New English National Anthem

[King Nuts]

Deutschland, Deutschland uber alles was NOT in the original hymn    .

Those lyrics became part of the first version of the German national anthem, and then after WW2 they were removed for obvious reasons.

Oh. So do you mean the Dead Kennedys WEREN'T in there first, with 'California Uber Alles'?

[King Nuts]

Got to be Billy Bragg's grand old A New England.

Billy himself mentions this here: External Link/Members Only

His preference is 'Jerusalem'.

I'm a big fan of Billy's songs. He's an incredible lyricist. Politically, he's miles away from me, but he's always struck me as a very decent guy, and and I met him a while back and that got confirmed. Top man.

[Ali Katt]

  A national anthem should represent its people:
External Link/Members Only

[mr.bluesky]

The Aussies had a vote on it, and went with the execrable 'Advance Australia Fair'.

I think the alternative was Rolf Harris singing " tie me kangaroo down sport " 

[willie loman]

You actually have an excellent anthem already, it lingers in the mind more than any of the truly daft anthems you hear from the opposing teams, people know some of the words, I want Scotland to have an updated anthem to reflect our reality, to the tune of Scotland the brave, "Land of the deep fried pizza, land of the methadone programme , land of the absentee father, Scotland the brave. etc

[ulstersubbie]

I want Scotland to have an updated anthem to reflect our reality, to the tune of Scotland the brave, "Land of the deep fried pizza, land of the methadone programme , land of the absentee father, Scotland the brave. etc

It's time you moved out of Possilpark pal!   

[Happylad]

You actually have an excellent anthem already, it lingers in the mind more than any of the truly daft anthems you hear from the opposing teams, people know some of the words, I want Scotland to have an updated anthem to reflect our reality, to the tune of Scotland the brave, "Land of the deep fried pizza, land of the methadone programme , land of the absentee father, Scotland the brave. etc

I thought ir was the deep fried Mars Bar

[Blackpool Rock]

I thought ir was the deep fried Mars Bar

Anything so long as it's not fruit & veg 

[Thephoenix]

Thought I'd resurrect this as I'd mentioned it on The Euro's thread.

So depressing listening to the Scottish and Welsh national anthems sung with such pride and fervour, then our dirge starts up.
I wonder how many are miming?
They can't all be royalists surely?

[winkywanky]

Jerusalem is what we need as an English National Anthem. Rousing, emotional, evocative, and off the top of my head, not even any references to our colonial past?

It does seem faintly ridiculous that whenever there is an English team playing some other nation at sport - especially when another UK nation - that they play their own anthem, yet England only has the anthem for all four nations (which includes them). It's almost as if we wish they'd win, to teach us a lesson for being English  . It's a classic example of we're afraid to be English, when every other nation is 'allowed'/proud to be themselves.

Back to Jerusalem, for me it has to be up there with the Russian anthem. I hate to admit it because I hate what Russia 'is' with Putin in charge, but it's about the only anthem which brings a tear to my eye. Jerusalem is similar for me. Gets me right in the ribcage every time.

[PepeMAGA]

I know the original is derogatory, but a rewrite of Elton John's made in England?
catchy tune, rousing chorus

[Blackpool Rock]

I know the original is derogatory, but a rewrite of Elton John's made in England?
catchy tune, rousing chorus

I know there's reference to a Ford Cortina in it but most of the words refer to America 

I was made in England out of Cadillac muscle
I had a quit-me father, had a love-me mother
I had Little Richard and that black piano
Oh that sweet Georgia Peach and the boy from Tupelo

[Gordon Bennett]

Jerusalem is what we need as an English National Anthem. Rousing, emotional, evocative, and off the top of my head, not even any references to our colonial past?

It does seem faintly ridiculous that whenever there is an English team playing some other nation at sport - especially when another UK nation - that they play their own anthem, yet England only has the anthem for all four nations (which includes them). It's almost as if we wish they'd win, to teach us a lesson for being English  . It's a classic example of we're afraid to be English, when every other nation is 'allowed'/proud to be themselves.

Back to Jerusalem, for me it has to be up there with the Russian anthem. I hate to admit it because I hate what Russia 'is' with Putin in charge, but it's about the only anthem which brings a tear to my eye. Jerusalem is similar for me. Gets me right in the ribcage every time.

I believe there is something "off" with either the writer or composer that would result in them being cancelled nowadays thus rendering all their output to be banned.

