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 use of that song is actually totally typical of the English (and I say that as someone born and raised here, admittedly to immigrant parents). English arrogance is renowned the world over

Couldn’t agree with this more!

I’m English too. DH is Irish though and I got him tickets for yesterday’s Wales game at Aviva stadium (he had a big birthday last year and he has never been before) major wife points scored. He had a fantastic time

"Personally I think you should be able to prove that you support Ireland over England in sport to qualify for an Irish passport "

This sounds remarkably similar to Norman Tebbit's cricket test which caused a huge furore and led to him being branded a racist about 30 years ago.

@eurochick if you actually quoted me directly, that would be good. I'd at least like to be credited.

And do I have to stick some qualifying shite joke after everything I say? joke

Jeez. Bring the Brits in and the party is over.

Haw haw haw. The Great British Sense of Humour the absence of one

Guffaw Guffaw. ORDER ORDER! that's about as humorous as they get

They've about 2 brain cells between the 450 odd, playing ping pong in parliament. Sometimes a brain cell hits someone and they stand up and speak!!

Guffaw!!!!!

Are you still at it?

ORDER ORDER!!!!!

I agree with you NothingWrong the very fact that English fans cant see a problem with using the song makes it worse. England were complicit in the slace trade even if they did give it up before America so using a gospel song that has deep meaning to those descended from people who's lives were measured in collateral value smacks of arrogance and entitlement.

Ye, it's clear that they actually think they wrote the song themselves lol.

DH is Irish though and I got him tickets for yesterday’s Wales game at Aviva stadium (he had a big birthday last year and he has never been before) major wife points scored.

I think that's you getting breakfast in bed for at least......... 1 day. haha.

Wow. Brilliant gift!

"People say, 'I'm rather offended by that.' As if that gives them certain rights. It's actually nothing more... than a whine. 'I find that offensive.' It has no meaning; it has no purpose; it has no reason to be respected as a phrase. 'I am offended by that.' Well, so fucking what?"
S Fry

We've got the best songs in Wales. Who else can use a song about the tribulations of a housewife as a rugby anthem?

Fuck S Fry

I'm offended by uneducated English fans singing the song for the simple reason that the simpletons do not even know that they did not write it themselves and that it more to do with them enslaving Black people than it has to do with sportsmanship .

This choir launches into a good version of it! Second song they sing after 2 minutes.

@DdraigGoch

Lol

Do you have a translation of your anthem?

That's actually powerful that the trials of women is acknowledged! Respect! Always liked you guys!

uneducated

simpletons

🙄

Ireland has always been a matriarchal society in some respects. Well the Church first, but Mum usually handled the money. Men always went from their parents' house to their wife's house. Irish women were always a silent force behind the scenes though I think. I think a lot of societies are the same.

Two adjectives you picked out there Soupdragon. Want a few more? Or are you happy with that pair? How else would you describe a nation who happily sings a song of hope for redemption from slavery as a victory song when they're all you know white and rich and far from being slaves?

A song that has NOTHING TO DO WITH ENGLAND

I like the song and like that it is sung, but I've always thought the singing had dodgy origins. I remember watching on TV the match (in 1988) where it became popular. According to Wikipedia, England scored six tries in the second half of which three were scored by Chris Oti, the first black player in the England team in 80 years. So in my mind, the crowd were responding to him being black in singing it. Hence, dodgy, in my mind.

Now wikipedia does indicate I may be being unfair. First, the song had been apparently sung (as a drinking song) in rugby circles for a a long time, which is presumably one reason why the crowd all knew it. Secondly, the singing of it was started and led by a school choir who apparently had a tradition of singing it every time a try was scored. So my idea that it had something to do with the leading try-scorer being black might have been a wrong inference.

I do agree with OP that is very incongruous that it's the English rugby anthem.

I still don't get it. If you wanted to be taken home (to die), the chariot would simply stop and you would get on, or be lifted on.
There would be no swinging. It would swing no more than a taxi or bus would, if that was taking you home (to die). It's nonsense.

I quoted you word for word

My bad re my pp. I thought we were talking about the actual english anthem, God Save the Queen. However my point still stands. Yes there are lines on that that could cause offence to the most...sensitive among us. However we really need to just stop with this taking offence at everything. It going to get to a point that we can't breath anymore without people twisting some kind of slight from it.