God Save The Queen?

OK I'll put my hand up as being in the intersect of the Venn diagram of Englishmen that describes being both republican and atheist (so this OP won't go far).

But did my ears deceive me last week?

Did the bint wot did the singin' at HQ get it wrong?

Did she mux-ip her lines?

Doesn't the chorus go

G s o g q
L l o n q
G s t q

I'm pretty sure she replaced the last definite article with another possessive pronoun. Although tbh I haven't been arsed to re-run the vid.
Bad form don't you think from yet another so-called professional lame blonde chorus leader?

Give me anything else but that ham-fisted dirge anyway.

And don't get those military guns firing at me either.
I'm a pacifist as well. (that Venn intersect diminishes further).

Hey Jude,
Don't make it bad
etc.

No slash and burn, bigotry or xenophobia there.

So long as they get the words right.

I believe it should be 'God Save our Queen' on the first half of the verse, switching to 'God Save the Queen' for the final line. But that frequently doesn't happen.

I think it goes like that anyway, I might be wrong.

I hate our anthem with a passion. Its the most boring uninspring load of dross around.

Imagine having something like "La Marseillaise" to sing your heart out to...

We'll maybe have a King one day... long live the Queen btw
After a lifetime of singing 'Queen' it will take some adjusting to the new monarch's moniker.

GeordieFalcon wrote:I hate our anthem with a passion. Its the most boring uninspring load of dross around.

Imagine having something like "La Marseillaise" to sing your heart out to...

   best one out there for sure.

(although i snigger at the Anglo rugby club alternative lyrics)

God save our gracious Queen!
Long live our noble Queen!
God save the Queen!
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God save the Queen.

Just the first verse.  

The song is part of my DNA, so I have no reason to consider whether I like it or not.  Use it. Fire the guns.  Go for Glory.
I think I am a bit too much of a realist to be truly pacifist.  Having seen first hand people and societies bludgeon themselves into the stone age, before our involvement ever started, for hate sake, for religious sake, for family or clan sake, for the sake of hell knows, I have to admit I do not get the human species.  We have it so damn good by comparison, I defies logic.  And what we have is worth protecting.  How we do it is obviously where most of us disagree.  And much of it has not been done well.  I think because no one has found the magic answer.  

Sorry to go off, but it does come out every so often.  But I think we have it, as a group of closely related peoples, pretty damn good.  
Maybe we need more Rugby?

GF, have you read the words of La M? Pretty gruesome stuff.
Duty, Three stanzas. Just three. You'd think we could get that right. Mind you Biltong was mildly corrected for the Shoulder to Shoulder Ireland Plc corporate anthem the other day.

But he's a Saffer and it needs a linguistic degree to learn his words.

gregortree wrote:We'll maybe have a King one day... long live the Queen btw
After a lifetime of singing 'Queen' it will take some adjusting to the new monarch's moniker.

Technically I'm a Georgian. But I don't recall being one.

But I have a fazy, half-remembered recollection of my dad putting up a Union Jack (now Flag) outside the house.
But the flag remained for later use and the event passed. So I've probably got it wrong.

Georgia has more or less the same flag as England's and the same patron saint.

Portnoy

Actually no i havent read them...im assuming theres some referance to Madam Guillotine...

Its not just our Anthem though...theres loads like the dirge that is Flower OF Scotland, Advance Australia Fair.....and so many more.

The Anthem shouldnt need to get you fired up...you should already be fired up just being on the pitch representing your country...but when you see the French, or the Germans, the Americans blasting their anthems out you can see their chests pushing out in pride.

I still sing it loud...but I just never feel that same response with ours...

Its a most inappropriate anthem to be used by England in a sporting tournament involving Wales, Scotland and representatives from Northern Ireland as rivals anyways.

I'd propose replacing it with that chumbawomba song or  baddiel and skinners 3 lions in the interests of historical and political accuracy and relevance.

Thanks.

