England, My England

[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'............................?

[Frank63]

What's wrong with God Save the Queen

[dremble wedge]

name='Frank63']What's wrong with God Save the Queen

It's a tuneless dirge.



Jerusalem would be much better.



Actually anything would be much better...

[Harleybloke]

name='Frank63']What's wrong with God Save the Queen

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

[SirOllyBolly]

The Welsh anthem is truly beautiful and rousing...



Gwlad!, Gwlad!

[Harleybloke]

name='SirOllyBolly']The Welsh anthem is truly beautiful and rousing...



Gwlad!, Gwlad!

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

[Steve Crook]

name='dremble wedge;163061]

name='Frank63'']What's wrong with God Save the Queen

It's a tuneless dirge.



Jerusalem would be much better.



Actually anything would be much better...

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]

name='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

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

[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]

name='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.

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

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.

Stick to Jerusalem. Everyone knows the words to that



Steve

[Frank63]

How about the Danbusters March then

[funlover]

name='Steve Crook'] Stick to Jerusalem. Everyone knows the words to that Steve

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

[Steve Crook]

name='Frank63']How about the Danbusters March then

It's hard to sing along to

Dah dah dah dah da-dah dah dah



Steve

[CaptainWaggett]

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

Seriously? Jerusalem

[Steve Crook]

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

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 these dark Satanic Mills?



Bring me my Bow of burning gold;

Bring me my Arrows of desire:

Bring me my Spear: O clouds unfold:

Bring me my Chariot of fire!

I will not cease from Mental Fight,

Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,

Till we have built Jerusalem,

In England’s green & pleasant Land.



It is sung every year by an audience of thousands at the end of the Last Night of the Proms in the Royal Albert Hall and simultaneously in the Proms in the Park venues throughout the country.



During the 1920s, many Women's Institutes started closing meetings by singing Hubert Parry's setting of William Blake's words And did those feet in ancient time, known as "Jerusalem", and this caught on nationally. Although it has never actually been adopted as the WI's official anthem, in practice it holds that position.



It is traditionally sung before the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final, along with Abide with Me.



Since 2004 it has been the anthem of the England cricket team and is regularly sung by rugby union crowds.



Steve

[dremble wedge]

name='Steve Crook'] It is sung every year by an audience of thousands at the end of the Last Night of the Proms in the Royal Albert Hall and simultaneously in the Proms in the Park venues throughout the country.



It is traditionally sung before the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final, along with Abide with Me.



Since 2004 it has been the anthem of the England cricket team and is regularly sung by rugby union crowds.

And by me when I've had too much gin...

[funlover]

name='CaptainWaggett']Seriously? Jerusalem

Just read that. What a load of tosh. If that is supposed to inspire I'd rather stick to GSTQ. We don't need that religious crap as a national hymn but one that motivates ALL people in England.

[Harleybloke]

name='funlover']Just read that. What a load of tosh. If that is supposed to inspire I'd rather stick to GSTQ. We don't need that religious crap as a national hymn but one that motivates ALL people in England.

In that case, motivate?



Money by Pink Floyd.

[funlover]

I wish I knew how. But Jerusalem would be totally unaccepatble in todays multi-ethnic multi-cultural socio-politico climate. It being too establishment, elitist, upper crust, public school oriented. It is would also be regarded as "too Christian"