English National Anthem

[Strontium Dog]

It looks as though England may finally be getting its own official national anthem, rather than having to keep borrowing the British national anthem and reinforcing the idea that the other British nations are just English colonies.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-de ... e-35296296

Jerusalem is the hot favourite, which is fine by me because it is stirring and anthemic as much as God Save the Queen is a dreary dirge.

[pErvinalia]

You can have ours..

[cronus]

What about Ride of the Valkyrie? Should really get them Welsh and Scots going....

[Rum]

[JimC]

It won't be Jerusalem, too oriented to one religion for modern day PC sensibilities...

[Strontium Dog]

Well, it was written by William Blake, who was decidedly unfond of organised religion, which was pretty radical in those pre-Darwinist days.

Or putting it another way, it's hardly any worse than "God Save the Queen" in that regard.

[MrJonno]

Far better idea just abolish Scottish and Welsh football teams and play as a British one (and while they are it abolish devolution). We are either one country or we are not. The Scottish parliament was Blair's biggest mistake (bombing foreigners you shouldn't is unfortunate but doesn't have that much affect on the UK itself)

[Tyrannical]

We're Knights of the Round Table,
We dance when ere we're able,
We do routines and chorus scenes
With footwork impeccable.
We dine well here in Camelot,
We eat ham and jam and spam a lot.
We're Knights of the Round Table,
Our shows are formidable, But many times, we're given rhymes
That are quite unsingable.
We're Opera mad in Camelot,
We sing from the diaphragma looooooot.
In war we're tough and able,
Quite indefatigable,
Between our quests we don sequin vests,
And impersonate Clark Gable.
It's a busy life in Camelot,
I have to push the pram a lot.

[JimC]

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 spear: o clouds unfold!
Bring me my chariots 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 and pleasant land.

"Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand" - would work well for a jihadist...