Total Defence Songs
Public
Preschool
Primary school
Secondary school & above
The Total Defence song "There's a Part for Everyone" was written in 1984 by Gerald Png, along with the introduction of Total Defence in Singapore.
In 2016, MINDEF refreshed the song by updating the lyrics and music arrangement, while retaining that familiar, nostalgic tune. The song was rearranged and performed by home grown band QuickPick.
A music video featuring the Total Defence song was released online by Minister for Defence on 10 February 2016.
There is also a 360° version of the music video, which shows viewers what happens in every direction - not just where the camera appears to be pointing. This symbolises the all-round nature of Total Defence.
The lyrics were updated by Gareth Fernandez and Judith d'Silva.
There’s A Part For Everyone (2016 version)
There's a part for everyone, in this land where we belong
There's a part for one and all, to keep our nation strong
Many things that we can do, to help defend our land
Let us all do what we can, together hand in hand
Put your heart, your mind, your will to our defence Put your heart, your mind, your will to our defence
If we all unite as one, we can defend our Singapore
With our heart, our mind, our will forever more
What we have is worth defending
With a love that's never failing
Always ready, strong and steady
Let's heed the call, come one and all
There's a part for everyone, in this land where we belong
We can do it, you and I, we'll keep our nation strong
Put your heart, your mind, your will to our defence
Put your heart, your mind, your will to our defence
If we all unite as one, we can defend our Singapore
With our heart, our mind, our will forever more
Put your heart, your mind, your will to our defence
Put your heart, your mind, your will to our defence
If we all unite as one, we can defend our Singapore
With our heart, our mind, our will forever more
Put your heart, your mind, your will to our defence
Put your heart, your mind, your will to our defence
If we all unite as one, we can defend our Singapore
With our heart, our mind, our will forever more
With our heart, our mind, our will forever more
Carry Forth the Fire
In commemoration of 40 years of Total Defence in 2024, the Total Defence song was refreshed with “Carry Forth the Fire” – a winning song from a competition, organised by The Songwriter Music College and Nexus, written by AEONA. An evergreen version of the song was produced in 2025.
Carry Forth the Fire (2025 version)
(There’s a part for everyone)
There’s a part for everyone, in this land where we belong
Let’s heed the call, come one and all, you and I, we’ll keep our nation strong
Rise
And rise up high
Let us unite
We’re gonna fight
We’ll sing
And sing with pride
The fire ignites
Our time to shine
So Singapore unite, this is our home, defend with pride
With raging hearts of lions, you know there’s nothing we can’t fight
So Singapore unite, this is our home, defend with pride
For our future, our light, we’ll carry forth the fire
Ooh
We’ll carry forth the fire
Hey... we've come so far, shoutout to ‘84, yea we’re still going strong, we’ll be alright
Dear Singapore, 6 pillars’ got us all, they’re working round the clock, to heed the nation’s call
It’s time for our generation, take charge, protect our land
Like Mum and Dad and Gramps have done their part to build this city
This city’s full of love, this city’s full of joy
We’re hearts of lions, yea let’s do this hand-in-hand, it’s time to
(There’s a part for everyone) We’ll carry forth the fire
(There’s a part for everyone) We’ll carry forth the fire