Portnoy's Complaint wrote:GF, have you read the words of La M? Pretty gruesome stuff.
Duty, Three stanzas. Just three. You'd think we could get that right. Mind you Biltong was mildly corrected for the Shoulder to Shoulder Ireland Plc corporate anthem the other day.

But he's a Saffer and it needs a linguistic degree to learn his words.

There's six! That's if you include the little-known other three - one of which contains the line "rebellious Scots to crush".

Mind you, England only ever use the first one and, on occasion, the third. We'll never get to sing all six!

gregortree wrote:Georgia has more or less the same flag as England's and the same patron saint.

Dont they have the same music to the anthem aswell?

The most really stirring English anthem there is is Jerusalem. Bit too socialist for the Twickenham Scotch Eggs and Shiraz set though   

Scotch eggs and Shiraz?? Don't England have anything of their own?

It's no less inappropriate than some of the songs that other countries sing. Admittedly, most of the songs are essentially "our country is better than everyone else's, yay!" (Advance Australia Fair, for instance), but we also have the following important messages, if you check the lyrics and history of the songs in question:

"We like beating the English" (The Star Spangled Banner, USA)
"We like beating the English" (Flower of Scotland, Scotland)
"We like beating the English" (Ireland's Call, Ireland - at least so some Irish friends tell me. Please correct me if I am wrong.)

At least the latter two are merely sporting songs and not the national anthem of said country. I do not know enough about the Welsh anthem to have a view, but I would not be surprised to learn that segments of it translate to you-know-what, and they do have the Stereophonics as backup.

On the other hand, some anthems are highly appropriate to the sporting context, to wit:

"We like beating the French" (La Marseillaise, France)

Is it any wonder they perform like they do?

rodders wrote:Scotch eggs and Shiraz?? Don't England have anything of their own?

In the words of Horrible Histories "Your British things come from abroad / And most are, frankly, stolen."

Duty281 wrote:

Portnoy's Complaint wrote:GF, have you read the words of La M? Pretty gruesome stuff.
Duty, Three stanzas. Just three. You'd think we could get that right. Mind you Biltong was mildly corrected for the Shoulder to Shoulder Ireland Plc corporate anthem the other day.

But he's a Saffer and it needs a linguistic degree to learn his words.

There's six! That's if you include the little-known other three - one of which contains the line "rebellious Scots to crush".

Mind you, England only ever use the first one and, on occasion, the third. We'll never get to sing all six!

I did look up that Scots xenophile attack once.
Apparently there has never been an official GSTQ/K wording. The rebellious Scots bit was a publicity-led UKIP-cum-Daily Mail Vicorian precursor to the rack and ruin we now endure. (I think).

Poorfour wrote:

rodders wrote:Scotch eggs and Shiraz?? Don't England have anything of their own?

In the words of Horrible Histories "Your British things come from abroad / And most are, frankly, stolen."

At least then if England do win the title then we can all take a little credit ....

Portnoy's Complaint wrote:

Duty281 wrote:

Portnoy's Complaint wrote:GF, have you read the words of La M? Pretty gruesome stuff.
Duty, Three stanzas. Just three. You'd think we could get that right. Mind you Biltong was mildly corrected for the Shoulder to Shoulder Ireland Plc corporate anthem the other day.

But he's a Saffer and it needs a linguistic degree to learn his words.

There's six! That's if you include the little-known other three - one of which contains the line "rebellious Scots to crush".

Mind you, England only ever use the first one and, on occasion, the third. We'll never get to sing all six!

I did look up that Scots xenophile attack once.
Apparently there has never been an official GSTQ/K wording. The rebellious Scots bit was a publicity-led UKIP-cum-Daily Mail Vicorian precursor to the rack and ruin we now endure. (I think).

Well the Scots keep sending us home to think again. Certainly seems to be working for S Lancaster.

