I know I said I was going to Llandegla, but the bike's in the car and I'll be off soon …

Just saw the National Anthem bit on the TV – two players, including Rooney, very obviously not singing whereas the others were. Now I'm not a monarchist by any stretch of the imagination, but having the honour of representing your country, etc, I'd sing it! Seems a bit off to me – the commentator reckons it's because they're concentrating. Hmm, does that mean that the other 9 weren't?

I'd sing it!

Well get on the pitch with the england football team and then you can do as you want.

Does always seem a bit odd, expecialy when you look at the rugby team who belt it out.

everyone focuses differently

Seems pointless to sing it if you dont believe in it.

Treason! Few seem bothered mind.

the england fans are singing it for them now!

Give him a break the national anthem probably has too many words for him to remember

1) I'm sceptical about the usefulness of gods
2) likewise royalty
3) we need a new nondenominational anthem

Billy Connelly suggested we just sing the theme tune to the Archers….

I agree with the comment about needing a new national anthem, but in the absence of something more suitable, I think singing it should be encouraged as a way of uniting everyone. Yes, the supporters seem to be more than making up for it too.

Goal!!!

3) we need a new nondenominational anthem

You're not sceptical about the need to all sing along to toon though? 😉

Rooney doesn't know the words!

I think singing it should be encouraged as a way of uniting everyone

apart from people who believe in a different number of gods, believe that the name of god should not be mentioned or don't care to be ruled by an invading German family ?

You're not sceptical about the need to all sing along to toon though?

don't get me started on "need" or footie :o)

I will never ever sing the national anthem, its a disgrace and an insult to the nation.

kind of the point, isn't it? united under the flag and all that, despite all the other differences
that's why the americans have their kids do this every morning before school. one way to help keep the union together.

Del, the Americans are so up their own arses they virtually brainwash themselves! The way they force their culture on other countries and what they do and stand for does them no good whatsoever. They call themselves world champions when the in at NFL for christs sake. I'm glad we try not follow what the yanks do.

**** the queen and **** god.

I would not sing it either.

one way to help keep the union together.

one way to pretend it's together when it patently isn't

They call themselves world champions when the in at NFL for christs sake

I believe it was originally sponsored by "The World" newspaper – though of course that name may have been hubris too 🙂

Why would the England team sing the UK national anthem?

Doesn't England have an anthem of its own?

I can understand Scots not singing it because of some nasty references to encouraging genocide on Scots in the verse we don't sing anymore.

I think it's a pity that the english don't have a national anthem to sing, so have to borrow the UK one.

Del – Member

…………..one way to help keep the union together.

2 points – one its the UK anthem not the english one – I think England should use Jerusalem and two – its not likely to do much for the union anyway iof you remeber the thirsd verse

Lord, grant that Marshal Wade,
May by thy mighty aid,
Victory bring.
May he sedition hush,
and like a torrent rush,
Rebellious Scots to crush,
God save the Queen.

Rooney et all are probably too stupid to learn the words. I don't suppose they get much past God before they forget the rest.

Pointless bloody sport this cheeserolling. We need a new less boring national sport. I hear the paint drying championships are riveting this time of year.

Although then what would the Kyle class do for fun and violence?

didn't they use 'Land of Hope and Glory' at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester. That would be preferable to wrteched anthem we have at he mo

right then let's start work on STW new version. May I suggest as the first line:

Being (male/female/undisclosed combination thereof which may or may not exist,) save our unelected, sponging waste of tax payers money.

who's got the second line?

Lord, grant that Marshal Wade,
May by thy mighty aid,
Victory bring.
May he sedition hush,
and like a torrent rush,
Rebellious Scots to crush,
God save the Queen.

To be fair, it's only encouraging the crushing of rebellious Scots, the one who tow the line are fine!

Maybe if it had more verses about getting convictions for assault and nobbing your best mate's missus/your nanny/old prossies the England team would sing with a bit more gusto…

and while you are at it please can we have rooney and beckham executed?

