Rule Britannia

[shemnel]

'Empire' and the attitudes it fostered/promoted totally re-hashed the English psyche.

 

[hilts]

To thee belongs the rural reign;
Thy cities shall with commerce shine:



Is it a song that serves capitalism or does it make you proud to be British?


"Rule, Britannia! rule the waves:
"Britons never will be slaves."

As a nation that has a rich history, it fascinates me how we portray ourselves and how we are portrayed by others. I love my country and I wonder if these songs are relevant and how much they play on our nations noggins today.

Is this wokery nonsense from me, or does it have legs.

It was of its time and nearly no one gives it much thought. It was a tub thumper of its age.I much preferred the band when McCartney joined. Most of the earlier Yaxley-Lennon stuff was for a more commercial audience. I Think let it be put a line in the sand. Clever bloke Paul shit hair though.

I give it 6/10

 

[The Light Was Yellow Sir]

Can only speak for myself, but as a Brit living abroad, I absolutely LOVE BOTH “Rule Britannia” and “Land of Hope and Glory.” However, my favorite will always be “Jerusalem.”

Trends come and go, and the period through which we are currently living may change centuries of feelings about such things, but I believe that being true to the time and place of the song is never wrong, no matter how times change.

If one cannot put such things into context, then that’s on the individual.

Everyone of which is a million times better than the dirge that currently serves as our national anthem. If changing the national anthem and pledging allegiance to some woman is too difficult to change then, as a minimum, we should have one of them as a English anthem. Like you, my preference would be for Jerusalem.

 

[BlueHammer85]

4/10

 

[mancity2012_eamo]

Not a fan.
3/10 for the tune.
Not mad on the lyrics.

 

[urban genie]

This from 1760 or so:

Heart of Oak

Come cheer up, m’lads
Tis to glory we steer
To add something more
To this wonderful year
To honour we call you
As free men, not slaves
For who are so free
As the sons of the waves
Hearts of oak are our ships
Jolly tars are our men
We always are ready
Steady, boys, steady
We’ll fight and we’ll conquer
Again and again!

I remember having to sing this guff in the choir at school.

All these songs are a product of an age. They have zero place in the UK of today. We should have more appropriate songs:
Common People?
Buddy can you spare a dime?
Is this the world we created?
Beans for Breakfast?

I like them (HoO and grenadiers) musically in composition, the lyrics are outdated but as instrumentals they still piss on rule britannia

 

[mexico1970]

Most national anthems are jingoistic, it's the nature of the beast.

 

[I'm With Stupid]

Pre empire most English ballards are more akin to their Scottish and Irish bretheren and when I was young still heard and sang at school.

You grew up pre-Empire? You old git.

 

[I'm With Stupid]

I mean it's better than God Save the Queen, but then what isn't?

I don't really like it as a tune and so couldn't tell you any of the lyrics beyond the obvious. Patriotic songs generally are a bit weird. I remember watching a video about the history of American songs during their various wars, because they're always followed by both anti and pro war anthems. One that particularly stood out from the Iraq war was called Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue, and it was just cringeworthy. I mean get a load of this shit...

Justice will be served and the battle will rage
This big dog will fight when you rattle his cage
And you'll be sorry that you messed with
The U.S. of A.
'Cause we'll put a boot in your ass
It's the American way

Here's the rest of the lyrics if you want to throw up.

 

[Mr Kobayashi]

To thee belongs the rural reign;
Thy cities shall with commerce shine:



Is it a song that serves capitalism or does it make you proud to be British?


"Rule, Britannia! rule the waves:
"Britons never will be slaves."

As a nation that has a rich history, it fascinates me how we portray ourselves and how we are portrayed by others. I love my country and I wonder if these songs are relevant and how much they play on our nations noggins today.

Is this wokery nonsense from me, or does it have legs.

It was written and gained popularity because it was promoting the ambition to build an empire not celebrating one.

It was written in 1740, at that time British overseas colonies included North Eastern America and some territories in the Pacific.

The Spanish Empire was the most powerful of that period.

Championing "gentlemanly capitalism" i.e. Imperialism and capitalism that served the interests of the governing/administrator classes in the colonial possessions and old boys in the City of London finance sector. Does that form of capitalism exist anymore?