Notch wrote:The most really stirring English anthem there is is Jerusalem. Bit too socialist for the Twickenham Scotch Eggs and Shiraz set though   

Notch , that is pretty low rent.
W Car Park it is surely Smoked Salmon (Scottish) and Champers (French) although I wouldn't know exactly.

Back to Jerusalem and Blake.
It is far more spirtual / mystic than socialist, dreaming of a New Jerusalem and musing on the legend that the young Jesus did in fact visit England with his uncle.
I love the song as it name checks England, in a spiritual not triumphalist tone, but also has some spine.
Calling for martial/ spiritual weapons to fight to build the New Jerusalem.
Blake would be astonished to find his poem such a favourite at both a future WI and by England Rugby, neither having been invented in his time.

Poorfour wrote:
"We like beating the English" (The Star Spangled Banner, USA)
"We like beating the English" (Flower of Scotland, Scotland)
"We like beating the English" (Ireland's Call, Ireland - at least so some Irish friends tell me. Please correct me if I am wrong.)

A tad paranoid perhaps there, Poorfour.

Anthems are - battle songs.  Protectors of the attitudes, politics and aspirations of their peoples.  Example:

"O Lord our God arise,
Scatter her enemies,
And make them fall:
Confound their politics,
Frustrate their knavish tricks,
On Thee our hopes we fix:
God save us all"
("We like to beat anything that walks, talks or crawls")

As for Ireland's Call?  It's written in English - it don't take too long to read the lyrics of it...or listen to them during a game.  And nowhere does it mention thoughts of wanting to beat the English.  

It also happens to be a thoroughly crap ditty in my eyes with far too much slush and gush for a noble battle song.  The kind of song Cliff Richard might put a modern beat to and try to market it to a Christmas audience.

Not a fan of GSTQ, particularly as it's the BRITISH national anthem and all the other constituent countries get to sing their own but us English are forced to adopt GSTQ.

When it's Team GB, we should all be singing GSTQ, when it's England we should be singing our own - for which I'd nominate possibly my favourite classical song/hymn: Jerusalem.

Compared to dreary turgid downbeat GSTQ, Jerusalem is rousing, well tempo-ed and inspires a lot more pride (IMO).

The National Anthem is GSTQ. Why then do the other home nations not sing/play it? Surely they are being very rude again. They shouldn't be allowed to get away with it.

englandglory4ever wrote:The National Anthem is GSTQ. Why then do the other home nations not sing/play it? Surely they are being very rude again. They shouldn't be allowed to get away with it.

See above.

Land of hope and Glory...

Though essentially this is a British anthem aswell....but id have this for England.

Alternativer anthems or just songs that I most associate with each country

France - Non regret rien (Edith Piaf)
Scotland - Caw to fawwwww (Billy Connolly)
England - Snooker Loopy (Chas n Dave)
Wales - Delillah (Tom Jones)
Italy - Amoré (Dean Martin)
Ireland - It's a tie between Jumbo breakfast roll (Pat Short) / Whats another year (Johnny Logan)

As a proud Welshman and a proud ex (is the such thing) Serviceman I sing both anthems which always seems to bring a strange reaction from some fellow Welshmen who don't know me.

There is nothing you can do to mess up GSTQ, it is absolutely awful. An offensively anachronistic dirge, in my opinion. If the singer ballsed it up, good on her, it deserves to be treated with no respect whatsoever, again, in my opinion.

I always thought it was standard procedure for Englishmen to sing

"God save YOUR gracious Queen" etc

whenever they played Wales, Scotland, ex colonials like NZ etc. just to rub it in.

GeordieFalcon wrote:I hate our anthem with a passion. Its the most boring uninspring load of dross around.

Imagine having something like "La Marseillaise" to sing your heart out to...

It actually makes my heart soar a little to hear their are people who think the same as me on this!

GSTQ is the British Anthem.

I think England should have their own like the other participating nations.

Jerusalem is a dreadful cricket dirge... I would personally like to see us go with Land Of Hope & Glory as the English Rugby Anthem.







