Our National Anthem

Well at the moment I have no sense of pride in my country.

We lived in Australia for a while and every morning the children at the primary school opposite our house would sing the Australian national anthem as the flag was raised. I still find the Australian anthem brings back fond memories of our time there. I think this action every morning it instilled the children with a sense of pride in their country which we( in this country ) are sadly lacking.

I can't remember the last time I heard 'God save the Queen'! Love 'Flower of Scotland' and the Welsh national anthem. Wonderful to sing really loudly.
Absolutely hate loathe and detest 'Jerusalem'. It's diabolical nonsense!! Opinionated? Moi?

Oh yes Land of hope and glory,love it on last night of the Proms .it's rousing ???

The South African anthem has verses in 3 different languages , or is it 4? So maybe a new anthem could be one verse in Welsh, one in Gallic, one in Gaelic, one in English.

Deedima I also like the Rabbie Burns song.
I recently heard it sang by Paulo Nutini.

Eglantine I love South Afrikaan music.
We had a mixture of Scottish, English and Afrikaan music at my fathers funeral.

My eyes fill up when I hear the Welsh National Anthem, mainly because I'm Welsh ( never forget you're Welsh!) even though I now live in England and usually only hear it when I watch the rugby from the comfort of an armchair. Don't want to blow the collective trumpet but it might also be something to do with how well the Welsh sing

Nkosi sikelel' the South African anthem is the best. Reduces me to tears.

I thought Jerusalem was WI and Land was Conservative Conference.

I`m English, but love hearing them nearly take the roof off Cardiff Arms Park when singing the Welsh anthem.

Didn't the Conservatives sing Jerusalem at their branch meetings and party conferences? I'm probably muddled if you think not. The WI certainly sing it so men might think it has an exclusive tone to it.

Couldn't go with espousing a mythical visit of Jesus to our shores!

I think the Canadian national anthem is the best, closely followed by the Welsh one.

As a Scot, I’d prefer “ A Man’s a Man for a’ That”.

As a Briton, I honestly don’t know!

While we're on the patriotic theme, how about Flanders and Swann 'The English, the English, the English are best'?

I agree with luckygirl that nationalism is creepy. It is so dangerous.

Monty Python’s Always Look on the Bright Side of Life?.

I honestly do not think it is easy to find a national anthem of any country these days that is not in some way or other old-fashioned or expresses sentiments that someone or other is going to be hurt or offended by.

The Marseillaise is a marvellous tune, but the text is actually about the French revolution and not really about liberty, brotherhood and equality, but more about doing away by violent means with the aristos!

A lot of Germans and their fellow Europeans cringe when we hear the re-instated first verse of Deutschland, Deutschland über alles, not because there is anything wrong with citizens putting there country first, but because of the way the Nazis misused it. The tune was stolen by Prussia, as the original text, set to music by Joseph Haydn was in praise of the Austrian Emperor.

The Danish royal anthem extols various bloody naval battles and the national anthem drags the Vikings into what is supposed to be praise of the country and its people.

These days the Spanish anthem is only played, not sung for various reasons related to the civil war etc.

Perhaps the whole concept is outdated, or do we need to be a little less serious about these reflections of times and attitudes that have now changed?

Charles may choose ‘I’m just sitting watching flowers in the rain’ etc a good old hippy song.

Grandma70

As I know all the words to Jerusalem I would pick that one( saves me learning another.)

I like "I vow to thee my country" as well. In a stand up gig many years ago Billy Connolly suggested it should be replaced by the theme to The Archers.

Doesn't matter in that respect though, does it? It's a great song, and has good intentions (unlike Rule Brittania!)

And singing of a new .Jerusalem in England would not be wise considering the troubles in Jerusalem now

But a hypothetical visit by Jesus is rather pointless in a country where the majority are not Christians

Eglantine not sure how your comment relates to 'Jerusalem'? It's about a hypothetical visit to England by Jesus, is that political in the sense of being Christian?

Look up the words of the French National Anthem if you want one that makes your blood run cold!

Couldn't go with Jerusalem or Land of Hope and Glory. They both have a very one sided political history.

Or is it their left!!??