Your suggestion for a new English National anthem

[Mister Cairo]

Scotland has "Flower of Scotland".

Wales has "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" (The Land of My Fathers)

As far as I can tell,  England only has God Save The Queen as it's national anthem. As a republican, I've always thought the song (for a want of a better word) a bit divisive, and it's always interesting spotting those who aren't singing the song at Last Night of the Proms (Sponsored by Yellow Pages and Kazoos). I can't find Northern Ireland's National Anthem online.

Royalists can sing to Brenda all they want, but I think the country needs a new national anthem to reflect that times are changing. Land of Hope And Glory is very rousing, but it does evoke colonialism "wider still and wider, still our bounds be set" and with Iraq (first invaded by the British in the 1920's) we've seen how early colonialism can cause the rise of pro-Western kings, to be followed by the overthrow of that king by a sucession of dicators, causing the West to invade again. I Vow To Thee My Country? The problem here is it evokes a particular religon, and it would be nice, in my view, if we had a song praising England as a country alone.

Well, Ralph Mc Tell wrote a song called England, which was played to praise Wales on Billy Connoly a few weeks ago, with "England" changed to "Cymrau". So, copied from one of those popup-filled lyrics sites, half of which are as dodgy as David Cameron, my submission for the new national anthem.

Ralph McTell

What is it about you, makes me feel this way?
When I'm leaving you, when I'm coming home
I'm lost for words to say.
And I know your faults and failures,
And the troubles that you've been through.
But it's more about what happens now
And what were coming to.

And the echo from the green hills
Runs through her city streets,
And the sun that shines on England
Well it lifts the heart in me.

What is it about you, that took men into war?
Rows and rows of crosses: Who remembers why what for?
The corners of these foreign fields,
The dust in them concealed.
Out of sight but not out of mind,
Don't you know that England feels?

And the echo from the green hills
Runs through the city streets.
The rain that falls on England
Well it washes care from me.

England, oh England
England, oh England
England, oh England

Don't make this out a battle hymn or a song of victory.
It's just a way to try to say what England means to me.
And our accents and our colours change
From the city to the farmland
From the moorland to the mountain,
From the river to the sea.
(chorus)

From the rolling road to the winding lane,
From the field to factory,
From summer's haze to winter's glaze,
And all the colours in between.
It's a stillness in the evening.
It's the heartbeat that I'm feeling.
Fron Cornwall to Northumberland,
From the Pennines to the sea.
(chorus)

We've had "Your Favourite Anthem" (worldwide) and "Your Personal Anthem", but not a suggestion for replacing God Save The Queen.

[Ciarán2]

"Jerusalem" would get my vote, but I suppose it would be contraversial. I think "Jerusalem" is beautiful.

And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountain 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 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 and pleasant land.

[Robot Devil]

"Jerusalem" would get my vote, but I suppose it would be contraversial. I think "Jerusalem" is beautiful.

How about The Fall's version?

And did those feet in ancient times,
Walk upon mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God,
On England's pleasant pastures seen?

And did the Countenance Divine,
Shine forth on clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem
In the dark Satanic Mills?

Jerusalem

It was the fault of the government
I was walking down the street
When I tripped up on a discarded banana skin
And on my way down I caught the side of my head
On a protruding brick chip
It was the government's fault
It was the fault of the government
I was very let down
From the budget I was expecting a one million quid handout
I was very disappointed
It was the government's fault
It was the fault of the government

I became semi-automatic type person
And I didn't have a pen
And I didn't heve a condom
It was the fault of the government
I think I'll emigrate to Sweden or Poland
And get looked after properly by government

Jerusalem

Bring Bow of burning gold:
Bring Arrows of desire:
Bring me Spear: O clouds unfold!

And though I rest from Mental Fight,
And though sword sleeps in hand
I will not rest til Jerusalem is built

In England's green and pleasant Land.

A Blake/Smith co-write, there.

[Ciarán2]

Hahaha, yes ok, The Fall's version of "Jerusalem", that gets my vote. :-)

[Cack Hen]

The Fireman Sam theme tune. I'm not joking, it's a brilliant song that I reckon would sound very national anthem-ish when sung by loads of people. Obviously, change the lyrics so it's not about a fictional fireman, though.

[Gazeuse]

God Save The Queen is a fine tune...Just change the words.

If they change the thing, they'll only get Lloyd-Webber to fuck it up.

[Shoulders?-Stomach!]

The big three all have issues with me- Monarchy, imperialism, religion...there's no way I would sing any of them with any passion. And God Save The Queen is a DREARY affair, musically.

Hardly surprising considering monarchy, imperialism and religion have mar(r/k)ed our existence as a nation, but there's nothing I can think of that sums up England. The Welsh, the Scottish and the Irish all have good national anthems I thought.

Your suggestion sounds a nice song Mister Cairo, but I ain't ever heard it.

[jimmy jazz]

The Fireman Sam theme tune. I'm not joking, it's a brilliant song that I reckon would sound very national anthem-ish when sung by loads of people. Obviously, change the lyrics so it's not about a fictional fireman, though.

Where the grass is fair and green, it's the land owned by the Queen...

[gigolo aunts aren't gentlemen]

God Save the Queen, but the SEX PISTOLS VERSION!!!!

[Mister Cairo]

Your suggestion sounds a nice song Mister Cairo, but I ain't ever heard it.

It's on his 2004 album Water of Drams, £10 from HMV, although that's the Internet price, for some reason it's legal to chrage people more for an item if they walk into a shop and buy it. Will buy it in October once I've saved up.

