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'?

The French have the best anthem. It’s so good they only need the one song.

Wow KiteFlub. I thought I was the only one! Thanks for linking the article. Exactly my thoughts, though I am no writer or journalist so perhaps didn't quite describe my disquiet with the song correctly.

I suspect the reason it's not objected to in England is because most rugby fans are white English. Most African-English are not rugby fans (generalisation I'm sure, but mainly an observation from a personal perspective).

No, you're not the only one, it comes up in the press quite regularly.

Oh. Well at least I'm not totally off the rails. Was beginning to wonder!

The Irish National Anthem is the best. Hands down. ;)

Ridiculous!! Wales have the best singers and the best songs.
(And I'm English)

Sheesh.

Get over yourself.

African English?
WTAF
Are you trying to be like American as in African American

You do realise how ridiculous that is?

I agree that the Marseillaise is fabulous — however, the bloodthirsty lyrics have been seen by many people as glorifying French colonialism, and it’s been booed at France-ALgeria matches, and the watering your fields with impure blood can sound uncannily anti-immigrant.

OP, I agree, but I have to say that Ireland’s Call, while it absolutely filled a gap that needed filling, is also a terrible, embarrassing song that sounds as if it was written by a committee in a hurry.

Yeah, sorry @NothingWrong, that’s going way too far. Ireland’s Call is mediocre at best. The Marseillaise is great in the chorus but has too many twidly bits that no one can sing. Land of my Fathers is pretty good. But Flower is Scotland is the best, especially with a pipe band at Murrayfield. I love the a cappella second verse, it sends shivers down my spine. The Fields of Athenry is also great. Bread of Heaven not so much but is always sung beautifully. I love all the singing!

Samhradh - it's very simplistic I agree and not terribly poetic. The music is rousing and he had such a limited brief, he couldn't stray too far into passionate lyrics. Again, I'd ask you to watch the video I posted on the first page where Phil Coulter (author of Ireland's call) is interview about it.

www.classicfm.com/discover-music/irish-national-anthem-lyrics/

This is a bit about our history with why we needed a second song for rugby.

Many national anthems have racist/xenophobic sentiments in there somewhere. It helps if you don’t speak the language.

I do like Ireland’s Call because it’s a bit ‘mumble mumble ... FIVE GOLD RINGS!’ Everyone joins in for ‘Ireland, Ireland’

It’s a politics lesson watching the Irish team and seeing who sings what song.

Bizarrely, my favourites National Anthem is The Star Spangled Banner. It also has one of the most extreme ranges for a singing voice which is why only the likes of Beyonce or Whitney do it justice. It goes from really low to really high.

I’ve seen it before. The need for a less divisive song isn’t at issue, I only wish it were less crap! It makes even Munster’s ‘Stand Up and Fight’ look weirdly sophisticated in comparison.

My French is fluent, alas, @Floribundance.

I find it offensive when I hear it sung

Don’t listen then .

I had the exact same conversation today OP. This thread certainly has attracted the fragile.

Although without Swing Low I wouldn't have my favourite memory of being in a pub in Cardiff's with the male voice choir doing a wonderful rendition of 'you can stick your fucking chariot up your arse'.

Swings and roundabouts

prepares to be flamed by people who have never watched a rugby game in there life

It’s a politics lesson watching the Irish team and seeing who sings what song. I hadn't noticed that! I always figured they were too focused on the game to be thinking about singing lol.

I think everyone should be proud of their national anthem. It's your history. It's your ancestors. I'm so proud to be Irish. Always will be. There's some weird old saying that my mother had something along the lines of your priorities should be God, country, family. Something like that.

Coldemort, I have actually, yes, quite literally, snorted through my nose PMSL. Because it's like something the Irish would sing lol!

God save the Queen is the national anthem and England’s should have their own anthem to be sung a team these events rather than using our national anthem which represents a few countries,

My last tag rugby team (London) was composed of 2 Irish, 1 Welsh (a pure genius), 1 English (built like Shrek but could float like a butterfly) and 1 Canadian (young lady who was our kicker). We'd always have to poach for a full team from randoms, but we won our league (the baby league in fairness).

I'm too old and too damned old to play now. That was 2 years ago.

Please, not the "proud to be ...." trope. Really distasteful.

Perhaps I shall write to the Queen suggesting England gets a national anthem of its own? I will in me hole