Probably better to have an anthem with no words, can't really offend anyone then. Maybe the theme music from The Sweeney or Corrie?

[Aldebaran]

"a 2006 survey conducted by the BBC suggested that 55% of the English public would rather have "Land of Hope and Glory" than "God Save the Queen" as their national anthem."

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Considering the present restrictions, and the fact that they seem to be endless, "Mother of the free" might seem a bit inaccurate. Also "who are born of thee" might not go down too well with the immigrant percentage.

[Aldebaran]

Jerusalem is what we need as an English National Anthem. Rousing, emotional, evocative, and off the top of my head, not even any references to our colonial past?

It does seem faintly ridiculous that whenever there is an English team playing some other nation at sport - especially when another UK nation - that they play their own anthem, yet England only has the anthem for all four nations (which includes them). It's almost as if we wish they'd win, to teach us a lesson for being English  . It's a classic example of we're afraid to be English, when every other nation is 'allowed'/proud to be themselves.

Back to Jerusalem, for me it has to be up there with the Russian anthem. I hate to admit it because I hate what Russia 'is' with Putin in charge, but it's about the only anthem which brings a tear to my eye. Jerusalem is similar for me. Gets me right in the ribcage every time.

You obviously fail to understand Blake's poem turned hymn. It wasn't meant as a glorification of England, quite the opposite, it was Blake raging against the conditions of the time. The "dark satanic mills" and his call to arms are Blake expressing his anger at the horrendous working conditions in the factories, the slum housing, the squalor and poverty he saw all around him. The Jerusalem Blake wants to build is a euphemism for a utopia, a country where the love of God and his fellow man is the rule, not greed and class bigotry. Blake is asking in despair how an England in which the Son of God may have once actually set foot could have descended into such a vile place as he sees in the towns and cities of the industrial revolution, and calling for a moral revolution to reverse the decline.

This is not a religious post BTW, I'm a total atheist, just explaining the meaning behind Blake's imagery.

[Watts.E.Dunn]

Her yer go, shape of things to come that have once been;!!


God save great CHARLES  our king,
Long live our noble king.
God save the king.
Send him victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us.
God save the king.

O Lord, our God arise,
Scatter his enemies,
And make them fall;
Confound their politics,
Frustrate their knavish tricks,
On him our hopes we fix,
O save us all.

Thy choicest gifts in store
On Charles be pleas’d to pour,
Long may he reign:
May he defend our laws,
And ever give us cause,
To say with heart and voice
God save the king.

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!



There sorted:)..

[scutty brown]

How about the Agincourt Carol?
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External Link/Members Only


Deo gratias Anglia redde pro victoria!
[Give thanks, England, to God for victory!]
Owre Kynge went forth to Normandy
With grace and myght of chyvalry
Ther God for hym wrought mervelusly;
Wherefore Englonde may call and cry}}
Chorus
Deo gratias!
Deo gratias Anglia redde pro victoria!
He sette sege, forsothe to say,
To Harflu towne with ryal aray;
That toune he wan and made afray
That Fraunce shal rewe tyl domesday.
Chorus
Then went hym forth, owre king comely,
In Agincourt feld he faught manly;
Throw grace of God most marvelously,
He had both feld and victory.
Chorus
Ther lordys, erles and barone
Were slayne and taken and that full soon,
Ans summe were broght into Lundone
With joye and blisse and gret renone.
Chorus
Almighty God he keep owre kynge,
His people, and alle his well-wyllynge,
And give them grace wythoute endyng;
Then may we call and savely syng:
Chorus[5]

[JontyR]

Two great anthems before the match this afternoon which are well known to any sports fan.

For Wales "Land of my Fathers", for Italy "Pom Pompy Pom"

Personally, yes I think that we should have a specific English anthem for events such as this. If for no other reason that there are teams - such as the Lions - that would rightly use GSTQ.

Not Jerusalem though, as has been pointed out in the past it starts off by asking four questions to which the answer is a resounding "no.". Although I do like the fact that at the time that Blake's view would have been considered dangerously liberal, indeed maybe even "woke"

Land of Hope and Glory for me although it should be noted that Elgar in his own lifetime did become increasingly unfashionable, pretty much rehabilitated after his death. The only other composer that actually invokes Britishness in the same way for me is Eric Coates. You may not know the name, but you will recognise so many of his tunes.

