National Anthems and local traditions

The united Ireland anthem is good Irelands call ,it’s sung at rugby matches where the players come from across Ireland The Irish anthem is very rousing ,I know it well my granny used to march us up and down our hall singing it ,it’s The Soldiers Song .Hopefully one day not too far off Scotland wil have our own anthem .

icanhandthemback

I love our Nation Anthem. Whilst it might not be modern or as PC, it is traditional. I don't want all our traditions to disappear.

We could still have the National Anthem for occasions involving the whole of the UK.

But England, Scotland and N Ireland really need their own individual anthems.

Love the Marseillaise, I agree the lyrics are bloodthirsty, but it is what it is & a more stirring tune before a rugby game you couldn't wish for. Like the german too, & Londonderry air for Northern Ireland.

I don’t think designating a song as a national anthem can work. The Welsh national anthem still isn’t ‘official’, it was just a song originally which has been sung more and more over time, as it was sung increasingly at Eisteddfods, sports matches and national occasions. It’s a song that captures the national mood, imagination, and joy of singing (all of which we are good at in Wales), so we have adopted it.

There’ll always be an England would do well. Not necessarily the whole lot but a couple of verses, but wait . . .
It mentions red white and blue, so there’ll be outcry about that, then somebody won’t like the other words or feel they aren’t inclusive enough.
I’d like Land of Hope and Glory, but again there’d be complaints.

I’d be proud of my flag if I lived there. People fought and died for what it represents. I am proud of ours, most of us here are. I really don’t ‘get’ why people are shamed for flying it, wouldn’t happen anywhere else.

I’m proud of our flag, but wish we could have a new national anthem encompassing the whole of Great Britain. I like the way Americans stand hand on heart, rather than the often half hearted singing we often seem to achieve.

123kitty Great Britain isn,t a country it’s just the island that 3 of the nations reside on .

Together they are named "The United Kingdom" - united under one King and with one elected Government. Internally each of the constituent countries has its own parliament which deals with certain devolved responsibilities, but in other respects, and internationally, they act as one country.

You may wish it were not so, PaddyAnn, but at the time of writing, that is the situation.

If, like me, you are a person who does not believe in any god and are an ardent anti royalist then GSTK is totally irrelevant. I have not yet been in a situation where I have refused to sing, play or stand up for it as GSTK but did so many times when it was GSTQ.

Why we need an anthem which asks one particular god to save one particular human baffles me. We need a cheerful melody with words which represent the whole country, not the current head of one malfunctioning family.

My own favourite is the Italian anthem, it is a million times better than ours.

Elegran

Together they are named "The United Kingdom" - united under one King and with one elected Government. Internally each of the constituent countries has its own parliament which deals with certain devolved responsibilities, but in other respects, and internationally, they act as one country.

You may wish it were not so, PaddyAnn, but at the time of writing, that is the situation.

Actually, paddyann54 is right - Great Britain is an island containing three nations, and the United Kingdom also contains Northern Ireland!

I knew as soon as I had posted that someone would pick me up on that, but I left it because my phone rang at that moment. I had reacted rather inaccurately to PaddyAnn jumping on 123kitty

Sorry, Elegran - I assumed that you would know, but there are those who don't, so it was worth pointing out to them. I didn't mean to offend you.

I like 'Land of Hope and Glory' particularly as I know all the words.

Well for me it’s the German national anthem ( my mum was German.) Obviously the words are different now but when I hear it I feel so proud of my heritage.

I didn’t”jump” on anyone .I merely pointed out the FACT that this island we reside on is NoT one country I know many folk think Britain,England and the UK are all the same entity but they are not .Devolution is a joke ,we have so little power we can’t even have our own glass recycling/deposit system without WM say so!, Power devolved is merely power RETAINED …it’s smoke and mirrors soEnglands parliament always has the final say.
It is ENGLANDS parliament because even if the other nations collectively vote against the English contingent we are vastly outnumbered .Its not a union by any means

Devolution was a big mistake anyway.
It has caused divisions and rancor.

It is so physically small,that is probably why.I thought it was united but maybe not. Perhaps history has changed recently.

nanna8

It is so physically small,that is probably why.I thought it was united but maybe not. Perhaps history has changed recently.

😁
The Disunited Kingdom.

Allira

Devolution was a big mistake anyway.
It has caused divisions and rancor.

Only among zealots. Most people, wherever they live, just live and let live, and there’s nothing wrong with being proud of where you’re from and wanting to have some autonomy, just ask any Yorkshireman. It’s only when it descends to blame and peacocking behaviour that it’s an issue.

Allira
^Devolution was a big mistake anyway.
It has caused divisions and rancor.^

It certainly did that, mostly as Casdon says, among zealots, whether they’re defending their songs or complaining about Parliament.
Though some of that zealous behaviour was going on long before devolution.

Allira

Devolution was a big mistake anyway.
It has caused divisions and rancor.

You may feel that way. Many do not.

Mollygo

Allira
^Devolution was a big mistake anyway.
It has caused divisions and rancor.^

It certainly did that, mostly as Casdon says, among zealots, whether they’re defending their songs or complaining about Parliament.
Though some of that zealous behaviour was going on long before devolution.

Yes, the zealots shout very loudly.

We are better united.
That is why I voted to remain in the EU.

Devolution isn’t division though, it’s giving power for local decision making to local politicians. Centralised government making all the decisions doesn’t work, it wastes money, is far too broad brush and out of touch with local economies and issues. Only zealots propose complete separation, and they are in the minority.

The Canadian National Anthem is sung in English and French, www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=T57Smnhub9M
The lyrics have been updated a little ("in all our sons command" has been changed to "in all of us command") but I am posting this historic version because it has all 4 verses in English and if you wish you can sing along! Enjoy.