FabSwingers.com > Forums > The Lounge > National anthem
National anthem
Jump to: Newest in thread
Inspired by the thread from _wco. What do you think of our national anthem?
I’m inclined to think it’s too rooted in religion for modern times, too geared to one person - our monarch - than the nation; and that it’s sung in quite a somber timbre. I’d like us to have something more uplifting, neutral and celebrant of the whole nation, especially when used for sporting success.
Suggestions below, please!!
And folks, let’s not get bogged down in separatism. I would love to embrace individual national pride, as long as it doesn’t turn into a slagging.
|
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
England
Engaaaa laaaand
Our flag is red and white
We've got every colour that's in sight
When you win with us your English
When you lose you're from somewhere else
Come and join the good guys
History is just full of lies
We've got lots and lots to be proud of
All the stuff we've st*len, kind of
If you're stressed, have some tea
Voting is pure anarchy
We are the greatest nation in the world
Except those other ones as well
Enga land
Engaaaa land!
Come on you Lions!!!
(This is just a joke, no one get triggered. Also, this year, it's definitely coming home) |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"I like it, its nostalgic, it is what it says on the tin, the national anthem. I wouldnt change it. "
Is it though? 🙂 The lyrics are entirely about god and the king, not about the nation(s).
Don’t misunderstand me, folks, I’m not railing against either religion or the monarchy here, just putting some thoughts out there 😊👍 |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
 |
By (user no longer on site) 4 weeks ago
|
"I like it, its nostalgic, it is what it says on the tin, the national anthem. I wouldnt change it.
Is it though? 🙂 The lyrics are entirely about god and the king, not about the nation(s).
Don’t misunderstand me, folks, I’m not railing against either religion or the monarchy here, just putting some thoughts out there 😊👍"
I think so. Some wont 🤷♀️ |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
Let's just settle on Half a World Away in honour of The Royle Family and job's a good'un.
In all seriousness, I like it, but agree it feels like it's from a different age - I don't really mind if God saves the King or not. But we'd never agree a new one, or it would be something much worse (you can't trust the people to decide: see Brexit and Boaty McBoatface), so let's just stick with it. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By *tsazzMan 4 weeks ago
Manchester |
I think it’s shit. I’m a staunch atheist and very much anti-monarchy. It doesn’t represent anything I feel positively attached to, while at the same time about the worship of things I either don’t believe in/don’t agree with. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
I don't have strong feelings either way. National Anthems are generally a bit crap and ours doesn't stand out to me as worse than the rest.
Unless they changed it to The National Anthem by Radiohead, I could get behind that. Might be a bit weird at the football though. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
If you are an atheist and anti royal … you can sill love your country … even die for it .. but you wont have a national anthem to sing .. or if you sing it the words mean feck all..
Remember our recent queen who we apparently wanted god to somehow save …. Paid off a sex crime victim to keep her son out of a room to face questions….. current king allows himself to be debased by trump … god help them .. yeah right…. Define gracious then look at the royal family ….. whoops
Call me old fashioned but why would a god save essentially such an evil and entitled family? … no ill will but defo no saving if their times up ..
New anthem when union breaks up anyway it is simply matter that of time … |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"Inspired by the thread from _wco. What do you think of our national anthem?
I’m inclined to think it’s too rooted in religion for modern times, too geared to one person - our monarch - than the nation; and that it’s sung in quite a somber timbre. I’d like us to have something more uplifting, neutral and celebrant of the whole nation, especially when used for sporting success.
Suggestions below, please!!
And folks, let’s not get bogged down in separatism. I would love to embrace individual national pride, as long as it doesn’t turn into a slagging.
"
I like the concept. Of course it's why nations have a national anthem, and it must have tradition. I think the person / people singing make a huge difference... Some squeaky from celeb love island doesn't work. Melisma vocals kill it.
But... Ours is a stinker of a dirge. Jerusalem would be better. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"I don't and won't sing it. It's an homage to a family,a pretty suspect family at that.
It's nothing to do with a nation.
Jerusalem for me. "
I like Jerusalem a lot too (we'll hear it a lot in the Commonwealth Games hopefully!), but that really only covers England. Would need to amend the lyrics somehow, but "Great Britain and Northern Ireland's green and pleasant land" doesn't fit! 🤣 |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"Let's just settle on Half a World Away in honour of The Royle Family and job's a good'un.
