Time for an English National Anthem?

[Gromit]

The Welsh have an official national anthem, and the Scots sing Flower of Scotland at football and rugby matches, but the English are stuck with the the anthem for the United Kingdom.

At the Commonwealth Games, Jerusalem will be played for English medal winners.

Should that be extended to England Football and Rugby matches, or should it stay as it is?

http://news.bbc.co.uk...politics/10407937.stm

[Gromit]

Personally, I have always found "God save the Queen" dirgey and down tempo. Jerusalem is far more rousing and uplifting.

[Gromit]

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

[rowanwitch]

We sing land of hope and glory after the national anthem at england rugby matches... Personally I prefer 'I vow to thee my country '

[joeluke]

A great idea, far more moving and uplifting than the national anthem

Plus Wayne Rooney might actually join in with this one

[Kromovaracun]

I always thought 'Jerusalem' was the English 'anthem'....

And I agree, it's awesome.

[McMouse]

Sorry Gromit I don't want Jerusalem built here. Anyway, it wouldn't get planning approval in greenbelt land.

[AB Editor]

Interesting idea. Quite like Jerusalem - comparatively rousing.

God Save the Queen is a bit like kids saying morning to the head-master in assembly "Goooood Moooornning Mr. ..."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bc47Wcso3hU

[Dris]

I agree -little wonder us Scots dont recognise it apart from the fact its a dirge:

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

Jerusalem is very uplifting !!

[China Doll]

I still say national anthem should be 'vindaloo'...

[Bobbisox]

ha-ha go Dris pet !
Bobbs xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx♥

[Dris]

Bet the Ed wishes he could crush rebellious Scots ;)

[Bobbisox]

thaen half of the Abers on here would go Dris...lol
no fanks!

[Dris]

Nice one Geordie :) xxx

[ttfn]

Jerusalem for Sports? I can see the connection for walking, archery, javelin and fencing but I don't remember chariot racing and shepherding being on the list

[Bobbisox]

ED would start with the Scots and move South in a crushing rebellion Dris, maybe stop at the Watford Gap...ha-ha

[OrcadianOil]

Dris beat me to it with her quotation of that verse about Marshal Wade, which the English prefer to pretend doesn't exist. Well, it does exist, and it goes to prove that England does indeed already have a national anthem, which is: "God Save The Queen". How many do they need?

[Bobbisox]

I had never heard of it Orc...and I am English, but I must plead ignorance here..lol

[OrcadianOil]

Bobbi,
Don't worry about it, kid, it was penned around 1745 during the Jacobite uprising - slightly before our time, eh?

[Bobbisox]

ha-ha no wonder then...
btw I aint a Royalist at all....ha-ha

[rowanwitch]

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.
I heard my country calling, away across the sea,
Across the waste of waters she calls and calls to me.
Her sword is girded at her side, her helmet on her head,
And round her feet are lying the dying and the dead.
I hear the noise of battle, the thunder of her guns,
I haste to thee my mother, a son among thy sons.
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.

Especially touching as we lose our dearest and best in Afghanistan