What are the best British songs? That really scream Britain to you?

[jinglebitch]

Need to think of some songs for an end of year assembly, on a British theme. Any ideas gratefully appreciated.

I'm sorting out ww2 songs for a play and these are some of those.

They'll always be an England
Everything stops for tea
The Spitfire song
Mad dogs and Englishmen
We'll meet again
Land of Hope and Glory
It's a long way to Tipperary
Pack up your troubles

Or if you want a variety there's A Song of Patriotic Prejudice by Flanders and Swann

I'm not at all religious but I'm still partial to the hymn, Jerusalem.

Parklife

The Ballad of the Green and the Grey by Levellers.
We Are the Champions by Queen
500 Miles by Proclaimers (not the first to recommend this!)
Pure by Lightning Seeds (lots of Sunday car washing and Lisa in the garden singing it skipping, can't remember, but very suburbia).

Waterloo Sunset
Stairway To Heaven
Hi-Ho Silver Lining
Streets Of London
Feed The Birds
Hokey Cokey

Madness. Our house. and Baggy trousers
Chas and Dave The sideboard song.

Definitely 500 miles (as many others have said!)

Panic by The Smiths

Our House by Madness

Jerusalem?

Yeah, Jerusalem - it's a school assembly, not a pop concert!

Some of these are great, but depends on age of kids, are they primary or secondary?

Groove Armada's At The River.. and nothing unsuitable lyric wise

Thanks so much for all of these! Lots ofnfood for thought...its a Primary school- and definitely looking for pop/rock. We need to put about 3 songs together to make a medley, I'm definitely gunning for 500 miles to be included, but head wants it a bit more dancey. Not giving up though.

Just Jack - Writer's Block

Blur - Parklife.
Sham 69 - if the kids are united.

Currently, at the grand age of 40, "Love it if we made it". By The 1975. Tells the crap side but also literally hopes we get through it. Life. British life? Can't say but for some reason it resonates.

Town Called Malice
Parklife
Common People
Made of Stone

The specials - Too much too young - inappropriate
Family - Burlesque
Squeeze - Up the junction
Rod Stewart - Reasons to believe
And absolutely everything by Ian Dury,

Btw the Pogues are Irish.

Bruce Forsyth - I’m Backing Britain