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English National Anthem


Smirking_Saint
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Wales and Scotland have their own, why do we have to use the British one, one that if I am honest could be used by any country on earth due to the lack of any national identity.

 

With the fear of being branded Xenophobic by those in the Ivory towers I am after all, born in England, albeit to a family that has Welsh heritage (I am related to Big Ron apparantly). But I am still proudly an Englishman.

 

I just wish we had our own proud National Anthem, and if I am honest it really has to be jerusalem

 

 

 

 

 

*I feel a bit gay after this thread

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Good point. It goes to a deeper issue though.

 

I help people complete forms most days where they complete their nationality. No Scotsman or welshman ever describes themselves as British, whereas almost every Englishman use the term British.

 

English people have lost the ability to be proud of our nationalism, whereas other British citizens feel able (rightly) to celebrate their heritage.

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True,

 

And as much as this thread will be hijacked by the EDL brigade, I don't see anything wrong by being English first and British second.

 

If i get the choice I would put English on the form.

 

As for you Scotty, I am not going to bring this thread down with my usual fould mouthed abuse, but you need to get some culture son, none of this London Calling stuff !! This is not the Muppet show, this is the lounge. Besides, London Calling wouldn't be my uncultural choice.

 

FFS

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ffs smirker, jerusalem?? No wonder youre feeling a bit ghey.

 

I nominate London Calling. If we're going to do it lets do it right.

 

Not Jerusalem please Scotty. Blake used to sit naked in trees all day. And erm his poem makes little sense. Neither does much of his stuff to be fair.

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Not Jerusalem please Scotty. Blake used to sit naked in trees all day. And erm his poem makes little sense. Neither does much of his stuff to be fair.

 

Philistine. "His poem makes little sense". It wasn't intended to be a shopping list, directions to get to Alton Towers or instructions on how to operate a hoover.

 

It's a poem. It's job is to make you think. It's allegorical.

 

Anyway, why does it have to make sense?

 

Why does it have to be about a specific thing?

 

It surely just needs to stir the nation, make them identify with each other and celebrate what it is to be English.

 

I mean "When the Saints go Marching In" achieves a similar effect amongst Saints' fans but that's about life after death and meeting others in the here after.

 

Personally I'd go for Jerusalem but as it divides opinions so much and is too left-wing for many it will never be the English national anthem.

 

I really love the tune and pomp of Land of Hope and Glory but it harks back a little too much to our colonial past for me to feel totally comfortable with the words. But you can't deny that it does stir the emotion and for many it gives them an identity. You'd need to drop the God and Empire bits though.

 

Three Lions?

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In one sense, it is a shame that the English don't really have much of a national identity.

 

But on the other hand, a big part of our national identity is not giving much of a crap about national identity. Compare us with the likes of France or the US, where they essentially brainwash their kids at an early age.

 

That said, as an atheist who tolerates, rather than embraces the existence of a monarchy, the current anthem doesn't really do it for me.

 

I nominate Tinie Tempah's "Pass Out" as something which better reflects my experience of England. I happen to agree strongly with the part about "been to Southampton but never been to Sc-unthorpe" Dunno if Nige would approve though.

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if you think Jerusalem is w*nk i suggest you watch this. Spine tingling stuff. More inspiring than GSTQ, IMO.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQ0oCmDXrVk&feature=related

 

Within seconds of the music coming in I had goose flesh up my arms. Stunning.

 

Although for me hearing the imperfect Billy Bragg version gives a clue as to how this might be sung in less formal gatherings than TLNOTP.

 

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I like Jerusalem, because it reinforces the fact that England is a Christian country. But I also like I Vow To Thee My Country.

 

I dont like Land of Hope and Glory, because first of all it is sentimental b*ll*cks about a nation long gone, and secondly because it reminds me of the hoi-polloi w*nkers at the Last Night of The Proms.

 

Oh, and I always feel like shouting out "SHUUUT UPPP !!" Like Windsor Davies.

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