I prefer to sing GSTQ, but I'd like Jerusalem to be sung before hand, abit like Abide With Me is sung before the national anthem at the CC final.

Get some opera singer in, words on the big screen and get it belted out.

The lyrics:

Jerusalem
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.


Land of Hope and Glory
Land of Hope and Glory, Mother of the Free,
How shall we extol thee, who are born of thee?
Wider still, and wider, shall thy bounds be set;
God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet!
Truth and Right and Freedom, each a holy gem,
Stars of solemn brightness, weave thy diadem.
Tho' thy way be darkened, still in splendour drest,
As the star that trembles o'er the liquid West.
Throned amid the billows, throned inviolate,
Thou hast reigned victorious, thou has smiled at fate.
Land of Hope and Glory, fortress of the Free,
How may we extol thee, praise thee, honour thee?
Hark, a mighty nation maketh glad reply;
Lo, our lips are thankful, lo, our hearts are high!
Hearts in hope uplifted, loyal lips that sing;
Strong in faith and freedom, we have crowned our King!

Rule Britannia
When Britain first, at heaven's command,
Arose from out the azure main,
Arose, arose, arose from out the a-azure main,
This was the charter, the charter of the land,
And guardian angels sang this strain:

Rule Britania!
Britannia rule the waves.
Britons never, never, never shall be slaves.

Rule Britannia!
Britannia rule the waves.
Britons never, never, never shall be slaves.
The nations, not so blest as thee,
Must in their turn, to tyrants fall,
Must in ,must in, must in their turn, to tyrants fall,
While thou shalt flourish, shalt flourish great and free,
The dread and envy of them all.
(Chorus)
Rule Britannia!
Britannia rule the waves.
Britons never, never, never shall be slaves.
Rule Britannia!
Britannia rule the waves.
Brittons never, never, never shall be slaves.
Rule Britannia (with pronuciation singing guide)
When Britain first, at heaven's command,
Aro-o-o-ose from out the a-a-a-zure main,
Arose, arose, arose from out the a-azure main,
This was the charter, the charter of the land,
And guardian A-a-angels sang this strain:
Rule Britannia!
Britannia rule the waves. Britons never, never, never shall be slaves.
Rule Britannia!
Britannia rule the waves.
Britons never, never, never shall be slaves.
The nations, no-o-o-o-ot so blest as thee,
Must i-i-i-i-in their turn, to ty-y--yrants fall,
Must in ,must in, must in their turn, to ty-y-rants fall,
While thou shalt flourish, shalt flourish great and free,
The dread and e-e-e-e-nvy of them all.
(Chorus)
Rule Britannia!
Britannia rule the waves.
Britons never, never, never shall be slaves.
Rule Britannia!
Britannia rule the waves.
Britons never, never, never shall be slaves.

Blake was highly critical of the Christian Church (not of religion, as he was undoubtedly a believer) and many read the original text to be a critique of that Church - his appeal to 'Jarusalem' is an appeal for people to break their relationships with the England of that day (which would have included the dominance of the CofE Church) to create the 'New Jerusalem' (which in Blake's interpretation of Christianity would have meant an overthrowing of the established religious order). I doubt he'd be too happy with how his words have been co-opted the way they have by that very same Church (and the WI etc.)...

That's what i meant in response to you mentioning how its sung at the start of (presumably, establsihed Church) services.

fwiw, I have always rated it - just wish people bothered to actually read the words within the (often critical) context that the author intended.

(ps. even recognising it as a song set to words and not as a poem, it's still not a hymn as it doesn't actually praise God, or any other figure)

Among these dark satanic mills?

was he talking about West Yorkshire?

Rule Britannia would be an apt anthem for the England team to run out to


"Rule Britannia!
Britannia rules the waves.
Britons never, never, never shall be slaves"



I don't think the England side have won a trophy since Admiral Lord Nelson was winning at Trafalgar

Sounds like the place hasnt changed much

"Britannia rule the waves" Baz, "rule"

Originally an instruction rather than a boast, me old convict.

I think the first verses of History were a reworking of Blake's "London" - that what you referring to? I suspect the whole song may owe more to Blake than is immediately apparent, but I'm not a huge Verve fan so others may have a better feel for it.

As your ousted Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, said "Feel free to take advantage of another of your rights - your right to leave"

EDIT - I believe it may have been john Howard who said the above.

December 21st