[23 Daves]

I was walking down the street
When I tripped up on a discarded banana skin
And on my way down I caught the side of my head
On a protruding brick chip
It was the government's fault
It was the fault of the government
I was very let down
From the budget I was expecting a one million quid handout
I was very disappointed
It was the government's fault
It was the fault of the government

I saw this story in a local newspaper only yesterday:



Laughed and laughed.  He used to be the bass player on Round The Horne, apparently...  session musician for the stars trips on loose paving stone, it's all happening in Camden these days.  In fact, the Camden New Journal is a great free newspaper to find potential Fall lyrics in, as you can see from the other headline beneath the story I chose.

As for the national anthem, I always thought "Little Britain" by Dreadzone might be a contender.  Shit lyrics, though.

[quadraspazzed]

"Take Down The Union Jack"

[fanny splendid]

Simon And Garfunkel - I Am A Rock

[Catalogue Trousers]

"National anthems are a waste of time too. If you don't particularly  believe in Gods or Queens, then why should you tand up for either of them - especially when they've done so little for you? The Anarchists' national anthem is 365 raspberries blown in very rapid succession to the tune of 'Camptown Races'. Nobody has to stand for it, nobody has to salute it, and, best of all, nobody has to sing the bloody thing."

[Sheldon Finklestein]

I think a new national anthem should reflect the country it is written for. England is a mix of tradition and modernity, so its anthem should be the same. Therefore I suggest the tune of the traditional 'Greensleeves', with the words of the modern 'Baby Got Back', by Sir Mixalot. Think about it, it works.

"I like big butts and I cannot lie / You other brothers can't deny..."

[Jemble Fred]

"Take Down The Union Jack"

I'd love for it to be A New England, but it'd just get confusing when the crowds sing 'girl'/'boy' at the same time. Plus the '21 years when I wrote this song' line would be incongruous.

So I vote for the theme to 'Jossie's Giants'.

[TOCMFIC]

Dope - "Die Motherfucker, Die".

[the midnight watch baboon]

"Take Down The Union Jack"

I'd love for it to be A New England, but it'd just get confusing when the crowds sing 'girl'/'boy' at the same time. Plus the '21 years when I wrote this song' line would be incongruous.

So I vote for the theme to 'Jossie's Giants'.

'We're called Europe's alkies,

We wash with Lynx and use Brut talc-y'

[Gazeuse]

And God Save The Queen is a DREARY affair, musically.

An old chestnut often raised by people who hear it sung DREARILY.

It is actually a very beautiful tune with an interesting phrase structure. It rises to a fine climax before resolving nicely and it is short.

Listen to a crowd at Twickenham belt it out and then tell me it's dreary.

[Shoulders?-Stomach!]

No, I think it's too slow, and the song structure just rigidly wails from one half-arsed note to the other. I'd be surprised if the Queen herself doesn't turn to her aides every now and then and say "Good Cunting God, that song's shit."

Plus, as I say, whether Twickenham belts it out or not, the intent behind the song itself makes me angry enough to never be moved by it.

Give me the French or Italians anthem over that, any day.

[the midnight watch baboon]

God Save the Queen, but the SEX PISTOLS VERSION!!!!
(picture)

Yeah! Or REPEAT (STARS & STRIPES) By the Manics!

http://www.lyricsdomain.com/13/manic_street_preachers/repeat_stars_and_stripes.html

[zozman]

Either "Creep" or the theme tune from Johnny Briggs.  Or failing that, "The Village Green Preservation Society" by The Kinks.

We are the Village Green Preservation Society.
God save Donald Duck, vaudeville and variety.
We are the Desperate Dan Apreciation Society.
God save strawberry jam and all the different varieties.

Preserving the old ways from being abused.
Protecting the new ways, for me and for you.
What more can we do?

We are the Draught Beer Preservation Society.
God save Mrs. Mopp and good old Mother Riley.
We are the Custard Pie Appreciation Consortium.
God save the George Cross, and all those who were awarded them.

We are the Sherlock Holmes English-speaking Vernacular.
God save Fu Manchu, Moriarty and Dracula.
We are the Office Block Persecution Affinity.
God save little shops, china cups, and virginity.
We are the Skyscraper Condemnation Affiliates.
God save Tudor houses, antique tables, and billiards.

Preserving the old ways from being abused.
Protecting the new ways, for me and for you.
What more can we do?

God save the village green!

That would work nicely.

[Gazeuse]

No, I think it's too slow, and the song structure just rigidly wails from one half-arsed note to the other.

None of that makes any sense.

And in addition, you are a cloth-eared loon.

[samadriel]

Simon And Garfunkel - I Am A Rock

Paul Simon - You Can Call Me Al

[Goldentony]

Prince - Darling Nikki

[Morrisfan82]

Why not turn this into a challenge thread for people to make their own?

Edit: ^Hah!^

[Mister Cairo]

I can't change the thred title as I get a message saying "You have to edit your post within 60 miniutes of posting". I assume this is in response to green crtayon converting all his posts into pictures.

But yes, any sound files or lyrics that you have composed yourself would be splendid! I might have a crack at writing some lyrics myself.

[samadriel]

I used to be an Aussie
I lived in Brisbane City
But I'm glad I came to England
Although the weather's shitty

The population's pallid
And foggy is the night
But I'm glad I came to England
Although the weather's shite

They like to watch the footy
They gave us Jarvis Cocker
I'm very fond of England, but
The weather is a shocker

[Brutus Beefcake]

Dope - "Die Motherfucker, Die".

Yeah, a shitty song by some american nu metal also rans, perfect.

[Pinball]

I thought the old Radio 4 theme was rather good, mixing music from all the countries of the UK, and more.  Not "English" you may think, but maybe it is? The other countries of the UK have their petty nationalisms, but England seems more... cosmopolitan. Surely it's better to be inclusive?