In all seriousness, I like it, but agree it feels like it's from a different age - I don't really mind if God saves the King or not. But we'd never agree a new one, or it would be something much worse (you can't trust the people to decide: see Brexit and Boaty McBoatface), so let's just stick with it."
There's a counter argument to that.
Scotland has had a few different unofficial anthems over the centuries, and the most popular one over the last 40 or so years is "Flower of Scotland".
No body voted. No government department got involved. There wasn't a live programme on the telly that charged £2 a text for folk to choose their favourite songs from.
The popularity of our unofficial anthems happened organically, within the culture.
I think the same thing has happened with "Jerusalem" in England. No?
I think the issue now would be finding a composition that the peoples of all the constituent nations would identify with, given there's such strong feelings of different identities in so many places. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"Let's just settle on Half a World Away in honour of The Royle Family and job's a good'un.
In all seriousness, I like it, but agree it feels like it's from a different age - I don't really mind if God saves the King or not. But we'd never agree a new one, or it would be something much worse (you can't trust the people to decide: see Brexit and Boaty McBoatface), so let's just stick with it.
There's a counter argument to that.
Scotland has had a few different unofficial anthems over the centuries, and the most popular one over the last 40 or so years is "Flower of Scotland".
No body voted. No government department got involved. There wasn't a live programme on the telly that charged £2 a text for folk to choose their favourite songs from.
The popularity of our unofficial anthems happened organically, within the culture.
I think the same thing has happened with "Jerusalem" in England. No?
I think the issue now would be finding a composition that the peoples of all the constituent nations would identify with, given there's such strong feelings of different identities in so many places."
Yes, I agree, but your last paragraph is it. Composing and agreeing on a new anthem that had equal meaning to ALL four nations and could be supported by the majority of people (and I do think we should get a chance to agree/disagree) would be nigh impossible, in my view. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"What if we had one that basically said sorry for all the bad things our forebears did to each other and everyone else?  "
It's not our shame to apologise for - we can only deal with the here and now! We're not going to ask the current Germans to sing sorry for WW2 are we?
As for "God save the King", let's all disassociate from the anti-Scottish verse that still gets thrown about from time to time "Rebellious Scots to crush!" indeed. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
I don’t like it, it’s a dirge which does not reflect the country that we live in.
Keep it for ceremonial occasions involving His Majesty, but we need an English National Anthem and Jerusalem gets my vote. They play it before the start of a home test match and it makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, it’s very evocative. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"What if we had one that basically said sorry for all the bad things our forebears did to each other and everyone else?
Plus all the good. It should have a happy ending, right?"
Would not be fab without a happy ending !! |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
In the land, where I was born
Lived a man, who became the king
And he told us of his life
In his world of extreme pravalidge…
To the tune of yellow submarine
We all live in the land of chips and beer |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"What if we had one that basically said sorry for all the bad things our forebears did to each other and everyone else?
Plus all the good. It should have a happy ending, right?"
I’m sure many would’ve appreciated seeing Linford Christie getting yanked off on the podium, but it should be a family show. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
I think an instrumental would probably be best.
No arguments about the words or co tent. No risk of offending anyone or it being hijacked by anyone to be used to serve a particular agenda.
And as many people who attend sporting events can't sing for toffee...they could just hum or whistle. 🤷♂️
|
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"I think an instrumental would probably be best.
No arguments about the words or co tent. No risk of offending anyone or it being hijacked by anyone to be used to serve a particular agenda.
And as many people who attend sporting events can't sing for toffee...they could just hum or whistle. 🤷♂️
"
How about Now We Are Free? |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"I think an instrumental would probably be best.
No arguments about the words or co tent. No risk of offending anyone or it being hijacked by anyone to be used to serve a particular agenda.
And as many people who attend sporting events can't sing for toffee...they could just hum or whistle. 🤷♂️
"
Suggest the bridge over the river kwai  |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
I find the idea of monarchy totally anachronistic.
I can find no reason to associate any belief in God ( a creator of the universe and everything ) with any religion that bases itself around the Abrahamic histories as expressed in the Christian faith, the Jewish faith or Islam
But I do find The Last Night of the Proms extremely uplifting and though I hate the jingoistic nature of it, it does fill me with national pride
 |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"I find the idea of monarchy totally anachronistic.
