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Steaming Last Night of the Proms

(9 Posts)
Yorksherlass Sat 14-Sep-19 22:15:15

BBC have put up the lyrics to Rule Britannia with Britons never “will “ be slaves , so wrong its “shall “ be slaves or am I wrong if I am feel free to correct me .

EllanVannin Sat 14-Sep-19 22:19:17

I've been singing SHALL.

Yorksherlass Sat 14-Sep-19 22:24:49

Go girl it’s the right thing to do ?

MawB Sat 14-Sep-19 22:28:34

I have looked at various versions and the BEEB may well be right by going back to the original poem

“This version is taken from The Works of James Thomson by James Thomson, Published 1763, Vol II, p. 191,

“When Britain first, at Heaven's command
Arose from out the azure main;
This was the charter of the land,
And guardian angels sang this strain:
"Rule, Britannia! rule the waves:
"Britons never will be slaves."

The nations, not so blest as thee,
Must, in their turns, to tyrants fall;
While thou shalt flourish great and free,
The dread and envy of them all.
"Rule, Britannia! rule the waves:
"Britons never will be slaves."

Still more majestic shalt thou rise,
More dreadful, from each foreign stroke;
As the loud blast that tears the skies,
Serves but to root thy native oak.
"Rule, Britannia! rule the waves:
"Britons never will be slaves."

Thee haughty tyrants ne'er shall tame:
All their attempts to bend thee down,
Will but arouse thy generous flame;
But work their woe, and thy renown.
"Rule, Britannia! rule the waves:
"Britons never will be slaves."

To thee belongs the rural reign;
Thy cities shall with commerce shine:
All thine shall be the subject main,
And every shore it circles thine.
"Rule, Britannia! rule the waves:
"Britons never will be slaves."

The Muses, still with freedom found,
Shall to thy happy coast repair;
Blest Isle! With matchless beauty crown'd,
And manly hearts to guard the fair.
"Rule, Britannia! rule the waves:
"Britons never will be slaves."

I know we mostly sing “shall” but the term “will” has a much stronger meaning, not just an indication of a future tense, but of a degree of determination.

MawB Sat 14-Sep-19 22:29:49

No need to be “steaming” about it though! gringrin

Yorksherlass Sat 14-Sep-19 22:32:28

I was always taught “ shall “ and it will always be so for me but thank you.

merlotgran Sat 14-Sep-19 22:34:31

I clicked on the thread because I thought 'steaming' meant 'brilliant' which it was.

The beauty of living in the middle of nowhere with no horses to scare is you can sing your heart out. I was singing 'shall' because I wasn't taking any notice of the words.

Always sorry when it's over.

MiniMoon Sat 14-Sep-19 22:37:24

In the various parks I heard the people singing shall too.
In the choir I sang with, we sang Britons never will be slaves. I never knew which was correct, so thanks to maw I do now.

Yorksherlass Sat 14-Sep-19 22:38:31

Me too , it’s special , I particularly love the sea shanty’s .