Rule Britannia

[blue for life]

I can’t get into the national anthem as I oppose the idea of monarchy. It should be a celebration of the country and its best values and beauty. Jerusalem though is a top time in itself.

Tune !

 

[Vic]

A lot of people think the line is Britannia RULES the waves ie an arrogant statement of our superiority. The word RULE here, is an exhortation to not allows our nation to become subservient to others.

Surely it's just as arrogant in the imperative. Maybe RULES was just accurate, at a time when we had a decent navy (i.e. financed by and dedicated to preserving colonialism).

 

[Vic]

As empire builders and conquorers at the time obviously the English/british folk music at the time had a leaning to songs about the army and navy, much like many Irish folk song are about rebellion and the Ra due to being repressed and subjugated by said british, or that american early folk songs arw about revolution.

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.

Recently the populists have managed to make waving a flag and singing songs of no relevence atm (you need a dominant navy to rules the waves) all about patriotism where back when these were writtwn they were sang by those actually in the army and navy, not bloated bigots in parliament or folk for one night in the albert hall.

Rule britanians a shite song anyway as is land of hope n glory, though I do like heart of oak and british grenadiers, as they are great tunes


At school in music class we were taught such as this










Non of them jingoistic guff but common English folk songs sung by peasants, serfs, and gentry alike

Green grow the rushes O wasn't jingoistic guff, it was just guff.

The BBC should not be forgiven for keeping Sailing By before the 12.45 am shipping forecast (though composer Ronald Binge did some good stuff) but junking Fritz Spiegl's UK theme in the morning. That had most of the primary school music class repertoire.



As for the World Service dropping Lilli bolero ...

 

[Fiftyyearsandcounting]

Surely it's just as arrogant in the imperative. Maybe RULES was just accurate, at a time when we had a decent navy (i.e. financed by and dedicated to preserving colonialism).

When first written in 1740, the word was RULE. However, when Britain did become a global empire, mainly in the mid1800's, the word was changed by the Victorians in RULES. Turning a patriotic poem into something more jingoistic.

 

[urban genie]

Surely it's just as arrogant in the imperative. Maybe RULES was just accurate, at a time when we had a decent navy (i.e. financed by and dedicated to preserving colonialism).

Not sure but iI think it was originally in an opera about briton during the invasion by the viking danes from over the waves

 

[Rhineland]

​

Moongleam and Meadowsweet​

Skyclad - Moongleam and Meadowsweet

See her face shine in the moonlight--
Soft as silk and white as cream,
Silently I watch her slumber--gently kiss her cheek,
Then I lay my weary head beside hers--close my eyes and dream.
In the morning she'll awake--
Cast off the night and shine like summer,
As she dances all about me she sparkles like a stream,
Her hair is full of meadowsweet--she's wrapped in leafy green.
On bended knee before you with tears in my eyes,
I pledge that till my dying day my sword is on your side--
Forever on your side.
And I love you more than life--
I swear that you mean everything to me,
Everything I'd sacrifice--
If my lady you would favour me.
Far brighter than the stars your smile,
You hold the richest sunset in those eyes--
You are England.
Fear not lady I'll defend you--
In your cause lay down my life,
When 'concrete dragons' threaten they shall see my mettle gleam,
And die if they should try to steal your cloak of leafy green.
Of all the things worth dying for--
None sweeter have I seen,
Than the rose that is my England--
In her cloak of leafy green.

 

[BlueTG]

Genuinely did not know those were the lyrics. I care so little about the songs/anthem that I’ve never bothered to actually concert the effort to pay attention to what is being sung.

Nationalism and all that really isn’t for me. It’s all a bit, forced or inward from my personal view.

 

[urban genie]

I suppose ot show how adding an s to a word and removing a , can change a song from one about defending a tiny nation from invaders from the sea to the same nation celebration invading most of the world and controling the seas.

I suppose many an old folk song has had this transformation such as The red Flag and O Tannembuam use the same tune adapted or how this french folk song from 1709




Was poularised in Britain by Beethoven at the end of the napoleonic wars a ventury later when used for this




And a hundred years later became more well known as the music for this

 

[Octavian]

When first written in 1740, the word was RULE. However, when Britain did become a global empire, mainly in the mid1800's, the word was changed by the Victorians in RULES. Turning a patriotic poem into something more jingoistic.

It’s actually historically accurate.

Following Trafalgar, Britain really did rule the waves.

 

[Deleted member 77198]

I can’t get into the national anthem as I oppose the idea of monarchy. It should be a celebration of the country and its best values and beauty. Jerusalem though is a top time in itself.

I don’t believe in God so the idea of some made up spaghetti armed jelly man who lives on the other side of the Moon saving old Liz is proper daft to me, same with Land Of Hope And Glory (which I do actually think is a great anthem) and Jerusalem… but they’re just a songs.

I’ve never pushed a pineapple or shaken a tree but I definitely danced to “Agadoo” at a school disco once.