Like some others on this thread I am a fan of the Russian Anthem, which was the Soviet Anthem, but was "rehabilitated" after being out of use for best part of a decade.

[daviemac]

Two great anthems before the match this afternoon which are well known to any sports fan.

A few years ago during some tournament or other there were a couple of members who said they thought it was terrible that the Spanish players weren't singing their national anthem while it was being played.      

[Aldebaran]

One that's not been mentioned yet, but more eligible than Land of Hope and Glory, which smacks of imperialism, or Jerusalem, which is too religious. I think it was originally a Vera Lynn song.

                     "Rose Of England"

Rose of England, thou shalt fade not here
Proud and bright from rolling year to year
Red shall thy petals be as rich wine untold
Shed by thy warriors who served thee of old

Rose of England, breathing England's air
Flower of Chivalry beyond compare
While hand and heart endure to cherish thy prime
Thou shalt blossom to the end of Time

Rose of England, thou shalt fade not here
Proud and bright from rolling year to year
Red shall thy petals be as rich wine untold
Shed by thy warriors who served thee of old

Rose of England, breathing England's air
Flower of liberty beyond compare
While hand and heart endure to cherish thy prime
Thou shalt blossom to the end of Time

[lostandfound]

Got to be Jerusalem. Just a beautiful piece of music.

[Blackpool Rock]

Got to be Jerusalem. Just a beautiful piece of music.

I like Jerusalem but a few on here who don't like it for whatever reason and no doubt other suggestions such as Rule Britannia would be deemed too offensive a link to our old colonial past etc etc but I do think as a seafaring nation we should have something Nautical, how about this to sum up our standing in the world   

  External Link/Members Only

[Thephoenix]

I Vow To Thee My Country always does it for me.

[scutty brown]

I Vow To Thee My Country always does it for me.

Too Christian for modern tastes

[scutty brown]

how about "Heart of Oak"?

External Link/Members Only

[winkywanky]

I believe there is something "off" with either the writer or composer that would result in them being cancelled nowadays thus rendering all their output to be banned.

Probably better to have an anthem with no words, can't really offend anyone then. Maybe the theme music from The Sweeney or Corrie?

How about cancelling the cancel?

I like your Sweeney idea though, and if England were to lose, then afterwards the credits version could be played which is somewhat subdued (thoughtful oboe rather than the driving beat and stomping sax of the titles sequence)  .

[winkywanky]

One that's not been mentioned yet, but more eligible than Land of Hope and Glory, which smacks of imperialism, or Jerusalem, which is too religious. I think it was originally a Vera Lynn song.

                     "Rose Of England"

Rose of England, thou shalt fade not here
Proud and bright from rolling year to year
Red shall thy petals be as rich wine untold
Shed by thy warriors who served thee of old

Rose of England, breathing England's air
Flower of Chivalry beyond compare
While hand and heart endure to cherish thy prime
Thou shalt blossom to the end of Time

Rose of England, thou shalt fade not here
Proud and bright from rolling year to year
Red shall thy petals be as rich wine untold
Shed by thy warriors who served thee of old

Rose of England, breathing England's air
Flower of liberty beyond compare
While hand and heart endure to cherish thy prime
Thou shalt blossom to the end of Time

Too much like bloody O' Flooer 'a Scotland    (apols to our Scottish UKP Brethren  ).

[lostandfound]

I like Jerusalem but a few on here who don't like it for whatever reason and no doubt other suggestions such as Rule Britannia would be deemed too offensive a link to our old colonial past etc etc but I do think as a seafaring nation we should have something Nautical, how about this to sum up our standing in the world   

  External Link/Members Only

The associations that others make do not bother me to be honest. Jerusalem was just an excuse for a fine wordsmith to exhibit his craft in a way that was appropriate in his time IMO.

[Watts.E.Dunn]

Perhaps Gawd save the Queen isnt that bad then, most everying else has got connatations of war and military..

Maybe the orignal Thomas Arne arrangment could do with  updating? perhaps Stormzy could look at it?..

Or that other Arne singalong Rule Britainia could be made more useable?...

[Matrix]

How about;

"I've got an English granny, two big tit's and a hairy fanny"

Sung to the tune of Scotland the brave?

[catweazle]

How's about

"The self-preservation society"

From the (original and best) Italian Job.

[mikecee]

Red, white and blue by Judas Priest.

[The0neAnd0nly]

Get this playing before a England match (the full version mind no edits) as our new national anthem and it can be the new Haka. Watch the players show a bit of passion then!!

