The National Anthem

I think the British National Anthem is a dirge and should have been updated years ago. Maybe we could do a petition on Gransnet, to get a new more stirring one that's more relevant to this century.

I love our National Anthem and don't want it changed at all.

The Welsh anthem is glorious when sung with gusto by a rugby crowd
Yes, enthusiastic
But far better sung by a Welsh Male Voice Choir.

"The Welsh sing "Oh land of my Fathers beautiful in Welsh", and the Scots "The flowers of the Forrest_".
Yammy: I think you probably mean "Flower of Scotland". "Flowers of the Forest" is a lament for the Scots killed at Flodden in 1513. A lovely song, but not a suitable national anthem..

Casdon

The Welsh national anthem isn’t a traditional folk song, it was written in the 1900s by a father and son from Pontypridd and became more and more popular. Here’s the history.
www.wales.com/about/language/welsh-national-anthem
I do think the key issue for any anthem to succeed is it’s place in the affection of the people, and their subsequent adoption of it, so imposing one is not going to work.

And it is sung not just at sporting events but at many gatherings including religious services.
If the British National Anthem is to be sung then it is sung before the Welsh Anthem.

The Welsh national anthem isn’t a traditional folk song, it was written in the 1900s by a father and son from Pontypridd and became more and more popular. Here’s the history.
www.wales.com/about/language/welsh-national-anthem
I do think the key issue for any anthem to succeed is it’s place in the affection of the people, and their subsequent adoption of it, so imposing one is not going to work.

Anthem needs changed to something a bit more uplifting decribing GN rather than the Monarch. Other countries in UK don't have anthems, songs sung especially at sporting events are traditional folk songs. I know Scotland's Flower o' Scotland was written by The Corries folk group.

I think it’s best to see anthems as historical songs, and not take them too literally.

I have been saying it for years we English should have our own national anthem the other nations that make up the UK and Northern Ireland all have theirs. God Save The King should only be used to represent Britain or when the Monarch or his representatives are present.

It's awful. I don't sing it because I don't want to ask something I don't believe in to save anyone.
It's time it was changed.

Its unlikely to get changed but I agree any of the three mentioned above would be better and more rousing for competitive events.

Gransnetters should have a go at writing one perhaps on a new thread.

What’s wrong with Rule Britannia? A happy tune?

Blossoming

Do Wales, Scotland and NI have ‘official’ national anthems? They each have their own football and rugby teams and I can’t imagine they all sing God save the current hereditary monarch.

Yes they do. The Welsh anthem is glorious when sung with gusto by a rugby crowd. The Scottish one is pretty good too Flower of Scotland? I’m not so familiar with the Irish anthem but I have heard it and it too is quite stirring. Agree that they are all better than the English anthem. I can’t agree about adopting Land of Hope and Glory as it’s too focused on outdated ideas of Empire. Mind you, the words of the French anthem, all about the revolution are pretty outdated too.

Anthems from some other countries sound so uplifting and like others have said ours is a depressing dirge and not about the country but about one person, the King.. Way past time for it to be changed.

The French Anthem includes the very cheerful line,

Cut the throats of your sons and your companions

Blossoming

Do Wales, Scotland and NI have ‘official’ national anthems? They each have their own football and rugby teams and I can’t imagine they all sing God save the current hereditary monarch.

The Welsh sing "Oh land of my Fathers beautiful in Welsh", and the Scots "The flowers of the Forrest". The Irish Rugby team consists of both north and south and they sing two lovely songs. If Northern Ireland is on their own as in boxing I think they sing or play"Danny Boy".

Nainijo

The best anthem is our anthem, the Welsh National Anthem, ‘Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau’ full of passion and gets me every time I sing it.
Our anthem is not the English one

But the Welsh can sing

The best anthem is our anthem, the Welsh National Anthem, ‘Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau’ full of passion and gets me every time I sing it.
Our anthem is not the English one

I’m Dutch and our National Anthem is about the head of state Prince William of Orange back in the 16/17th centuries I think. Can’t remember my history to my dismay. It contains the sentence ‘Wilhelmus of Nassau am I of German blood’ it tells the story of his struggle against the enemy which was then Spain with whom we fought and 80 year war and got us freedom of religion. The whole national anthem is 16 verses long (I know had to learn them in school for talking too much) usually only the first verse is sung and the 6th in church as it has ‘my shield and trust are thee my Lord’. Your discussion about National Anthems made me think about ours. (Have lived here for 27 years).

I too remember the days of scrambling to get your coat on and rush out of the cinema before being stuck having to stand through the national anthem. Land of Hope and Glory is better as a tune but the lyrics hark back to our colonial history and our ambitions to extend our power and influence. Totally inappropriate in this day and age. A new national anthem is long overdue.

Grannydarkhair that made me cry with laughter. Love it! Just what I needed

Not Jerusalem. How many other countries would sing about establishing a foreign capital in our green and pleasant land.? How would Muslims, Hindus and other religions feel about that? Perhaps substitute Beijing or Washington? I know what Blake was referring to but that makes it a purely Christian hymn. Not relevant to our multi-cultural society.

Have thought that awhile, we should have something more uplifting for our Country I also hoped it would change after the Queen died .. Can’t see it happening though.

At least Jerusalem mentions England. It always reminds me of the closing assembly at the end of term, which is a bonus.