Rule Brittania?

Question

Britons were slaves to who when the song came out? is it still sung today?

Answer 1

"Rule, Britannia!" (notive the comma and the exclamation) was written by James Thomson and set to music by Thomas Arne in 1740.

"Britain never never shall be slaves," is a patriotic line about how the British would never be enslaved by anyone.

It is still sung.

Answer 2

The tribes and races that populate the British Isles have been slaves to a number of countries in the past, raids against the Cornish, Devon and Irish coasts continued right up until 15th Century by Barbary Pirates, Moors and Spaniards. The Press gangs of the 19th Century can be called a type of slavery as well, as any able body man could have been forcefully pressed no matter who they where.
But the song was really produced after the Anti Slavery lobby had finished and most of the world was under Royal Navy Policing, which forced many countries to cease slave trading so it could be said that Brittania (one of the figures of Royal Navy depiction) did rule the waves (in the Pax Brittanica of the 1850's to 1914) and Britons would never, never, never 'shall' be slaves (as the Royal Navy would stop all slavers).
As for the song being sung now, yes it is in many areas and locations, the most popular is during the Last Night of the Promanade Concerts held annually around the country now.
Hope this helps

Answer 3

It's interesting that we have a song about a Roman Goddess. Britons were slaves to the Romans. It mentions Britons (that's the Celtic people) who had been driven to the edges of these islands by the Angles and Saxons. It was written at a time when the authorities that imposed George I on us were out killing anyone (like the McDonalds) who didn't like it. Political spin is nothing new.

Answer 4

The song "rule Britania" is still sung, most famously at the "last night of the proms". Its a jingoistic, song. It generally celebrates Britains empire and its naval supremacy ("Rule britannia, britannia rules the waves"). At the time Britain was pretty much the prime superpower of its day, only france was in a position to challange it's supremacy. So the song pretty much say's that there's no one around capable of enslaving us.

Answer 5

When Britain first at Heav'n's command
Arose from out the azure main;
Arose, arose from out the azure main;
This was the charter, the charter of the land,
And guardian 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!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=nMRvZTk7QYE

Answer 6

slaves to fashion only
that is a Victorian era tune

rent Zulu or Charge of the light Brigade and enjoy those
snappy red coats

Answer 7

in the song It says Britain never never will be slaves

Answer 8

Britons served the Normans.

Yes, it is still used today, though its not really true.

Answer 9

Romans ruled us for a while