funlover

Seeing as there are some of us who are pro St Edmund I wonder how many would like to see that dirge called a national anthem we have chucked out and replaced. My own choice would be "I vow to thee my country"

I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above,
Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love;
The love that asks no question, the love that stands the test,
That lays upon the altar the dearest and the best;
The love that never falters, the love that pays the price,
The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.
And there's another country, I've heard of long ago,
Most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know;
We may not count her armies, we may not see her King;
Her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering;
And soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase,
And her ways are ways of gentleness, and all her paths are peace.

Incidentally there is a stirring stanza entitled "England, England of my forbears" but as it is set to the melody of "Deutschland Uber Alles" I don't think it will catch on. I know it begins >

# England, England of my forbears,
land that raised an nurtured me,
from your hills unto your shore there's,
love of life and liberty#

I forget the rest

Harleybloke

I think it's time to find an English anthem for when England gets it's independance. The Welsh, Irish & Scots all use their own anthems so why not the English?

Maybe 'Vinderloo'............................?

.....You couldn't hear it, if they were shooting at me with howitzers!

Frank63

What's wrong with God Save the Queen

" I never forget a face, but in your case I'll make an exception" Groucho Marx

dremble wedge

It's a tuneless dirge.

Jerusalem would be much better.

Actually anything would be much better...

Harleybloke

Frank, it isn't English...............................it's 'British' that's why Sweatys and the Taffs don't use it....................

.....You couldn't hear it, if they were shooting at me with howitzers!

SirOllyBolly

The Welsh anthem is truly beautiful and rousing...

Gwlad!, Gwlad!

SirOllyBolly

"What fresh lunacy is this?"

Harleybloke

I know! You tell me that doesn't inspire their Sportsmen!

.....You couldn't hear it, if they were shooting at me with howitzers!

Steve Crook

Billy Connoly suggested that the theme tune for The Archers would be better as the anthem for the UK. It' much more jaunty.
Dum-di-dum-di-dum-di-dum-di-dum

Steve

Harleybloke

He's a 'Sleeper' planted here by The Scottish Republican Army'..............

.....You couldn't hear it, if they were shooting at me with howitzers!

funlover

Yes I must agree that the Welsh anthem really does pluck at the emotions.To hear a rugby crowd in full voice at Cardiff Arms Park is one of those truly spirit lifting moments even though I am English.

We need a good lively tune for an English anthem. The yanks have that circus theme "The Star spangled banner" Other nations have equally loud and fast tunes but Enland has a funeral march. I have been listening to such lively melodies on the net and think that new words set to the melody of "Imperial Echoes" would fill the bill.

Steve Crook

As they showed in the last match of the six nations against France.
France only had 15 men on the pitch. The Welsh had 70,000 voices in the stands to urge on those 15 men on the pitch

Stick to Jerusalem. Everyone knows the words to that

Steve

Frank63

How about the Danbusters March then

" I never forget a face, but in your case I'll make an exception" Groucho Marx

funlover

Do they? I don't, and what's Jerusalem got to do with England?

Steve Crook

It's hard to sing along to
Dah dah dah dah da-dah dah dah

Steve

CaptainWaggett

Seriously? Jerusalem