lyen has co-authored over 16 books on a variety of topics, including paediatrics, parenting, creativity, education, and musical theatre. He has published original research papers on paediatric endocrinology, neurology, and infectious diseases, and medical review articles. He has previously served on the editorial board of the Singapore Medical Journal, Motherhood, and Young Families. He has composed music for 33 musicals that have been staged in Singapore.