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 Englands green & pleasant Land.
(Words by William Blake and Music by Sir Hubert Parry)
My vote would also go to "I Vow To Thee My Country." Beautiful and stirring.
“I Vow To Thee My Country” (from WWI Festival of Remembrance )
https://youtu.be/bvouc8Qs_MI
“Jerusalem” (from Royal Wedding of William & Catherine)
https://youtu.be/4yIWBO_7nio
“Dark, satanic mills” has always struck me as just a touch anti-capitslist. The whole song is an anthem to socialist hubris, that society can build the New Jerusalem on England’s green and pleasant shore if only it eliminates all those horrible capitalist inequities.
Not a Brit, but I’d vote for ‘Jerusalem’. It seems to be the unofficial anthem already.
Italy's national anthem may be stirring, but it makes you want to dance rather than fight. I don't think England wants to go there.
Spoken as an American whose most recent English ancestor arrived in 1850. Others arrived much earlier, and several met and married into the people who were already here.
“...ompare it to France - whose tune La Marseillaise commences at 100mph without slowing down before it’s defiant ending...”
Oh, “La Marseillaise” ended a LOT less “defiantly” in 1940.
Why, the French even planted a lot of trees so the Germans could march in the shade...
One of my Favorite ELP songs. (Brain Salad Surgery)
Jerusalem is considered a left wing labor song by the laborites.
Saw the headline and thought of this hymn we used to sing years ago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9lgLPXsoJQ
I agree that "Jerusalem" would be unacceptable because of its socialist utopian overtones. Besides, the title refers to a city 2,500 miles away from England.
A possible candidate might be "All My Homeland," a paean to English industry, culture, heritage and natural beauty. Unfortunately, the tune has not come to Youtube although it can be downloaded from pay sites.
My vote is for the song “wacky sax” from The Benny Hill Show.
CC
Scotland the Brave is not the official national anthem but I love it.
The Marseillaise sounds great but it takes a great singer to sing it. The words are awful tho.
The German one, at least I think Deutschland Uber Alles is still their anthem is also great.
For words Jerusalem is the best of all. Overall maybe the best too.
Oh Canada is also very good.
Star Spangled Banner is maybe the best especally the words.
Flower of Scotland has great words too.
Prior to WWI the music and similar lyrics were used by Germany as its national anthem. Also Our “My Country Tis of Thee” came close to being our National anthem
“Jerusalem” by Herb Alpert would make a dandy national anthem:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7lJJDiYyHo
I Vow to Thee My Country or Land of Hope and Glory are my picks. Jerusalem seems a touch modernist to me. Or just stick with God Save the Queen.