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?

And the post Brextiy versesmile All the MN 'calamities' can easily be understood by reading this thread. Brexit, Trump, the collapse of the Labour party in Scotland. Demonising people who are patriotic.
I voted Remain and couldn't understand the Leave vote at all. Now I do.
Emily Thornberry and her sneering at white van man and his St George flag. You didn't get it Emily and you still don't.

Gordon Brown’s government ordered public buildings such as Council offices, Courts and Police Stations to fly the flag and this helped reclaim it from the Far Right. I thought it was the English flag, not the Union Jack, that the far right had adopted?

Anyone finding GSTQ a dirge should listen to Charles Ives' "Variations on America" (which is what the Americans call the tune to GSTQ)

I'm not sneering. I just don't understand why I'm a bad person for not being super patriotic and why I should be proud to be English.

@SwanneeKazoo - that is hilarious.

I think we deserve a better national anthem and I think we should have a referendum to find a new one, what could possibly go wrong with that.

We'll end up with Anthy McAnthem!

😀 Very likely

We used to sing it in the cinema as children ( I am in my fifties). Plus the theatre. So picked it up, it is so easy.
At school we learned the Welsh National Anthem, as did my dd’s, in Primary, and it is sung at School events.

I thought it was the English flag, not the Union Jack, that the far right had adopted?

Depends where you're coming from.

To me an England flag is just an England flag, a Union flag is a symbol of bigotry and I would walk in the opposite direction of anyone waving one, though I associate it with sectarianism rather than the far right.

Others experiences will differ.

weesleekit the jeely piece song is inspired!

And I'm with you on the union jack- most definitely. I wonder if you're also west coast?

Yeah, I'm Glasgow area, hence my love of the Jeelly Piece Song

Snap - South Side. The only issue is I've never heard anyone say jeely in Glasgow- it's an east coast pronunciation. It's always perplexed me.

I hate the "proud to be ......" trope and feel it should be discouraged. As an English person (with some other ethnic influences) I feel we take this stuff less seriously and find it a bit bad taste rather than being ashamed or some such bollocks

Me to DS10 do you know the national anthem?
DS10: sings loudly mostly correct lyrics and mostly correct tune.
Apparently its rugby, F1 and scouts that taught him, they don't sing it at school.

It is not sung in schools these days. In fact, I was at school during the seventies and eighties and don't remember it being taught there either.

I've nothing against the royal family, but I do think our National Anthem is an utter dirge. A new one should perhaps be written. I don't know.

No national anthems in my school in the 80s either.

I did learn to recite the Lord's Prayer despite being an atheist though.

I recall the national anthem being in one of our hymn books at school. It got sung once in a while. Nowhere near as much as:

Jerusalem, To Be A Pilgrim, Cross Over The Road My Friend, All Things Bright and Beautiful, Lord of the Dance

though.

Just typing "All things bright and beautiful" reminded me what an absolutely appalling piece of shit it is, even when it's not being shoved down peoples throats.

Not a massive fan of flags either. Always struck me as a bit needy - although maybe some folk are happy with that ?

For the sake of balance DF doesn't know, and never taught us the Italian national anthem either .

My arse father hated GSTQ for many reasons, both ideological and melodic, but when asked to rationalise, he would say that it's because GSTQ promotes reverence and devotion to an unelected person, rather than a country. So couldn't be doing with that.

He didn't like Flower of Scotland either.

I quite like 'I vow to thee my country", and "Jerusalem", though I am not English.

I did learn to recite the Lord's Prayer despite being an atheist though.

You sure you didn't catch God ?

I did learn to recite the Lord's Prayer despite being an atheist though.

Lapsed Catholic, only do churches at Christmas and weddings these days.

I hate how they've changed the words of the Lord's Prayer. New version sucks. I want to go on autopilot and mindlessly recite the prayers of my childhood in a nice, comforting way and the faffing around with the words means I can't.

The Welsh National anthem is taught in my children's school. I've never asked them if the U.K. one is though....

Bit difficult for the UK to have a national anthem as it isn't a nation.

They've changed the words?

I learned the Presbyterian version, but have many Catholic friends and family members so thought I knew theirs too and now you tell me they've changed it?

Damn, is nothing sacred?

When I hear the ode to joy EU one, my mind is singing 'Rise O voices of Rhodesia' just to be controversial...

I learned the Presbyterian version, but have many Catholic friends and family members so thought I knew theirs too and now you tell me they've changed it?

"Pater noster, qui es in caelis, sanctificetur nomen tuum. Adveniat regnum tuum. .... " ?

I learned the Presbyterian version, but have many Catholic friends and family members so thought I knew theirs too and now you tell me they've changed it?

And they no longer say "peace be with you" but "peace be with your spirit".

Even the Catholic church is getting woke.

Expats now living in Australia. My boys did most of their primary years in Australian schools ( high school now!). Every assembly starts with the national anthem . They learnt it at school.
Also lots of sporting events, Anzac Day, Australia Day , citizenships ceremonies. We’ve learnt it because it’s everywhere. Makes you feel proud.
It should be sung loud and proud. Be proud of the country you are in