Or anything by Rage Against The Machine.



FECK YOU! WE WON'T DO WHAT YOU TELL US!
FECK YOU! WE DON'T CARE THAT YOU HATE US!

.....MOTHER FECKER!!

Blake's poem


And did those feet in ancient time.
Walk upon England's mountains green:
And was the holy Lamb of God,
On England's pleasant pastures seen!

And did the Countenance Divine,
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here,
Among these dark Satanic Mills?

Bring me my Bow of burning gold;
Bring me my Arrows of desire:
Bring me my Spear: O clouds unfold!
Bring me my Chariot of fire!

I will not cease from Mental Fight,
Nor shall my Sword sleep in my hand:
Till we have built Jerusalem,
In England's green & pleasant Land


EPIC!!

SecretFly wrote: As for Ireland's Call?  It's written in English - it don't take too long to read the lyrics of it...or listen to them during a game.  And nowhere does it mention thoughts of wanting to beat the English.  

It also happens to be a thoroughly crap ditty in my eyes with far too much slush and gush for a noble battle song.  The kind of song Cliff Richard might put a modern beat to and try to market it to a Christmas audience.

Fair enough. I was told there are verses in Gaelic that are more specific, but given the origins of the song (just looked 'em up) I was clearly being fed a line by an Irishman. Wouldn't be the first time that's happened...

And yes, GSTQ has its more imperialistic verses, even though no-one ever sings 'em. Which would also rule out Land of Hope and Glory ("Wider still and wider..."). Jerusalem it is, then. Though possibly the Spitting Image version ("I'll not forsake / My master plan / No matter how absurd it seems / Til we have built Jerusalem / And made it look like Milton Keynes")

LOHAG a little bit smug & bombastic for my personal taste.. written when Edwardians believed they were superior people and were entitled to lord it over foreigners.

TopHat24/7 wrote:Blake's poem


And did those feet in ancient time.
Walk upon England's mountains green:
And was the holy Lamb of God,
On England's pleasant pastures seen!

And did the Countenance Divine,
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here,
Among these dark Satanic Mills?

Bring me my Bow of burning gold;
Bring me my Arrows of desire:
Bring me my Spear: O clouds unfold!
Bring me my Chariot of fire!

I will not cease from Mental Fight,
Nor shall my Sword sleep in my hand:
Till we have built Jerusalem,
In England's green & pleasant Land


EPIC!!

     

Also has the advantage it goes on a little longer, really annoying at sporting events when our anthem is over in about 20 seconds and everyone elses seems to go on for a good minute!

gregortree wrote:LOHAG a little bit smug & bombastic for my personal taste.. written when Edwardians believed they were superior people and were entitled to lord it over foreigners.

Agreed, but also agree with the comment that Jerusalem is a dreadful cricket dirge. I'd have no problem with a modern anthem being developed.

Hood83 wrote:

gregortree wrote:LOHAG a little bit smug & bombastic for my personal taste.. written when Edwardians believed they were superior people and were entitled to lord it over foreigners.

Agreed, but also agree with the comment that Jerusalem is a dreadful cricket dirge. I'd have no problem with a modern anthem being developed.

Blake's lyrics to a new Kaiser Chief's or Paul Weller tune then.

gregortree wrote:LOHAG a little bit smug & bombastic for my personal taste.. written when Edwardians believed they were superior people and were entitled to lord it over foreigners.

Well it fits us English perfectly then doesnt it!   

Poorfour wrote:
Fair enough. I was told there are verses in Gaelic that are more specific, but given the origins of the song (just looked 'em up) I was clearly being fed a line by an Irishman. Wouldn't be the first time that's happened...

You're talking about the National Anthem of Ireland. A whole other kettle of fish. That's why you're confused by the Irish friend. He was talking about Amhrán na bhFiann. Ireland's Call is relatively recently composed -1995 (maybe why us older guys feel it's alien to our rugby sensibilities). It's the unifying one that's meant to allow all of Ireland (inclusive of Northern Ireland) to sing as one.
But again - if it was a hairs on the neck kind of song for me, then I'd accept it. But it doesn't work for me at all on that level.

