Is the chosen English rugby anthem appropriate do you think?

[NothingWrong]

To me, it's an emotional song, about God really (coming for to carry me home). England has reduced it to bringing home a prize. Apart from cultural appropriation, is it appropriate for England to use a sort of Gospel song sung by black slaves as their rugby anthem?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swing_Low,_Sweet_Chariot

Here's a link to its origins btw.

Personally I think it's arrogant of them to use this song in the way they do. I'm not looking for a fight! Rugby fans are generally respectful, so I'm just wondering A whether English fans know the origins of the song and B whether anyone else feels it's a little 'off'?

We've got tickets for Twickenham in two weeks England v Ireland and I shall certainly be singing swing low and also Tom Hart when a try is scored and Soldier's are we along with Shoulder to Shoulder we'll answer Ireland's call when the anthems are played
Can't beat a good sing song at Twickenham even though we'll have to get a night train to get there, the atmosphere is brilliant and everyone usually enjoys themselves, love a good game of rugby and all the singing

Christ, if we only sang and listened to songs that we thought were appropriate to our own personal situations and histories it would be a fairly dull old world.

I'll rephrase - you obviously know nothing about English rugby (or more likely you just dislike the English but don't want to say that directly)

@AuntieStella the OP is not referring to the national anthem?

Thanks Marold - thought I was going to have to start singing the Fields of Athenry on me own here lol.... Bless us - winning or losing, we love a good song!

Wow. The OP asked a simple question. I don’t see why people think it’s ok to be so rude

To the OP,, no YANBU.

Portia - I'm so jealous! I would love to get tickets to that game! Waaaaaaaayyyyyyyy out of my budget though.

Been to a few games in Ireland, but never at Twickenham. Enjoy!

Tom Hart when a try is scored

That won't be happening in two weeks time

I loathe Swing Low and I fucking hate hearing English rugby fans singing it.
Mind you, that's got a lot to do with me being Welsh and the fans going into overdrive singing it when England are thrashingbeating us.
Seriously though, I'd prefer England to have a different official song, God save the Queen is a bit of a dirge. There are so many more rousing songs/hymns that England as a nation could sing before kick off.

frillyfarmer

OP titled her thread to refer the England anthem sung at rugby fixtures. That is the NatuonalAnthem.

She then posted about another song popular with fans and sung frequently at matches (so I tend to agree with posters who have cindpcluded she doesn't know much about rugby). It is not the English anthem - any more than Vindaloo is the English anthem.

We do need a proper English sporting anthem, as the National Anthem should apply to the whole nation, not just one of its parts.

I think Ireland only sings both our National Anthem and Ireland's call when we're playing at home? Don't think we sing our National Anthem abroad... just Ireland's Call.

I referred to rugby anthem - not national anthem.

OP the tickets were Christmas presents from soon the be fil so didn't cost us anything but the train fare up from Cornwall will be hugely expensive well worth it though. I'm hoping one of our Cornish boys will be playing at Twickenham but Jack is injured and Luke had to get home for the birth of his child so we weren't represented today, they both come from a place very near to me.

If you actually have the time to watch the 5 mins clip I linked, it's interesting.

I suppose I was wondering today whether Princess Anne would be shouting for Scotland or England lol.

Yes - England could probably do with its own sporting anthem.

Of course Swing Low is an anthem of the English rugby team. Not clear what the national anthem has to do with this thread.

England has a lot to be proud of in their sporting history. They have an abundance of talent. I'm sure they could come up with a rousing English sporting anthem.

Ha well OP who knows about tries but it's bound to be a good game so may the best team win

I object to this song on the grounds that its bloody awful and that whenever I hear it I have mental images of my friend Lydia, a massive rugby fan, doing the hand gestures to the song, some of which are not the type you like the children to see, shall we say. 😂

Give me football and the terrace chants any day.

People always seem so desperate to assume offence on behalf of others, don't they?

Isn't one of the lines about crushing us rebellious Scots? Doesn't bother me. It's their song, let them sing it. I quite like it!

Really. Ffs

This clip makes me cry

We were trashed 4-0, but still showed support for our team!

Isn't one of the lines about crushing us rebellious Scots?
No.

@NothingWrong
Princess Anne is the patron of The Scottish Rugby Union, she usually supports Scotland

Swing Low is a crowd chant

The anthem for England is God Save Tye Queen, so has everything to do with the thread, going by the title

Isn't one of the lines about crushing us rebellious Scots

I don't think Swing Low Sweet Chariot makes any mention of Scots.........