The National Anthem.

I appreciate that this has been done in a similar thread by Syd, (he will be singing along to the Ghana National Anthem tonight) but i got to thinking that although I am in favour of the Royal Family (well most of them) and have served in the forces for more years than I care to remember, our National Anthem is not something that fills me with fighting spirit. In fact I find it rather tedious and boring. Now if you had a choice what would you plump for.
My own personal choice would have to be Land of Hope and Glory. Now theres a piece of music that makes you want to breathe deeply stick out your chest and fill you with that never say die spirit. For the younger posters who are not familiar with this music it makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Now whats your choice.

 

Land of hope and glory every time. I mean no harm to the Queen and hope she does indeed live a long time, but, do these words mean anything to you.

God save our gracious Queen,
Long live our noble Queen,
God save the Queen:
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us:
God save the Queen.


O Lord, our God, arise,
Scatter her enemies,
And make them fall.
Confound their politics,
Frustrate their knavish tricks,
On thee our hopes we fix:
God save the Queen.


Thy choicest gifts in store,
On her be pleased to pour;
Long may she reign:
May she defend our laws,
And ever give us cause
To sing with heart and voice
God save the Queen

From every latent foe,
From the assassins blow,
God save the Queen!
O'er her thine arm extend,
For Britain's sake defend,
Our mother, prince, and friend,
God save the Queen!

 

I actually prefer Baby Jet's 'African Girls' to the national anthem.

As an alternative to Land and Hope and Glory... Jerusalem, find that pretty stirring.

 

All I am saying Syd is that I would prefer Land of Hope and Glory. and in answer to your question YES the words do mean something to me.

 

This is the song that I have always felt would be great for our national anthem........

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.

 

As an alternative to Land and Hope and Glory... Jerusalem, find that pretty stirring.[/QUOTE]

I'd go with either ofthose two.

 

It was only because our monarchs were Germans in the 18th century that we got stuck with a GERMAN hymn tune for OUR National Anthem.
I am in agreement with Mr RAW, good stirring stuff and makes one proud to be English, and let's face it, little else does these days.

 

I actually picked Jerusalem for my wedding day hymn. Nowt to do with any particular religious beliefs, but a songthat definitely stirs the passions!
As an after thought, what a great song to make our own at the SoL!

 

Id definately go along with your suggestion about making it our tune at the SoL, how do you propose to get it started. Maybe the club could help in that respect.

 

Hmm, sticky wicket there, Lincoln. The Anglo-Saxons were north German tribes to start with. There's a little bit of German in us all. The difference is we emigrated to an island and learned about the sea. It changed us forever - we had to look outwards. (And somewhere along the line, we picked up Tommy Cooper - Hmm.)

So how about 'I do like to be beside the seaside'? It's historically and ethnically appropriate and ....

O.k., I'll go now.

 

You might have a little bit of a German in you, Cutey, but this isn't really the place to discuss it.

 

I want pics

 

You would.

 

It's time we had an original English national anthem, without all the quasi religious clap trap.
Or any mention of our resident parasites.

 

No pics, no discussion, no nothing. I've told you all, I've gone now. I'm not here. I'm somewhere else. So there. Gone. I'm not here.

 

A job for Jerseymackem, perhaps? Come on, son, let's hear from ya!

 

Hey has anyone seen cuteybuns recently?

 

Take it you are a royalist MR

 

Surely our anthem at the SoL would be The Red Flag. It should be sung when the teams line up at the start of each match.

 

Only one tune for me, can see the boys running out to it and the crowd singing along, fanfuckingtastic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E12ykihvCHk