National anthem for England?

What are England’s regional anthems, or do you mean songs ?

Yes I mean songs sorry.

Jerusalem traditionally has been the “English” anthem, for England’s green and pleasant land, personally I dont think it’s a great choice. Nor do I think “God save the Queen” is appropriate in this day and age, but I will continue to sing it until it’s replaced with something more modern.

I have always loved the following;

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.

Sung to Holst's Planets Suite. So not really English but beautiful song.

Boz

I have always loved the following;

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.

Sung to Holst's Planets Suite. So not really English but beautiful song.

Allegiance which is unquestioning and willing to sacrifice anyone is dangerous fanaticism. I love Holst’s tune and the second verse is truly lovely, but the first verse is a nationalist terrorist’s charter

For me, Maggie Holland's Place Called England (sung here by the Young 'Uns) is wonderful:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtPndIJ2Jqk

And I think it could be adapted to an 'anthem', but am afraid it might not get much support.
Same goes for Billy Bragg's adaptation of This Land is Your Land, which would need more adapting as it's 'from the Coast of Cornwall to the Scottish Highlands'.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjJLDjjYXMM

Given our amazing songwriters, I would have thought we could have got something together by now.
However, given the English character, I suspect we'd rather sing a gospel spiritual or a Neil Diamond song.

And although it is so specific to football, I do like 3 Lions, but then I always think of Billy Bragg's line:
the 3 lions on the English shirt, they never sprung from English dirt; those lions are half-English and I'm half-English too.

I also hope that we will hear Abide With Me on Sunday, a hymn that moves this atheist, and is now one of the few traditional hymns that a majority of people know.

Boz

I have always loved the following;

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.

Sung to Holst's Planets Suite. So not really English but beautiful song.

Why is it not English?
Holst was born in Cheltenham in I think 1874 and lived and worked in England all his life.

I can’t bear Abide with me. So gloomy. Brings back memories of Sunday evening service at boarding school? often alternated with Now the day is over …even worse !

Nannarose

For me, Maggie Holland's Place Called England (sung here by the Young 'Uns) is wonderful:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtPndIJ2Jqk

And I think it could be adapted to an 'anthem', but am afraid it might not get much support.
Same goes for Billy Bragg's adaptation of This Land is Your Land, which would need more adapting as it's 'from the Coast of Cornwall to the Scottish Highlands'.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjJLDjjYXMM

Given our amazing songwriters, I would have thought we could have got something together by now.
However, given the English character, I suspect we'd rather sing a gospel spiritual or a Neil Diamond song.

And although it is so specific to football, I do like 3 Lions, but then I always think of Billy Bragg's line:
the 3 lions on the English shirt, they never sprung from English dirt; those lions are half-English and I'm half-English too.

I also hope that we will hear Abide With Me on Sunday, a hymn that moves this atheist, and is now one of the few traditional hymns that a majority of people know.

I think A Place Called England is lovely. Ralph McTell wrote one called England which has nice words but lacks the catchy tune which I think is needed.

England Green and England Grey is also good. By Reg someone. I can't remember his second name.

geekesse @ 13.18

PMSL

The Reg Meuross song would need some modifying to be used has a national anthem! I agree with the bit about the BBC and the royals but lots wouldn't.

When I was at school we sang John of Gaunt's speech from Richard II, "This royal throne of Kings, this sceptre Isle. I always thought it would nake a good anthem for England.

Nannarose Thu 08-Jul-21 13:34:07
For me, Maggie Holland's Place Called England (sung here by the Young 'Uns) is wonderful:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtPndIJ2Jqk

Brilliant choice. It would have my vote.

I haven't got one myself. "Abide with me," along with" Rock of Ages," always reminds me of funerals brought up a strict Methodist it was always sung at them.
Though coming from Rugby League country they did and I think still do, sing it at Rugby League finals. Maybe another Methodist influence.

Jerusalem for me, the melody is so uplifting & stirring (if difficult for the vocally challenged like me). The Marseillaise is a wonderful national anthem for France, yes OK it glorifies the thought of foreign blood overflowing in the fields, it was written in a more violent age but the tune is just the job.

I second Ralph Mctells England. Lovely song

I do not associate IVtTMC with terrorism but take the point. It can be seen as extreme. Also, apologise for ignorance re; Holst.

Italy have got a good national anthem. Ours is a dirge by comparison.

I once heard Noel Gallaher on the radio talking about the difficulty of writing songs to be sung by large crowds.
When a lot of people are out of tune and have no sense of timing (guilty!) then anything lively becomes a mess.
Anything easy to sing, in terms of both tune & timing, is likely to become dirge-like.

I have once heard The Red Flag sung to the tune it was written for: The White Cockade and it sounded lovely compared to its usual tune (O Xmas Tree) but I could see you couldn't get a packed hall singing it (insert joke here)

The modern anthem I do like is “Advance Australia Fair”
Even though it was written 150 yrs ago, it just seems right for today.

Sweet Caroline. For every country in the world. Everyone knows it, it’s easy to sing/hum along to and it cheers everyone up.

The New Zealand anthem is a good one. Lots of verses but really nice words.

The Welsh have one of the best.

Oh please not Sweet Caroline. It's been done to death. My daughter hates it, no prizes for guessing her name.

Isn't there "There'll always be an England"? or "Rose of England"
How many England songs do we need?