I can find no reason to associate any belief in God ( a creator of the universe and everything ) with any religion that bases itself around the Abrahamic histories as expressed in the Christian faith, the Jewish faith or Islam
But I do find The Last Night of the Proms extremely uplifting and though I hate the jingoistic nature of it, it does fill me with national pride
"
What? Surely that was just a mixed up word salad!..🤷♂️ |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"its the national anthem. end of discussion"
Not for long when union breaks up
Open discussion..
Plus it not my national anthem it’s the county o love and was born in but .. it’s not mine …. And an end of discussion sums it up |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"its the national anthem. end of discussion
Not for long when union breaks up
Open discussion..
Plus it not my national anthem it’s the county o love and was born in but .. it’s not mine …. And an end of discussion sums it up "
union breaks up, delusional scottish answer, referendum said no, plus the scottish do not understand the impact upon them as things do not go the way they thought it might. no money, no income, no longer paid for by london. no EU, no north sea resources, no defence. even the european union have said that an independent scotland could not join.
if it isnt your national anthem, then the answer would be you are free to leave the country. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"its the national anthem. end of discussion
Not for long when union breaks up
Open discussion..
Plus it not my national anthem it’s the county o love and was born in but .. it’s not mine …. And an end of discussion sums it up
union breaks up, delusional scottish answer, referendum said no, plus the scottish do not understand the impact upon them as things do not go the way they thought it might. no money, no income, no longer paid for by london. no EU, no north sea resources, no defence. even the european union have said that an independent scotland could not join.
if it isnt your national anthem, then the answer would be you are free to leave the country."
Really ? A question was even asked you plum
Oh dear …. You really are quite obnoxious but each to own … free to leave country for airing an opinion .. your true colours for all to see .. whoops .. good luck with that |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"its the national anthem. end of discussion
Not for long when union breaks up
Open discussion..
Plus it not my national anthem it’s the county o love and was born in but .. it’s not mine …. And an end of discussion sums it up
union breaks up, delusional scottish answer, referendum said no, plus the scottish do not understand the impact upon them as things do not go the way they thought it might. no money, no income, no longer paid for by london. no EU, no north sea resources, no defence. even the european union have said that an independent scotland could not join.
if it isnt your national anthem, then the answer would be you are free to leave the country.
Really ? A question was even asked you plum
Oh dear …. You really are quite obnoxious but each to own … free to leave country for airing an opinion .. your true colours for all to see .. whoops .. good luck with that "
it is easy to search for the impacts on scotland leaving the UK, perhaps you should do that search to understand them.
as for the rest well, you should read things more carefully.
opinions, are allowed, especially when they dont match your own.
so the true colours were your own. try to keep them in check |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"its the national anthem. end of discussion
Not for long when union breaks up
Open discussion..
Plus it not my national anthem it’s the county o love and was born in but .. it’s not mine …. And an end of discussion sums it up "
Yet you live in Hatfield? |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"its the national anthem. end of discussion
Not for long when union breaks up
Open discussion..
Plus it not my national anthem it’s the county o love and was born in but .. it’s not mine …. And an end of discussion sums it up
Yet you live in Hatfield?"
Which means what? |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"its the national anthem. end of discussion
Not for long when union breaks up
Open discussion..
Plus it not my national anthem it’s the county o love and was born in but .. it’s not mine …. And an end of discussion sums it up
Yet you live in Hatfield?
Which means what? "
???? I don't know but I'm know curious????? |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"its the national anthem. end of discussion
Not for long when union breaks up
Open discussion..
Plus it not my national anthem it’s the county o love and was born in but .. it’s not mine …. And an end of discussion sums it up
union breaks up, delusional scottish answer, referendum said no, plus the scottish do not understand the impact upon them as things do not go the way they thought it might. no money, no income, no longer paid for by london. no EU, no north sea resources, no defence. even the european union have said that an independent scotland could not join.
if it isnt your national anthem, then the answer would be you are free to leave the country.