Don't like any of the anthem possibilities for England. I'd just do away with it completely. Some of the music is alright, bit of Jupiter or the music from Jeruselum (the music and the songs are pretty independent really). So I'd have Jupiter (by Englishman Holst) with no words. Just stand there and soak it up. Then, like the All Blacks with the special occation Haka, for those we really respect put some Mars on (again no words)

Frankly, I'd sing the Birdie Song or anything for England over GSTQ every time.

Royalist, Unionist, Religious and subservient gobsh!te is GSTQ.










In my humble opinion.

doctor_grey wrote:God save our gracious Queen!
Long live our noble Queen!
God save the Queen!
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God save the Queen.

Just the first verse.  

The song is part of my DNA, so I have no reason to consider whether I like it or not.  Use it. Fire the guns.  Go for Glory.
I think I am a bit too much of a realist to be truly pacifist.  Having seen first hand people and societies bludgeon themselves into the stone age, before our involvement ever started, for hate sake, for religious sake, for family or clan sake, for the sake of hell knows, I have to admit I do not get the human species.  We have it so damn good by comparison, I defies logic.  And what we have is worth protecting.  How we do it is obviously where most of us disagree.  And much of it has not been done well.  I think because no one has found the magic answer.  

Sorry to go off, but it does come out every so often.  But I think we have it, as a group of closely related peoples, pretty damn good.  
Maybe we need more Rugby?

I think WHAT we protect is what people disagree with, as much as how. I don't think it is human nature to say 'we've got it pretty good'. We protect what we think works, or is worth protecting, but we strive for better. In the case of GSTQ there are clearly plenty of us who think it doesn't work. If it's just intended as a way to pep up rugby players, maybe it works, if it's supposed to bind a nation with a sense of commonality, I'm pretty certain it fails dismally.

Portnoy's Complaint wrote:Frankly, I'd sing the Birdie Song or anything for England over GSTQ every time.

Royalist, Unionist, Religious and subservient gobsh!te is GSTQ.










In my humble opinion.

Amen...no, I mean bravo   

At least it's short I suppose

Mind you, both Jimi Hendrix and the Sex Pistols spiced it up.

gregortree wrote:

Notch wrote:The most really stirring English anthem there is is Jerusalem. Bit too socialist for the Twickenham Scotch Eggs and Shiraz set though   

Notch , that is  pretty low rent.
W Car Park  it is surely Smoked Salmon (Scottish) and Champers (French) although I wouldn't know exactly.

Back to Jerusalem and Blake.
It is far more spirtual / mystic than socialist, dreaming of a New Jerusalem and musing on the legend that the young Jesus did in fact visit England with his uncle.
I love the song as it name checks England, in a spiritual not triumphalist tone, but also has some spine.
Calling for martial/ spiritual weapons to fight to build the New Jerusalem.
Blake would be astonished to find his poem such a favourite at both a future WI and by England Rugby, neither having been invented in his time.    

Given the times Blake was living in, he had to cloak his progressive sensibilities beneath various religious allegories lest he be tried for sedition. Not to say that those allegories are not what it's about as well, but it works on several levels. Socialist is a misnomer, ok, as it predates socialism but certainly it was one of Blakes swipes at the industrialists he saw as little better than slave masters and a call for a more perfect society to be built in both a spiritual and material sense.

Portnoy's Complaint wrote:Frankly, I'd sing the Birdie Song or anything for England over GSTQ every time.

Royalist, Unionist, Religious and subservient gobsh!te is GSTQ.










In my humble opinion.

Amen...no, I mean bravo  

Ireland's call is so much better and appropriate than Amhran na BhFiann which is right up there with God save the Queen as the most dated, painful on the ears load of dog dung out there.

Both are truely dreadful songs.