Time to change the national anthem?

[Gravity Aided]

I believe Jerusalem was the preface to a poem about John Milton, perhaps written in that context. Sort of says a lot about the British Spirit that so many people of such disparate beliefs made this work what is today.

 

[mjr]

I love the idea of our anthem being called "Tha'ss a lot o' squit", it opens "'Twas on a Monday night when I was on my bike..." and includes telling tall tales, WW2 and that quintessential English experience of being stopped by the police for riding without a light. What more could you want?

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiE_Q1RJ7yk

Oh and Youtube's automatic subtitling is hilarious.

 

[Hankydoodle]

I think god save the queen is a good song , but Anarchy in the UK and Pretty Vacant are better.

 

[srw]

Very fine melody line, even if the lyrics get a little precious after the second verse.

I'd never come across that - I'll see if I can get it onto the radio. Eric Fenby is only really known for having written (down) most of Delius's music.

Getting rather off topic, but it's approaching the season - I'll raise you....

 

[Gravity Aided]

Eric Fenby wrote a slow march, Lion Limb, a Magnificat, and a couple of Aquarelles. That's all I'm aware of, anyway.

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

Jerusalem gets my vote

MPs to vote on national anthem for England
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-35296296

 

[Gravity Aided]

Might give Charles H.H. Parry the attention his works deserve, to an international audience. Many other excellent works by him, as well.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Might give Charles H.H. Parry the attention his works deserve, to an international audience. Many other excellent works by him, as well.

Well I was glad ....

 

[Fab Foodie]

Jerusalem gets my vote

MPs to vote on national anthem for England
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-35296296

Mine too.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Well I was glad ....

 

[byegad]

As a devout Atheist I have difficulty with the present anthem and any other religious songs. I sing the present anthem, but with little enthusiasm and no belief in the words whatsoever.

Replacing it with Jerusalem seems a crass retrograde step for a multi beliefs country like England. Now if we sang the first couple of verses of this...

Come, cheer up, my lads, 'tis to glory we steer,
To add something more to this wonderful year;
To honour we call you, as freemen not slaves,
For who are so free as the sons of the waves?

Chorus:
Heart of Oak are our ships,
Jolly Tars are our men,
We always are ready: Steady, boys, Steady!
We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again.

We ne'er see our foes but we wish them to stay,
They never see us but they wish us away;
If they run, why we follow, and run them ashore,
For if they won't fight us, what can we do more?

Chorus:
Heart of Oak are our ships,
Jolly Tars are our men,
We always are ready: Steady, boys, Steady!
We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again.

I'd go for this as its not exclusive to our fellow UK nations, but has a rousing tune and no reference, in these verses, of imaginary friends.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Mine too.

I can only advise staying away from Anachreon in Heaven. Too difficult, too obscure.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Of course, that wasn't our National Anthem until 1931, Hail Columbia The Gem of the Ocean, and My Country, Tis of Thee being other major contenders at state occasions and baseball games.

 

[Gravity Aided]

I can only advise staying away from Anachreon in Heaven. Too difficult, too obscure.

Oh, and the whole references to British incursions and the like.

 

[mybike]

There can be, I'm afraid, no argument.