Really ? A question was even asked you plum
Oh dear …. You really are quite obnoxious but each to own … free to leave country for airing an opinion .. your true colours for all to see .. whoops .. good luck with that
it is easy to search for the impacts on scotland leaving the UK, perhaps you should do that search to understand them.
as for the rest well, you should read things more carefully.
opinions, are allowed, especially when they dont match your own.
so the true colours were your own. try to keep them in check"
No poor logic and trying to be clever can’t hide your racism I’m afraid … other people will see it and that’s good … as I said each to own … and Scot’s gain independence… enjoy it … lol |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"its the national anthem. end of discussion
Not for long when union breaks up
Open discussion..
Plus it not my national anthem it’s the county o love and was born in but .. it’s not mine …. And an end of discussion sums it up
union breaks up, delusional scottish answer, referendum said no, plus the scottish do not understand the impact upon them as things do not go the way they thought it might. no money, no income, no longer paid for by london. no EU, no north sea resources, no defence. even the european union have said that an independent scotland could not join.
if it isnt your national anthem, then the answer would be you are free to leave the country.
Really ? A question was even asked you plum
Oh dear …. You really are quite obnoxious but each to own … free to leave country for airing an opinion .. your true colours for all to see .. whoops .. good luck with that
it is easy to search for the impacts on scotland leaving the UK, perhaps you should do that search to understand them.
as for the rest well, you should read things more carefully.
opinions, are allowed, especially when they dont match your own.
so the true colours were your own. try to keep them in check
No poor logic and trying to be clever can’t hide your racism I’m afraid … other people will see it and that’s good … as I said each to own … and Scot’s gain independence… enjoy it … lol "
when you point failed, when you point backfires on you. give up.
you keep making comments that probably sum you up more than anyone else. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"its the national anthem. end of discussion
Not for long when union breaks up
Open discussion..
Plus it not my national anthem it’s the county o love and was born in but .. it’s not mine …. And an end of discussion sums it up
Yet you live in Hatfield?
Which means what?
???? I don't know but I'm know curious?????"
Pleased for you .. truly am |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
Billy said it best...
https://youtu.be/i9nnnM-__JQ?si=IzbkXZOHN1IvG8SH
As for my own opinion; I LOVE our national anthem 🏴 Everyone once in their lifetime should experience it in the Stadium (Rugby or Football, doesn't matter). Welsh or not, you can't deny the goosebumps! |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
Shockingly bad anthem - just a dirge with repetitive lyrics. And thats before the inappropriate sixth verse!
Love them or hate them, great countries have great anthems - France, Germany, Russia, USA etc
Few things however can beat Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau being beautifully sung at the Millenium Stadium! |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"I find the idea of monarchy totally anachronistic.
I can find no reason to associate any belief in God ( a creator of the universe and everything ) with any religion that bases itself around the Abrahamic histories as expressed in the Christian faith, the Jewish faith or Islam
But I do find The Last Night of the Proms extremely uplifting and though I hate the jingoistic nature of it, it does fill me with national pride
What? Surely that was just a mixed up word salad!..🤷♂️"
If you read it slowly and look up any words that you don’t understand in a dictionary… it does make sense.
I do not claim that my enjoyment of the last night at the proms is supported by my assertions in the first paragraphs.
I am prepared to accept a certain level of none sense in that degree
But to call it “word salad@ is a bit over egging it, if you don’t mind me saying ! |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By *iver78Man 4 weeks ago
barton upon humber |
"Maybe it’s not a belter of a tune.. but it’s ours, I’m english, and we will stick with it thankyou.... the bloody scots got the best one...when murrayfield belt that one out, I sing along too... "
This is so true |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"its the national anthem. end of discussion
Not for long when union breaks up
Open discussion..
Plus it not my national anthem it’s the county o love and was born in but .. it’s not mine …. And an end of discussion sums it up "
That's very sad that you choose no allegiance or ceremony to the country you choose to live in. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"Shockingly bad anthem - just a dirge with repetitive lyrics. And thats before the inappropriate sixth verse!
Love them or hate them, great countries have great anthems - France, Germany, Russia, USA etc
Few things however can beat Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau being beautifully sung at the Millenium Stadium!"
I take it your a Welsh then? |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
Before a national anthem will probably need to figure out what country this is, England, Great Britain, UK or United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, because it's getting a fucking nightmare finding in drop down lists for passport visas and pre-arrivals.
