The UK national anthem (a hymn to an invisible and probably non-existent deity to grant a long life and a long reign to a hereditary monarch, who is the head of one of the franchises set up to polish the deity's brand on earth - known as the Church of England (not, note, of the UK)) is not suitable as a national anthem for England. This is often commented on via online media. In response to this situation, most people seem to suggest Land of Hope and Glory or Jerusalem - both of them full of references to the same deity once again. "God who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet". Not much hope of that - England needs to know its limitations and dropping any ambitions to regain its erstwhile might would be a good start. And why anyone would wish to replicate Jerusalem, of all places, amongst the dark, satanic, and now dormant mills is quite beyond me.
For an English national song we need look no further than the FA Cup final and a piece of music so aptly chosen by Roddy Doyle for Emeli Sande to sing so hauntingly beautifully during the opening of the London olympic games. The tune (simple, graceful, but exquisite - called Eventide) is known by all in its setting for the words of Abide with me (written in Brixham by the dying Henry Lyte in 1847). A national competition should be run to find the best replacement words to go with the tune - something along the lines of "Sisters and brothers of the world unite. Show us the path of justice truth and light. Lead all the world away from war and hate. Lead us oh England be our shining light." Basically: no jingoism; no warmongering; no making out that we are superior; no religion; no monarchy. Just the people of England reminding ourselves to be a good examples of the best of humanity worldwide. We would need to persuade Emeli to renounce her scots nationality and become English !
But please - not Jerusalem or L of H and G.
I hope I will live to see the day when the FA Cup final, attended by the president, is introduced by a rendition of the new English republic's national anthem - same tune; new words; less god.
For an English national song we need look no further than the FA Cup final and a piece of music so aptly chosen by Roddy Doyle for Emeli Sande to sing so hauntingly beautifully during the opening of the London olympic games. The tune (simple, graceful, but exquisite - called Eventide) is known by all in its setting for the words of Abide with me (written in Brixham by the dying Henry Lyte in 1847). A national competition should be run to find the best replacement words to go with the tune - something along the lines of "Sisters and brothers of the world unite. Show us the path of justice truth and light. Lead all the world away from war and hate. Lead us oh England be our shining light." Basically: no jingoism; no warmongering; no making out that we are superior; no religion; no monarchy. Just the people of England reminding ourselves to be a good examples of the best of humanity worldwide. We would need to persuade Emeli to renounce her scots nationality and become English !
But please - not Jerusalem or L of H and G.
I hope I will live to see the day when the FA Cup final, attended by the president, is introduced by a rendition of the new English republic's national anthem - same tune; new words; less god.