English anthem

The thought of the England Rugby team singing an anthem to the tune of The Archers beggars belief.

And I'm not sure about the suitability of the WI signature tune either.

Oh I can imagine the players belting out Jerusalem, it would sound very inspiring.

Maybe Countryfile could run a competition for an anthem to the tune of The Archers.

Walking down a country lane
Smiling in the sunshine
Not for long, here comes the rain
Spoiling everyone’s fun
Will our weather be
Ever trouble free
Must we shiver and freeze?
England’s ploughmen stir our souls
Coz they like their pickles with cheese.

C'mon Phoenix

I am not keen on using the Archers theme. Does it remind anyone else of the Worzels?

I was just thinking along those lines, Alima! And everyone's head would bob jauntily as they sang the words...it's a bit too up-tempo, I think.

I'm working on it, merlot but I do like yours!

I think the middle eight might be trickier to do though.....

Rosesarered, Jesus certaintly got around in three years , Na he didn't come to England , a refugee ?

The story ( and it's only a story!) is that he travelled with his uncle who was a merchant.People do like their stories, and Glastonbury does very well out of that one. Just as Nottingham does well out of the Robin Hood myth.

I think the tradition was that he was here before he started his three years ministry. Another is that Joseph of Arimathea, who lent him the tomb, travelled to England and that Jesus visited him.

stephenliddell.co.uk/2015/04/04/did-jesus-christ-visit-england/

X posts RR

Merlot sheer brilliance! I love it. Although the chance of the Archers theme tune being chosen is very low, I can see the great British Public ( the ones on the Clapham omnibus) choosing the Eastenders theme.

I think the way this thread is going shows we need to remove religion from the equation.
I only said Jerusalem as that was my preference of the two that were being bandied about on TV this morning.
I definitely think we need something that is purely about the beauty of England and our patriotism.

Bit dirgey though, roses - and what about the bouf, boufs at the beginning?

The bouf boufs are integral to the whole composition, they get everbody's attention!

Come on Merlot do some verses to the Eastenders Theme for us.

I think the bouf boufs should replace the Royal fanfare!

I know they're indispensable, but how would you reproduce them? Would people have to do the sound effects?

Elegran Hail to the Chief, which always makes me laugh, was originally a setting for some wholly inappropriate verses from the The Lady of the Lake, although a newer version was written later. Although played on and off for some earlier presidents, it only became the presidential anthem when Mrs Polk decided it should blast out whenever the president appeared, as James Polk was a diminutive and insignificant figure and people tended not to notice his arrival anywhere.

Love it merlot! I don't think those words can be improved on, they're absolutely spot on. And although I agree the Archers theme tune is unlikely to end up as the English anthem, wouldn't it be great if your 'song' reached the airwaves somehow?

I'll give it a go, roses Dunno about verses though.

Need a first.

This country is full of talented songwriters. As this is to be something new and there doesn't seem to be anything appropriate available that "belongs" to England exclusively, we need something new. Something that describes what is good in England such as beautiful nature etc.

On second thoughts 'I Vow to thee my country ' might be a better choice .

It makes me laugh to think of Merlot's perfect words being sung to The Archers theme tune and who knows it may catch on.
Isn't there a song that begins ' There will always be an England' ? How about that one?

On the 6 o' clock news one woman suggested Heroes by David Bowie!

We will rock you! it gets my vote.