England To Get Their Own National Anthem

1. 60

   kephriraposted 14 years ago

   Aparrantly the Scots don't like England using the British national anthem in sporting events like the world cup. They stopped using it for the Scottish team a few years ago, replacing it with a Scottish national anthem, and now some English people are also calling for us to get our own national anthem.
   
   According to the daily politics on BBC today an online poll has put 'Jerusalem' as the front runner. Here's the lyrics:
   
   And did those feet in ancient time
   Walk upon England's mountains green
   And was the holy lamb of God
   On England's pleasant pastures seen
   
   And did the countenance divine
   Shine forth upon our clouded hills
   And was Jerusalem builded here
   Among those dark Satanic mills
   
   Bring me my bow of burning gold
   Bring me my arrows of desire
   Bring me my spears o'clouds unfold
   Bring me my chariot of fire
   
   I will not cease from mental fight
   Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand
   'Til we have built Jerusalem
   In England's green and pleasant land
   'Til we have built Jerusalem
   In England's green and pleasant land
   
   What do you think about an English national anthem, and about using this song?

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   1. 0

      selrachposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I class myself as Scottish and British.I think England should have their own anthem to celebrate being English.I don,t have any problem if they prefer using the national anthem but think it should only be used for what it is the British national anthem.

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      1. 60

         kephriraposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         thanks selrach, I see where you are coming from, but I guess I feel a bit like we used to be British first, and then Scottish, English, Welsh and Northern Irish. Bbut now the Scots and Welsh see it the other way around. I feel a bit sad that Britain is becoming increasingly irrelvant and that things like this make it seem more and more like there is a momentum building for us to end up going our separate ways.
         
         If we each have our own national anthem, our own parliament, and all the rest, then whats the point in Britain any more? I doubt if we will actually break up like the SNP want, but I can see a situation in 20 years time where the prime minister of Britain is like the president of Europe - someone hardly anyone knows and even fewer people care about working in a purely administrative role that doesn't really matter.

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   2. 77

      psycheskinnerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Jerusalem is a beautiful song and easy for most people to sing.  I think it would be a great choice.

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   3. 81

      SimeyCposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Being British and English I've always considered Land of Hope and Glory as an unofficial English National anthem.
      
      Although I just realized - it's the droll God Save Our Gracious Queen that causes such a dismal England performances so we need something upbeat. How about Tubthumping's "I get knocked down" - seems perfect LOL
      
      Seriously though - Land of Hope and Glory has my vote!

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2. 0

   EmpressFelicityposted 14 years ago

   It's much better than that dull dirge "God Save the Queen", so it gets my vote on that basis alone.

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3. 64

   Daniel Carterposted 14 years ago

   I listened, sang and conducted this song several times during my stay in England in the mid 70's. I quite love it. However, if this were proposed in the US, it wouldn't stand a chance with all the religious references.
   
   There has been a movement off and on to replace our own US national Anthem with "God Bless America." It's also a favorite of the people, but as usual, several small, noisy factions kill the idea quickly.
   
   It will be interesting to see where this one goes in Britain.

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4. 0

   selrachposted 14 years ago

   Going slightly off topic. I remembered this old Billy Connelly video about the national anthem.Very funny.
   
   http://www.youtube.com/results?search_q … m&aq=f

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5. 63

   CASE1WORKERposted 14 years ago

   thought it was land of hope and glory!
   however in church a little while ago we sang a hymn to the theme of the dambusters- appropriate?
   but hey our loyalty is Queen and country first so if the queen has the national anthem then that is what it is.

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6. 67

   2uesdayposted 14 years ago

   I do not think they would be able to use the song Jerusalem for an anthem now because it is a hymn and has Christian references.
   
   If nurses are not allowed to pray for patients and airport workers cannot wear crucifixes; I cannot see the change from our current anthem to a hymn taking place.

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7. 73

   Jeff Berndtposted 14 years ago

   I can see Scotland's point. England is not the UK, it's only one of several Ks that are Ued.
   
   Before Scotland created their own anthem, if England and Scotland were up against each other, would they have played God Save the Queen twice, once for England and once for Scotland?
   
   What do Wales, Cornwall, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, &c play when they compete in the World Cup or similar events?
   
   Do the various Ks in the UK have their own teams for the Olympics? Or does the UK have just one team for the whole UK?
   
   This is an interesting topic...

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8. 89

   Paragliderposted 14 years ago

   God save the Queen (King) is an old English, not British song. Verse six goes:
   
   6. Lord grant that Marshal Wade
   May by thy mighty aid
   Victory bring
   May he sedition hush
   And like a torrent rush
   Rebellious Scots to crush
   God save the King
   
   So is it likely that Scots would like it?

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