# A new national anthem for the UK (or maybe the US)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 29, 2019, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-national-anthem-for-the-uk-or-maybe-the-us/845531 "2019-12-29T01:59:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-national-anthem-for-the-uk-or-maybe-the-us/845531/1 "2019-12-29T01:59:17Z")
There is a movement to replace the national anthem of the UK (“God Save the Queen/King”). Possible options: 1. “Jerusalem”. It doesn’t have a tune to which you would picture soldiers or Olympic athletes marching. The lyrics are rather religious. 2) "Rule Britannia". This and #3 really get the fans singing along. 3) "Land of Hope and Glory". My favorite. (skip ahead to 2:45 if you wish). Some say it should stay as it is. Should the US consider a new national anthem - e.g. "Battle Hymn of the Republic" (even if just for the music)? Any other ideas for UK and US replacement anthems? ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-national-anthem-for-the-uk-or-maybe-the-us/845531/2 "2019-12-29T02:03:21Z")
Reported for wrong forum. Also, there is no serious movement in the UK to change the national anthem. Although I dare say most people are lukewarm at best towards it if you happened to ask. EDIT: can’t flag it from Tapatalk. But this is not a GQ topic. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-national-anthem-for-the-uk-or-maybe-the-us/845531/3 "2019-12-29T02:09:07Z")
[Moderating] Indeed it is not. General Questions is for questions with a factual answer. There are a few places where this thread could go, but since music is art, I’ll send it to Cafe Society, our forum for the arts. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-national-anthem-for-the-uk-or-maybe-the-us/845531/4 "2019-12-29T02:26:50Z")
_Prison Sex_ by **Tool** ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-national-anthem-for-the-uk-or-maybe-the-us/845531/5 "2019-12-29T02:36:39Z")
I’ll go with Phil Ochs’ [The Power and the Glory](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYRBHpW2GBA) for the US. "…Here is a land full of power and glory Beauty that words cannot recall Oh her power shall rest on the strength of her freedom Her glory shall rest on us all Yet she’s only as rich as the poorest of her poor Only as free as the padlocked prison door Only as strong as our love for this land Only as tall as we stand…" ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-national-anthem-for-the-uk-or-maybe-the-us/845531/6 "2019-12-29T05:57:23Z")
Billy Bragg’s [A New England](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCfRcgoPxTw). Hopefully Brexitty types will be moved by the title without wanting to explore the lyrics in too much detail, beyond the lines: _I don’t feel bad about letting you go I just feel sad about letting you know_ If the US collapses into civil chaos then it will also do as a regional anthem for the northeastern states, again, as long as we don’t dwell on the lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-national-anthem-for-the-uk-or-maybe-the-us/845531/7 "2019-12-29T06:26:09Z")
I think Bill Bailey hit the nail on the head with [his proposal for a new British anthem.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0R7OVnTyUvM) ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-national-anthem-for-the-uk-or-maybe-the-us/845531/8 "2019-12-29T06:37:23Z")
> [@RioRico](#): > > I’ll go with Phil Ochs’ [The Power and the Glory](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYRBHpW2GBA) for the US. > > "…Here is a land full of power and glory > Beauty that words cannot recall > Oh her power shall rest on the strength of her freedom > Her glory shall rest on us all > > Yet she’s only as rich as the poorest of her poor > Only as free as the padlocked prison door > Only as strong as our love for this land > Only as tall as we stand…" If that’s the direction you’re going to go, then just go with “[This Land is Your Land](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE4H0k8TDgw)”. It’s a better song, and everybody already knows it. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-national-anthem-for-the-uk-or-maybe-the-us/845531/9 "2019-12-29T06:55:05Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I think Bill Bailey hit the nail on the head with [his proposal for a new British anthem.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0R7OVnTyUvM) Or [Billy Connolly](https://youtu.be/i9nnnM-__JQ). If this were to become a serious issue, our problem in the UK is words, not music. There are hundreds of rousing and singable melodies, but we’d have trouble finding words the vast majority of us would be comfortable with, if we really thought about it. But if we want something that celebrates something most of us have in common, in can only be [this](https://youtu.be/SE5IfIkl_oA). ---