When we know that we can figure out the right tune |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"The jmJohn Barnes rap
Mr 🐺 "
Good shout. Maybe a remix with Ed Sheeran, seeing as he collaborates with everyone. Plus he's Ginger, so he could be an English rose. Maybe add Stormzy and Adele to it and we've got a new Christmas number one! |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"England should have its own (Jerusalem). After all Scotland does, and it's a pretty good tune too.
England does use Jerusalem at the Commonwealth Games."
Are England in the commonwealth games or is it team GB? |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"England should have its own (Jerusalem). After all Scotland does, and it's a pretty good tune too.
England does use Jerusalem at the Commonwealth Games.
Are England in the commonwealth games or is it team GB?"
England. Each home nation competes on its own. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"The jmJohn Barnes rap
Mr 🐺
Good shout. Maybe a remix with Ed Sheeran, seeing as he collaborates with everyone. Plus he's Ginger, so he could be an English rose. Maybe add Stormzy and Adele to it and we've got a new Christmas number one!"
I think we are on to something here
Mr 🐺 |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"England should have its own (Jerusalem). After all Scotland does, and it's a pretty good tune too.
England does use Jerusalem at the Commonwealth Games.
Are England in the commonwealth games or is it team GB?
England. Each home nation competes on its own."
Ah ok. Thank you for the info 👍🏾😊 |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
I’m not a fan of the national anthem, it celebrates colonialism no matter which way you look at it.
So I would suggest instead we have the following.
A QR code that opens YouTube so you can listen to whatever you want.
For Scotland Billy Connolly talking about Vaseline.
For Wales, Michael Sheen Welsh sugar
Northern Ireland brown eyed girl by van Morrison.
And for England three lions or some shit |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"I like it, its nostalgic, it is what it says on the tin, the national anthem. I wouldnt change it. "
I agree with TT, it is part of our history. Why change it? I hardly play it home so like hearing it when at events or on T’tele |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
I think mine (Scotlands) is world class....no-one sings an anthem with as much pride as us Scots do 🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴 |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
Oh I miss the good old days of the national anthem being played at the end of a film in the cinema or when the BBC closed down for the night.
Bring back such nostalgic times (a bit of a flogging never hurt anyone).  |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
I've been to the Mall outside Buckingham palace during many royal events and when everyone tried to sing the anthem it sounded so depressing and out of sync. It doesn't give a positive uplifting onward and upward feel compared to other anthems. It was like being back at church when the reverend picked old fashioned hymns to sing, with many people not even believing the words they were singing as they sang from the throat and not from the heart.
I personally would be happy if the anthem were changed to...
Always look on the bright side of life.
If your happy and you know it clap your hands.
I'm forever blowing bubbles.
|
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"I can only think of four anthems I'd recognise; ours, Germany, France, USA. I've looked at the lyrics for all and ours isn't so bad as the others chat nonsense too."
Look at the Aussies there was Waltzing Matilda till they changed it in the Mid 90's  |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"
opinions, are allowed, especially when they dont match your own.
so the true colours were your own. try to keep them in check"
Thats call free speech my friend what people are fighting for in England hence the rally yesterday or would you like it to be called Limited Free Speech
And
Opinions are like A%^holes everybody got one !  |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
Very outdated, sombre and ironically nothing to do with the actual country or it's many inhabitants.
As people who aren't religious in any way shape or form, nor big believers in the monarchy, doesn't it seem stupid to have a national anthem that's all about those two things??? |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"I can only think of four anthems I'd recognise; ours, Germany, France, USA. I've looked at the lyrics for all and ours isn't so bad as the others chat nonsense too.
Look at the Aussies there was Waltzing Matilda till they changed it in the Mid 90's "
https://youtube.com/watch?v=ht4uY86Ff4c&si=jGKAy4mzpswOFahC
Out of 30 thirty national anthems I only knew the 4 I mentioned above. Tune wise they're all much of a muchness to my ears. I couldn't be bothered to look up their lyrics. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
Valid points raised OP, I agree with you on the should be about humanity and not singular, although I don't believe it would be appropriate to change it now, given it's deep rooted and we've still Royalty present.
In my opinion, a nation should be defined by the collective achievements of its people and not a monarchy which is inherently elevated to a singular family on a symbolic pedestal.
Doesn't make good ethos.
Btw, my opinion is somewhat biased because in my eyes and heart only God deserves to be on pedestal. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
» Add a new message to this topic
