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

[Bobbisox]

I agree rowan and it would cover all of the Isles x

[R1Geezer]

I'd go with either Jerulsalem or I vow to thee my country, the only problem with the latter rowan is that it is the tune to IRB official anthem, the world in union so it's associated with Rugby but I'd be happy with that.

[rowanwitch]

I think I vow to thee came first I just think the words are lovely and so much more about what we can do for our country rather than what it can do for us

[paddywak]

Jerusalem is a fantastic song and a fitting anthem for English teams it always sends a shiver down my back when I hear it,if not Jerusalem then Land of Hope and Glory will do the job quite nicely, in fact virtually anything but God Save The Queen

[Sqad]

Gromit.....I know it is subjective, I know the National Anthem is pretty bland BUT all pales into insignificance when you hear "Flower of Scotland"......dear oh! dear.....I have never heard such a mournful tuneless anthem........it would be more appropriate at a funeral.

[rowanwitch]

Well isn't it a mourning song.....?

[Sqad]

rowan...LOL you mean it was written to be mournful to commemorate some dismal event? You may well be right......which would explain everything.

[Bobbisox]

sqaddy, courting contoversy again pet...LOL

[Sqad]

Joy...moi? ;-)

[Dris]

Just as well you dont have to sing it then Sqad nor do you have to listen -as an ex ENT specialist you will be aware that sticking a finger in each ear (or even a tampon lol) drowns out noise ;)
I personally love it and it makes me feel very patriotic.
I thought this thread was about finding an 'anthem ' for England to make them feel patriotic

[rowanwitch]

Well if Andy Murray is the current flower of scotland they have a right to be mournful

[Bobbisox]

your'e a divil...so ye are, but a lovable one..lol

[craft1948]

I'd go for Land of Hope and Glory.............loved singing to it at the Proms.

[Bobbisox]

I love Oh Floower of Scotlan, my friends are from Wishaw and he sings it grand :-0)

[Bobbisox]

<Scotland>

[Quizmonster]

'Land of Hope and Glory' is used as England's 'anthem' on occasions such as the Commonwealth Games, when an athlete's success has to be marked specifically in a way to show his/her Englishness as opposed to Scottishness, Welshness or Northern Irishness...not to mention Australianness and so forth!
However, the 'land' in the original version referred to ALL of Britain and not just to England. It was, after all, a line in the 'Coronation Ode' written by AC Benson to accompany Elgar's 'Pomp and Circumstance March No 1' music. It was for Edward VII's coronation and he - just like the present queen - was monarch of Great Britain and not just England. So, it is a ‘national anthem' for England only in the sense that 'Flower of Scotland' or ‘Land of my Fathers' is a ‘national anthem'...ie merely an occasional and not particularly relevant one!

[jno]

all the same, Quizmonster, I like Hope and Glory. Jerusalem sounds to me every bit as much of a dirge as God Save the Queen (which, as a waltz, could be played in a much livelier fashion).

Otherwise there's the Billy Connolly line: somebody write some words to the Arhers theme.

[Gromit]

Quizmonster

// On St George's Day, April 23, 2010, the Commonwealth Games Council for England launched a poll to allow the public to decide which anthem is to be played at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India. Voters chose between God Save The Queen, Jerusalem and Land of Hope and Glory with the winning song, Jerusalem, being adopted as the official anthem for Team England. //

[MarkRae]

Jerusalem is jingoism at its worst.

[Gromit]

http://www.weareengla...115§ionTitle=News