**Author:** ![blindboyard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blindboyard/32/2833_2.png) [@blindboyard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blindboyard)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-national-anthem-for-the-uk-or-maybe-the-us/845531/10 "2019-12-29T10:01:28Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I think Bill Bailey hit the nail on the head with [his proposal for a new British anthem.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0R7OVnTyUvM) No, the best Bill Bailey candidate is [this one](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2mmTDT6W7E). Or, given the mention of Billy Bragg, [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo_9UgaxeJE). They even play it [together](https://youtu.be/1lnWNg3Pax8?t=130). ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-national-anthem-for-the-uk-or-maybe-the-us/845531/11 "2019-12-29T11:03:45Z")
I suggest new lyrics be written to the tune of _The Archers_. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-national-anthem-for-the-uk-or-maybe-the-us/845531/12 "2019-12-29T11:26:20Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > I suggest new lyrics be written to the tune of _The Archers_. Surely not. “Dumdedumdedumdedum” has stood the test of time. (Actually it wouldn’t take much of a change to Jerusalem to make it not England-specific: just change “England’s” to “this our”/“these our”, which fits the scansion; we could even let the USA use it, though perhaps it might sound too much like establishing religion - and as for “green and pleasant”…) ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-national-anthem-for-the-uk-or-maybe-the-us/845531/13 "2019-12-29T12:20:41Z")
On a related note, Israel is considering making “London Calling” its national anthem. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-national-anthem-for-the-uk-or-maybe-the-us/845531/14 "2019-12-29T13:22:05Z")
But seriously, the song most often suggested for an alternate anthem for the US is “America the Beautiful”: > [@](#): > > O beautiful for spacious skies, > For amber waves of grain, > For purple mountain majesties > Above the fruited plain! > America! America! God shed His grace on thee, > And crown thy good with brotherhood > From sea to shining sea! > > O Beautiful for patriot dream > That sees beyond the years > Thine alabaster cities gleam, > Undimmed by human tears! > America! America! God mend thine ev’ry flaw, > Confirm thy soul in self-control, > Thy liberty in law And a good suggestion for any country would be “This is my Song”, though that one’s still in copyright, so I won’t quote the lyrics here. ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-national-anthem-for-the-uk-or-maybe-the-us/845531/15 "2019-12-29T14:33:59Z")
As far as I understand it, “Jerusalem” is considered a decidedly English, rather than British, song, and is sometimes used as a national anthem for the English team in some of the sports in which the UK’s constituent countries compete separately. That may give it some chance to bbecome national anthem of England in case of a break-up of the UK, but not very appropriate to replace “God Save The Queen” as an all-British anthem. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-national-anthem-for-the-uk-or-maybe-the-us/845531/16 "2019-12-29T14:56:39Z")
> [@Mark\_Finn](#): > > There is a movement to replace the national anthem of the UK (“God Save the Queen/King”). Possible options: > > 1. “Jerusalem”. It doesn’t have a tune to which you would picture soldiers or Olympic athletes marching. The lyrics are rather religious. > > 2) "Rule Britannia". This and #3 really get the fans singing along. > > 3) "Land of Hope and Glory". My favorite. (skip ahead to 2:45 if you wish). Those are nice, but none of them can holst a candle to “[I Vow to Thee My Country](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHh8isGtB6w)”. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-national-anthem-for-the-uk-or-maybe-the-us/845531/17 "2019-12-29T14:59:09Z")
some people tried to get Born to Run to be the official NJ state song until it was pointed out it is not exactly positive towards the place the song is about , calling it a death trap among other things. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-national-anthem-for-the-uk-or-maybe-the-us/845531/18 "2019-12-29T15:34:53Z")
My favourite alternate anthem is the Canadian anthem from SCTV: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/JtgUSSN0lb8/hqdefault.jpg "SCTV - The Canadian Anthem") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtgUSSN0lb8) ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-national-anthem-for-the-uk-or-maybe-the-us/845531/19 "2019-12-29T17:05:59Z")
If we’ve gotta have a new American national anthem (which we don’t) it should be [this song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l482T0yNkeo&frags=pl%2Cwn): _No stop signs, speed limit Nobody’s gonna slow me down Like a wheel, gonna spin it Nobody’s gonna mess me around Hey Satan, paid my dues Playing in a rocking band Hey mama, look at me I’m on my way to the promised land, whoo!_ ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-national-anthem-for-the-uk-or-maybe-the-us/845531/20 "2019-12-29T17:23:23Z")
> [@Schnitte](#): > > As far as I understand it, “Jerusalem” is considered a decidedly English, rather than British, song, and is sometimes used as a national anthem for the English team in some of the sports in which the UK’s constituent countries compete separately. That may give it some chance to bbecome national anthem of England in case of a break-up of the UK, but not very appropriate to replace “God Save The Queen” as an all-British anthem. Are we speaking of the Emerson, Lake and Palmer version of \*Jerusalem? \* [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-national-anthem-for-the-uk-or-maybe-the-us/845531.md?page=2)