So here we are on the eve of yet another World Cup without Scotland...and I'm awakened from the torpor of my mid afternoon hammock-time with a thought....
When England, kick off their opening match on Saturday against the USA, what anthem will their supporters belt out and the team mumble along to?
Traditionally England have used 'God Save The Queen' for football and 'Jerusalem' for Cricket, Eggball chasing usually comes supplied with Low Slung Chariots. Yet, when Great Britain competes in the Olympics it's always 'God Save The Queen', which is recognised as the official anthem.
So surely, at this time when English identity is undergoing a rediscovery and there is no longer any perceived 'shame' about flying the St George's Cross, it's time for England to have an anthem that is as distinct to them as 'Flower of Scotland' is to us, 'Land of My Fathers' to the Welsh and 'Londonderry Air to the less partisan folks in Norn Ireland?
The English Commonwealth team carried out a poll for what their team anthem should be in Delhi later this year. The result is quite surprising. Have the English FA followed suit and embraced the idea of English identity?
“To rage and mock is gentlemanly, to grumble and whine is not” Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa
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Former vile blogger Montague Burton aka Mark MacLachlan
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5 comments:
You mixed up the offical anthems with what the fans sing.
The rugby anthem is still officially the National Anthem 'God Save the Queen'. The fans sing about their low slung chariots during the game... but by that logic, the Scottish anthem would then be "You can stick your f*cking chariots up your arse!"
I love to see the English have the confidence to sing their own song as an independent Nation though ;-)
Flower of Scotland is a great modern folk song about stuff that happened in 1314 and i love to belt it out now and again. But i find it deeply depressing that it's crept into use before rugby and, more recently, fitba matches. It's about battering lumps out of the English. A national anthem should be about something a bit more positive than that. A person's a person for a' that they may have English ancestry or even have been born there themself. Scotland is for everyone living here.
England can save that queen burd all they like though, i'll have the volume down at that point.
The Star Spangled Banner's got a rippin tune and rather noble lyrics. I may be tempted to sing along on Saturday.
Naldo
Can't beat La Marsellaise (spelling?). Makes hair on back of neck rise, and I'm not even French. Remember the scene in "Casablanca" ? Emotional stuff.
Allons enfants de la Patrie,
Le jour de gloire est arrivé !
Contre nous de la tyrannie,
L'étendard sanglant est levé, Entendez-vous dans les campagnes
Mugir ces féroces soldats ?
Ils viennent jusque dans vos bras
Égorger vos fils, vos compagnes!
Best anthem ever William, if not just a tad gory.
Besides, after Thierry Henry's blatant cheating against Ireland, they'll not be getting much support...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/politics/10407937.stm
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