What would you like to see it replaced by and how/could we go about getting it replaced?
2006-08-20 02:42:03 · 26 answers · asked by Purple 8 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
No, you be pedantic, keefer, Uk is a nation - its Sunday after a long Saturday night - sorry!
2006-08-20 03:00:22 · update #1
Astra, I most definitely am from UK and I know exactly what it means! However, my question was, is it out dated and boring? Under normal circumstances only the first verse is sung and this solely refers to the Queen and not our great nation as a whole, I personally feel that the National Anthem should refer to the nation as a whole and not just one aspect of it, albeit the figurehead.
2006-08-20 03:29:32 · update #2
I think most National Anthems in the world are about the country itself rather than the country's ruler (e.g. a queen). National Anthems (in christian countries) are usually like prayers to God asking him to bless and protect that country as a whole rather than one person in the country. Something like Rule Britannia would be more appropriate, I think. The music and the lyrics should also be a bit like a march so to encourage people to be patriotic and protect the homeland if there's a war.
2006-08-20 02:57:44 · answer #1 · answered by Luvfactory 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
The UK is the nation, irrespective of what the scots and welsh say and until they are recognised as independant nations then it will remain so.
The welsh and the scots has 'opted' out of using the nation anthem and therefore by default it is the English that still uses it.
The line in the national anthem about the scot is about 'rebelious scots' rather than the scottish people so it is about those scots that are rebeling against the british goverment, perhaps not too surprising that the British Anthem might single them out (though that verse dates back hundreds of years and is not longer used). Whereas, the Scots have adopted an anit-english folk song as their song, so kettle calling pot-black I think!
Considering also that it was the scots that wanted to join England (they wanted access to the English trade markets) and when they did it was the Scottish king (James) that aquired the English (now British throne) I fail to see what most of their griping is about. Per head of population they still get more tax spent on them from the British Government, even taking oil into consideration.
Conversly, England brutally occupied the Welsh lands in the 12 century and hence, it is the welsh that have more of a right to talk about independence than the scots.
2006-08-20 03:13:20 · answer #2 · answered by rightmark_web 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Now that's a good point, but the United Kingdom is one Nation, united originally when James V1 of Scotland became King James 1st of England, or the act of union in 1603, then the act of Union in 1707 under Queen Anne, United Scotland with England and Wales, Ireland joined in 1801 and became independent except for Northern Ireland in 1921, Wales joined the act of Union in 1536 under Henry V111.
Now, as for the National Anthem, God Save the Queen, is the official National Anthem for all 4 Nations. I personally think that if Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have independent National Anthems for Sporting events, then England should have something different also, such as "Land of hope and Glory" or "Their will always be an England". It's like saying England is the UK, but it's not, it's just a quarter of the Kingdom.
Personally though I love Scotlands "Flower of Scotland" above all our others. But then I'm half Scottish and half-English.....!
2006-08-20 03:17:35 · answer #3 · answered by patch 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is an English thing and there is a verse about killing rebellious Scots which makes it unsuitable. It should never be played as the UK anthem or the English anthem at anytime. Plus, it's boring, I agree. And most of us don't believe in god and the divine appointment of royalty anymore.
I'd suggest Auld Lang Syne (without the bagpipes) as a suitable replacement.
2006-08-20 03:12:47 · answer #4 · answered by Frog Five 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I refuse to sing it. Purely because I don't think it suits the secular society this country is and because while the queen is the head of the state, she makes no difference to this country. Oh yeah, and the fact that the 6th verse talks about crushing the Scots and I'm Scottish. To be fair, there is a newer version that celebrates the fact there are 4 nations living in the same country. To maintain tradition we could still sing god save the queen but the Sex Pistols song? Honestly, I'm with Bill Bailey on this, Zipadee dooda in the style of Portishead, it displays our British upbeat but pessimist nature.
Oh and a note about Scots, recently there has been calls for an official national anthem for Scots, while I'm happy with this, I would still like to have an anthem for the whole UK that would include us.
2006-08-20 03:04:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
A change to the national anthem would usually be symbollic of a change of sovereign or the birth of a republic, and is done by decree (Charlie boy might be able to wangle this, perhaps we could have 'knees up mother brown') alternatively if President Blair gets his way it'll be 'Sweet talking Guy'
Personally I like Jerusalem, but I think there should be a national competition that anyone can enter and which the whole country can vote for the winner.
2006-08-20 03:02:09 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
ER I hate to be pedantic but technically the UK is a nation. God Save the Queen (if that is the one you are referring to) is the national anthem of the UK and not just of England.
I think it is about time England had it's own Anthem and it needs to be a crowd pleasing belter that can be sung with gusto and make gold medallists weep at Olympics. I think 'Jerusalem' is a great choice..."When we shall build Jerusalem, In England's green and pleasant land" ....makes the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. Other than that, anything by FatBoySlim.
2006-08-20 02:54:10 · answer #7 · answered by keefer 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
. . . you obviously don't live here in the UK or any other Commonwealth country with an education system, otherwise you would know that the UK (initials) is the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" and is most definitely one of the world's top Nation's - the National Anthem is just that, a national anthem for all people within the UK (where are you from?) . . .
2006-08-20 03:09:46 · answer #8 · answered by Astra 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
It's for the British, not just the English, I think it is out dated as is the royal family, and yes it is boring.
I would like to see it replaced with something that wold make me feel alive, you know make me sit up and listen, something with some life in it, how could we get it replaced I have no idea the people like the Queen live in the past and would want it to go on forever so no help there.
Good question though.
2006-08-20 02:53:31 · answer #9 · answered by ringo711 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Yes, England does need a national anthem if only to shut the whining Scots up. The country as a whole should have a separate anthem and should be about the country not the monarchy.
2006-08-20 02:58:05 · answer #10 · answered by joepublic101 3 · 4⤊ 2⤋