There's no way you could have a song to represent all the people in a country without offending some of them.

Mrs Toast – Member
'Lord, grant that Marshal Wade,
May by thy mighty aid,
Victory bring.
May he sedition hush,
and like a torrent rush,
Rebellious Scots to crush,
God save the King.'

To be fair, it's only encouraging the crushing of rebellious Scots, the one who tow the line are fine!

It still rankles though (it was only 250+ years ago or so) and the government didn't make that fine distinction between the rebellious and the others 🙂

t still rankles though (it was only 250+ years ago or so) and the government didn't make that fine distinction between the rebellious and the others

yes, but to be fair you are all pasty white skinned gingers who wear skirts so you all look the same. It was an easy mistake to make 😉

LOL@ Mrs Toast

I still say Jerusalem for the English national Anthem. I don't like "land of hope and Glory – too jingoistic.

Its rousing building to crescendos, its about all of England

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 those dark Satanic mills

Bring me my bow of burning gold
Bring me my arrows of desire
Bring me my spears o'clouds unfold
Bring me my chariot of fire

I will not cease from mental fight
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand
'Til we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land
'Til we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land

It still won't please simon, on the grounds of its very obvious judeao-christian-ness.

No atheistic-poly-goddish-sceptical-self-centrist can possibly sympathise with the concept of "building Jerusalem". It has no more symbolic resonance for such godless relativists than the concept of "building Milton Keynes" does for the hindus. 🙂

Seems pointless to sing it if you dont believe in it.

Agreed. I do wonder how many of the crowd who happily sing it out loud actually care for queenie too.

It's the national anthem. While recognising that the hereditary principle is the wrong means of selecting a head of state, and being wholly unconvinced of god's part in the affairs of the nation, I am happy to sing the national anthem at times at which the national anthem is generally sung. I wonder how many English conscientious objectors to national anthem singing dabble in any genuine republicanism? 🙂

All anthems are a bit daft really

"flower of Scotland" has its stupidities. Its dreadful dirge as well. It always amuses me at the rugby when Princess Ann (who is patron of the SRU) is singing it – with a wry smile at "and send him homeward"

Stiull – its not invoking any gods and does say – "those days are passed now"

O flower of Scotland
When will we see
Your like again
That fought and died for
Your wee bit hill and glen
And stood against him
Proud Edward's army
And sent him homeward
Tae think again

The hills are bare now
And autumn leaves lie thick and still
O'er land that is lost now
Which those so dearly held
And stood against him
Proud Edward's army
And sent him homeward
Tae think again

Those days are passed now
And in the past they must remain
But we can still rise now
And be the nation again
And stood against him
Proud Edward's army
And sent him homeward
Tae think again

I once got slapped around the head by some silly Germanic cow (with her programme, muttering "Das Qveen! Das Qveen!") at a Royal Philharmonic concert for not standing for the "National Anthem", me being a republican atheist and all.

Was priveleged to see her charge into the bar during the interval only to trip up on the carpet and fall flat on her stupid face… 😈

Someone posted the full words of the Algerian national anthem yesterday. It was a song of liberation struggle against a colonial power conducted with considerable national sacrifice within living memory.

The reference in yours to proud Edward and in ours to Wade are so ludicrously anachronistic as to underline the silliness of worrying too much about it really. It would be utterly ludicrous for prncess Anne to throw her toys out of the pram on the subject, which clearly she doesn't. Expecting Sarkozy to sing along to Algeria's would clearly be a whole different thing (please, someone tell me if there is something on youtube…) 🙂

Well the queen is German. Saxe Coburg Gotha IIRC Married to a Greek / dane Prince Philippos of Greece and Denmark

Italys anthem is a nice jolly tune

I wonder how many English conscientious objectors to national anthem singing dabble in any genuine republicanism?

you mean we have to sing it unless we're actively subverting the status quo ?