Why doesn't England have a National Anthem?

[itwontletmechoose]

It's frustrating to hear them sing the 'God Save the King' British national anthem. Why doesn't England have its own national anthem instead of singing one which covers all of the union (in theory)?

I'm glad to see that others know about the Flanders and Swann song. @MargaretThursday I'd forgotten the comment "There will always be a north pole, if some dangerous clown doesn't melt it".

As for Jerusalem, which has these lines:
"Bring me my bow of burning gold,
Bring me my arrows of desire"
A bow of burning gold might melt the north pole, and do we really want a national anthem which glorifies shooting, a very topical subject, with not one, but two scandalous shootings recently? 😉Yes, I know, it's a metaphor, but I have to say it, 'cos this is Mumsnet, where everything is taken at face value.

Yes I agree but it was the idea of James I and VI.

The anthems could all do with a revival. Flower of Scotland is a bit pants too, Highland Cathedral and Caledonia are the real contenders.

And another voice saying we have no interest in riding on the coat tails of the English national football team. I mean, please,

I thought in Supertrouper ABBA were singing "when I called you last night from Tesco." I suppose it does make more sense if it was Glasgow.
I still think in a free vote ABBA would beat dreary tunes like Jersusalem and seeing as poor Mr Blake actually went to prision for sedition I don't think he would want his words used for an official national anthem. Whereas we could ask the ABBA folk. Or David Bowies family for permission.

Anything's better than the whingeing, self pitying drawl that is the Scottish anthem.
My favourite anthem is the French DaDaaDa DaaDaa DaaDaa DAAADaDa da Dada DaaDaa daDada DAAAADADAAAAA DADAADAAetc

Ooh Very edgy 🙄

The Spanish anthem has no lyrics.

GSTK is dire, particularly if you are an anti monarchist with no belief in any god. An anthem should be about the nation, not about "saving" one particular person who only has the job because his mum had it before him.

There would never be a consensus on new words, a jolly tune to sing la la la to would be my preference.

I don't know how anyone could call the tune of Jerusalem 'dreary' - it can be a real belter. Maybe depends if you're among people who actually sing or mumble?
The words though... I always want to add 'no' or don't be daft to the first two lines. And the 'dark satanic mills' of the Industrial Revolution are largely consigned to history.

I don't have a good proposal for an alternative English anthem but I definitely think that the English rugby team should respond to the kiwi haka with a vigorous Morris dance.

It was part of the song that became the NA, though, so it shouldn’t have been used. Taking a song with anti-Scots sentiment, removing a couple of explicit anti-Scots lyrics, then thinking “Great! We have a national anthem that suits the whole country now!”

Er, no

Here's another verse set to that tune.

"God bless the prince, I pray,
God bless the prince, I pray,
Charlie I mean;
That Scotland we may see
Freed from vile Presbytry
Both George and his Feckie
Ever so, Amen."

What a disgraceful Jacobite anthem GSTK is.

There was also plantation under the Tudors (who were part-English, part-Welsh.)

Maybe investigate the proper meaning of the words? Jesus, to Blake, was the imagination - England/Albion the Primordial man. To understand why he used the myth of Joseph coming to England look up Milton own explanation of why he used myths in his Histories. - the words Parry set to his Jerusalem are, of course the Preface to his poem Milton. The words are set amongst the reset of the Foreword asking poets/artists etc to rise up against those who seek to control.

Blake’ “Dark satanic mills” are very unlikely to reference the mills of the Industrial Revolution- spending nearly all his life in London. They might refer to the Albion Flour mills near his London home (but they burned down). It’s usually thought he was talking about the machinery which was increasingly controlling the imagination and freedom of man.

”and did those feet in ancient times….” Is probably even more relevant today that ever.

Parrys setting is far too jingoistic for me (but, of course, this was why he was commissioned to write it re WW1). He saw this and recognised the revolutionary intent of the words and gave it to the suffrage movement (again extremely relevant today)

John Higgs has written a great book “why Blake is still relevant today) that’s great reading Blake really was a prophet of todays troubles

Much prefer Bruce Dickinsons rendition

I'm sick of seeing ignorant statements like this left to stand, especially as it's being by used more and more to justify certain people's hateful xenophobia. It's all over the place.

"The English" did fuck all of the sort. It's utter ignorance, I mean it's natural to view history from your own country perspective and to not consider other peoples but don't fucking use your ignorance as a stick to beat others with, educate yourself.
"The English" will have been oppressed and abused by the same kings and laws. My ancestors will have had a terribly hard life. That doesn't make me a victim mind you, and it wouldn't excuse me picking out an arbitrary group of people to publicly denigrate.

See also criticism of "Westminster" to indicate anti English sentiment, conveniently overlooking that "the English" have no control, nor do we benefit from the privilege of those elites.

There's a major elephant in the room here.

That song is unadulterated shit.

The only England football team worth following are the Lionesses 😀

Italy does have an absolute belter of a national anthem, though. The UK/England need to get with the programme.

I do love the Italian anthem. It’s almost like a potted opera. Mae Hen Wlad fy Nhadau is the best of all though.

It doesn't have any words, no, so they'd struggle to sing to it...

The national anthem isn't a big deal in Spain anyway.

@YouveGotAFastCar yes....I let the Spanish off once I discovered there's no words 🤣

It looks that way!!!! There is so much sectarianism on this thread headed towards people from NI.
there are also a lot of comments suggesting england IS the UK- nope it is part of it.
FWIW, To whoever said ROI don't want NI- don't worry, anyone sensible in NI doesn't want to be united with them 😂 being part of the Uk is the lesser of the evils

That’s a more than slightly stupid comment. I don’t think there’s a correlation between ‘sense’ and a preference for a united Ireland, something no one thinks would be straightforward in any way.

I’d certainly go with this! I think Life of Brian should be part of the national curriculum. We should have “Monty Python Month” in schools I can’t think of anything more British than Monty Python. It’s equal to Shakespeare. In fact I’d add being able to recite the dead parrot sketch to the citizenship test.

Wales is not represented on the Union Flag, so why should I feel represented by it?

The cross of St David is yellow (on a black background). Shouldn’t be too difficult to incorporate if there was a will. Or just put the dragon right in the middle.

@KimberleyClark dragons are hard to draw 🤣

Jerusalem is aspirational - it's about wanting to create a paradise on earth. With no bunny about how great the country is, but how great it could be.

And since ol' Chuck is a massive Parry fan (even made a BBC4 documentary on him) it's a natural choice.