I've never understood, or liked that song. Why would we want to make England into Jerusalem? Anyhoo, yeah, happy St Georges day!
30th anniversary of the ZX Spectrum today too, learnt to type and become addicted to computer games on that little plastic tray!
I'm not sure I fancy such and overtly religious song as a National Anthem, I'd rather we just stuck with our usual one about invading people...
"And did those feet in ancient time, Walk upon England's mountain green?" Well St George's didnt, he never even set foot in England! How rubbish a patron saint is that - someone who never came here, isnt from here and is patron saint to dozens of countries and cities. Surely we deserve our own figurehead.
Do many Countries have that? Ireland, Scotland and Wales don't for a kick off. It's not where they're from, but what they symbolise. Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more; Or close the wall up with our English dead. In peace there's nothing so becomes a man As modest stillness and humility: But when the blast of war blows in our ears, Then imitate the action of the tiger; Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood, Disguise fair nature with hard-favour'd rage; Then lend the eye a terrible aspect; Let pry through the portage of the head Like the brass cannon; let the brow o'erwhelm it As fearfully as doth a galled rock O'erhang and jutty his confounded base, Swill'd with the wild and wasteful ocean. Now set the teeth and stretch the nostril wide, Hold hard the breath and bend up every spirit To his full height. On, on, you noblest English. Whose blood is fet from fathers of war-proof! Fathers that, like so many Alexanders, Have in these parts from morn till even fought And sheathed their swords for lack of argument: Dishonour not your mothers; now attest That those whom you call'd fathers did beget you. Be copy now to men of grosser blood, And teach them how to war. And you, good yeoman, Whose limbs were made in England, show us here The mettle of your pasture; let us swear That you are worth your breeding; which I doubt not; For there is none of you so mean and base, That hath not noble lustre in your eyes. I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips, Straining upon the start. The game's afoot: Follow your spirit, and upon this charge Cry 'God for Harry, England, and Saint George!'
Though I'm one of St John of Beverley's biggest fans and have been ever since I discovered him about twenty minutes ago, I think the fact that we adopted the flag of St George as our national flag some 500 years ago, probably makes it a bit late to be changing things now.
