So, now they want to comp9se some crxxpy lyrics to replace..........

What do others think?

If it ain't broke, don't fix it!!

It is a bit dirgey, though, don't you think?

I do think that at, for example, rugby matches, England should have a celebratory song, of its own.

DH, who is a Scot, is forever pointing out that the National Anthem is NOT, NOT, NOT the English National anthem, but that of the UK, and (I quote) "It is sheer ** arrogance to assume it is England's.)

(He does get riled!)

National Anthems just have to be a bit weird - here's the Australian one, though technically it is still God save the Queen:

Australians all let us rejoice
For we are young and free
We've golden soil and wealth for toil,
Our home is girt by sea:
Our land abounds in nature's gifts
Of beauty rich and rare,
In history's page let every stage
Advance Australia fair,
In joyful strains then let us sing
Advance Australia fair.

Beneath our radiant Southern Cross,
We'll toil with hearts and hands,
To make this Commonwealth of ours
Renowned of all the lands,
For those who've come across the seas
We've boundless plains to share,
With courage let us all combine
To advance Australia fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia fair.

People here laugh at the 'girt by sea' words.

Regarding that second verse of God save the Queen - I like the idea of God (who is an Englishman - just ask RF Delderfield who wrote the book 'God is an Englishman') confounding the knavish tricks of the Queen's scattered enemies. So very mediaeval.

'Jerusalem' is a nice song, but would the WI let it go? And perhaps the thought of a 'Jerusalem builded here' is a bad idea because the English Jews and Muslims and Christians would be fighting over the place.

Nah - best to stick with the best. 'Ilkley Moor Baht Hat ' it is, then.

Joan

I think anthems are iconic and its the emotions they create thats important. We dont really listen to every word we just enjoy the moment it creates. Its a bit like 'All things bright and beautiful' the words are so Victorian and yet I cant help shed a tear when I hear children sing it. And I'm not that old!

Oh yes and 'I Vow to the my country'...cry buckets with that one..

I love that one Hilda

Me too, Hilda

Think 'I Vow to me thee my Country' is better.

Can anyone remember this one from Saturday morning pictures?

not sure how Mel Gibson got in there

What about the real sixth verse?

Lord grant that Marshal Wade
May by thy mighty aid
Victory bring.

May he sedition hush,
And like a torrent rush,
Rebellious Scots to crush.

God save the Queen!

Just thought I'd mention it.

And yes, jing that would get people belting it out. Though he who always has an objection wants to know what "red, white, and blue" has hot to do with England because these are the colours of the Union Jack, not the flag of England.

I may crush my own "rebellious Scot" shortly!

I hadn't thought of that Ariadne! Not in all these years!

How funny. But true.

"I Vow to the my Country" - we English need an anthem and this would be my choice. The National Anthem should be kept for national events.

I'm a bit squeamish about national anthems - music is so powerfully emotive that it can be used to foster mass emotion in both positive and negative directions.
And so far, the emblems of the olympics, for instance, that have been created are so naff that I fear any new anthem would be the epitome of naffdom!

I vow to thee my country is a very beautiful tune.

I Vow to Thee, My Country

According to ‘wiki’ this is a British patriotic song ...not an English one!!
Do we really want a song created in 1921, based on a poem written in 1908 to represent modern England??

The first verse, and second verse, refer to the United Kingdom ( not England), and relate to the sacrifice of those who died during the First World War. Again is this right for a modern English anthem?

The last verse, starting "And there's another country", is a reference to heaven ...mmm! I wonder how many English citizens would want this for ‘modern’ England ??

For those of us, who are not necessarily familiar with all three verses ...

I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above,
Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love;
The love that asks no question, the love that stands the test,
That lays upon the altar the dearest and the best;
The love that never falters, the love that pays the price,
The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.
I heard my country calling, away across the sea,
Across the waste of waters she calls and calls to me.
Her sword is girded at her side, her helmet on her head,
And round her feet are lying the dying and the dead.
I hear the noise of battle, the thunder of her guns,
I haste to thee my mother, a son among thy sons.
And there's another country, I've heard of long ago,
Most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know;
We may not count her armies, we may not see her King;
Her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering;
And soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase,
And her ways are ways of gentleness, and all her paths are peace

yes ...it is one of my favourite hymns and I love the Holst music ...but not an English anthem

I love "I vow to thee..." at our St George's Day / Shakespeare's birthday celebration last night, someone (a superb singer) sang that and it was so moving.

Anyone remember Billy Connolly reccommending the Archers theme tune, and describing the possibilty of the Queen trooping the Colour on horseback (sidesaddle) to it?

My old man
Said follow the van?

phoenix yes!!! "Rumpty Rumpty tum it tum.."

jeni !

You can tell how popular an anthem is by the footballers lined up in the World Cup. Some teams can't or don't want to sing any of it. If it's sung like Land of our Fathers then that's lovely but England must realise that the time is now over and it shares this island with 2 other countries. Leave the Nat Anthem as it is so that at least our generation know the words.

Ah, now you're talking! The Welsh know how to sing an anthem, and give it some welly!

PS Noticed how the English rugby lads seem to know and sing the National Anthem, but the foootball ones just seem to stand there?