External Link/Members Only

[Romeo Sensini]

If not Jerusalem then it has to be Vindaloo by Fat Les. I could get behind that.

[chrishornx]

Personally, yes I think that we should have a specific English anthem for events such as this. If for no other reason that there are teams - such as the Lions - that would rightly use GSTQ.

not convinced the Irish contingent would agree with that

[Blackpool Rock]

If not Jerusalem then it has to be Vindaloo by Fat Les. I could get behind that.

Vindaloo or Vindaloo 2 
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[JontyR]

not convinced the Irish contingent would agree with that

Good point, well made. The Olympic squad then - although this is called TeamGB rather than TeamUK.

[winkywanky]

How about;

"I've got an English granny, two big tit's and a hairy fanny"

Sung to the tune of Scotland the brave?

That might prove somewhat troublesome should there be another Indyref soon 

[Count Duckula]

sung by a convict but this certainly ticks the box about the song representing the country

External Link/Members Only

anyhow Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau suits me just fine so I will stick with that

[chrishornx]

Good point, well made. The Olympic squad then - although this is called TeamGB rather than TeamUK.

it is correctly called Team GB and Northern Ireland

[JontyR]

it is correctly called Team GB and Northern Ireland

Well you'd never guess to look from their website. External Link/Members Only

[mr.bluesky]

The music from the Benny Hill show ( where he's chasing the scantily clad women) 
or the theme tune for Monty Pythons flying circus

[scutty brown]

Good point, well made. The Olympic squad then - although this is called TeamGB rather than TeamUK.

Not TeamUK because it includes people from the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands - which aren't in the UK

[Bonker]

How about...
You get our hopes up
Our expectations rise
We forget the past
And then you lose
We fall flat
And then get pissed
Vow never to be fooled again.

(need to work on the rhyme, the rhythm and think of a tune).

[Stevelondon]

I shall go against everyone and say stick with "God Save the Queen"


Only sing it even slower so the opposition eoither fall asleep or get so pissed off and bored it puts them off their game.


Jeez........its like listening to a feckin funeral march sometimes.
I doubt it will ever be changed. The old fogeys and old school tie network will keep it in place.
Which is very strange as i think if there were ever a vote for a change....it would go through.

But what for ?

[radioman33]

The Italian national anthem is the one,it’s just better than the rest.Watching our one you see it’s not uplifting in any way.

[mr.bluesky]

The Italian national anthem is the one,it’s just better than the rest.Watching our one you see it’s not uplifting in any way.

The Italian national anthem goes on forever.  When they play it on the winners podium after a f1 grand prix it lasts longer than the race 

[Kerosene]

It's purely a Biblical reference, as you probably realise. The words are 100% about England.

As for the melody, I would argue there's few other national anthems that are even half as rousing and passionate.

My absolute fave is Russia's, it brings a tear to my eye. But then again, so does Putin  .

I'd say that The Marseillaise is one which is more rousing and passionate. But I'd settle for Jerusalem.

[scutty brown]

I'd say that The Marseillaise is one which is more rousing and passionate.....

Such inspiring words:

Lyrics:
A Frenchman went to the lavatory,
To have a jolly good old shit, (shit!, shit!)
He took his coat and his trousers off,
So that he could revel in it, (it!, it!)
But when he reached for the paper,
He found that someone had been there before,

Ou est le papier?
Ou est le papier?
Monsieur, monsieur, je fait manure.

Ou est le papier?”

[winkywanky]

I'd say that The Marseillaise is one which is more rousing and passionate. But I'd settle for Jerusalem.

Yes, but think of all the decapitation that goes with it. It's too...Gallic. I just think of whiney, whingey, stroppy short people when I hear it, be that Napoleon or Macron.

The Marseillaise has passion, but it has a strident tone which could never be English.

Jerusalem has that understated English passion, evocative of our rolling countryside, even as much as The Lark Ascending IMO. It is a deep longing, resolute yet softly spoken.

I dunno, I just think over the years we got invaded variously by Rome, Denmark, Norway, France, and somehow we seem to have distilled the best of all that?

If you really want to talk about passion, and a national anthem which gets me right there, it has to be the Russian anthem.Truly magnificent. Just a bit of a shame that they've had such a bunch of cunts running the show over the last few decades, not least of which that stroppy, Botoxed-up twat currently in power.