National Anthem

[flapslack]

Just had an odd conversation with my 12 year old DS who asked me what our National Anthem is. Didn’t even know the tune.

Obviously I could have taught him but really I am just wondering if this is something not taught at school any more?

I don't actually think I've ever heard it properly. I'm 27.

(Probably been on the background while football's been on in the house, but I wouldn't listen out for it or take it in, so I have really no idea what the tune is or the words, but I might recognise it if I heard it...)

I always think it’s a shame that the national anthem isn’t “I vow to thee my country”, as “God Save the queen” doesn’t seem particularly patriotic, given it assumes a) there’s a god and b) that the monarchy is a beloved institution.

It will be interesting to see how people react to it when it refers to King Charles III

If I can't have Jerusalem, I'd settle for Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now.

Learn the national anthem? Don’t we just hear it and pick it up, like hymns, prayers and stuff?

It will be interesting to see how people react to it when it refers to King Charles III

Isn’t he planning to be George VII, can’t think why as Charles II was the coolest monarch ever and I say that as a republican.

although I also like Billy Connolly's idea of using the theme tune from "The Archers" and having some words written that fit.

I prefer his idea just keep it "Dum de dum de dum de dum"
😄😄

Best unofficial words to a national anthem are for Deutschland Uber Alles

"Germans Have A Sense Of Humour: Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!"

(and repeat.)

Try It

I dont remember 'learning' GSTQ as such, I just 'know' it. I guess I either learned it at Brownies, or it could have been one of the things my parents made sure we knew when we started school. (Name, address and Lord's Prayer. Obviously also how to dress/undress and use cutlery etc. I could also read pretty fluently and write in case anyone thinks they didn't teach us useful things)

The problem is I’d vow nothing to my country, although l like the tune, but would just not sing it if those words were in. And l will not sing the National Anthem either. God (doesn’t exist) save the Queen. Why? She’s got enough money to save herself.

Jerusalem was once voted as the best song for a National Anthem

Just asked my 12 year old if she knew what or national anthem was.
"What's a national anthem?"
I sang it to her and she claimed never to have heard it before.
Made me quite proud.

I'm old enough to remember all us kids having to stand at the Saturday matinee at the local picture house when it came on.

Hen wlad fy Nhadau here.All the family sing it out loudly, especially when the rugby is on.

We learnt the first 4 verses at Brownies in the 1970s. But it was Silver Jubilee year!!

I learnt it as a child at Remembrance Day.

@Wandaneedsnewwindows What do you reckon the second verse of I vow to thee my country is all about then?

Learned it at Brownies in the 80s, got house points at junior school for knowing more than the first verse. Can still sing verses 1 and 3 ("Thy choicest gifts in store") and the Marshall Wade verse.

I've watched Far Too Much international rugby though, and am sad have an ear for these things, so know the "anthems" for all the other Home Nations, plus France, South Africa, Australia, USA, Canada and New Zealand.

In a similar vein, I couldn't have I Vow To Thee My Country as the national anthem, because I hear that song and sing "World In Union". Made me smile at my brother's funeral and then I got sad because Jonah Lomu was dead

What exactly is wrong with a bit of patriotism? And why is it ok to be patriotic if you are Irish, Welsh or Scottish but not English?

Clangus00

*My DD belts out Flower of Scotland on the regular. Especially the “ ‘gainst who?” (unofficial) bit."

That's not what we sing in our house for the unofficial bit 😂

Bold fail, d'oh

I learned it at Brownies and sorry, I don't like it, I prefer Jerusalem (and Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, you Welsh are so lucky to have that as your anthem). I can't help it if I find G-d Save The Queen really fucking boring, it's a matter of taste. I'm a republican anyway, why would I want to sing a song about the queen?

God save the Queen IS a dirge, but also doesn’t apply to vast swathes of the country, it has fuck all to do with being English or British.
What if you’re a Republic and agnostic/atheist?
Outdated servitudinal bullshit (and a fucking terrible tune)

@sweeneytoddsrazor For me, it's because patriotism has been hijacked by the far right and because they've made it clear that people like me aren't English enough for them. You see someone with 'patriot' in their name on Twitter and 9/10 of the time they're the kind of person who thinks Tommy Robinson is a hero and anyone who isn't white or Christian should fuck off somewhere else.

And I'm not being a troll but I genuinely don't understand why I should be proud of being English. I mean, I love this country, it's my home, but why is it something to be proud of? Being born here isn't an achievement, I could have been born in Azerbaijan or Poland or something instead.

Hear hear, @PhilSwagielka

But Buster72 it is a dirge, and the words are warmongering, religious balderdash.

Absolutely this. As an atheist, pacifist and republican I refuse to sing it or stand while its playing.

I don't see why you're a bad person if you don't teach your kids the national anthem either.