What are we asking God to save the ruling Monarch from? Are they constantly in danger from something?
It’s Biblical, referring to Solomon in its original context, so presumably save them from sin. Otherwise she’s one fucking saved Queen.
Maybe they’re asking God to keep Camilla from pushing her mother in law down a flight of stairs?
The last verse, never sung these days, seems apt these days.
May he sedition hush,
And like a torrent rush,
Rebellious Scots to crush.
God save the King!
I doubt that was ever sung much, not even in 1745.
Yes. Just like everybody.
I think I have heard “The King is dead; God save the King” – from eternal torment for his sins, apparently. in case he was beheaded without warning, and had no chance to make a full last minute repentence…
Which brings me to the next question: “God Bless America”. Is that a request? If America deserves it, wouldn’t God, in his infinite mercy, have blessed America without being prompted by Kate Smith?
The traditional form is “The King is dead, Long live the King”. In either case (although I like your interpretation too) it’s more an expression of the eternal nature of the monarchy than anything else. The principle is that the throne is never empty, so the expression acknowledges both the death of the old monarch and the immediate accession of the new one.
I was seven when Elizabeth became Queen, and I have a vague memory of hearing “The King is dead, Long live the Queen.” At that age I believed that there had been one King and one Queen, who were married to each other (like Babar and Celeste) . . . so I felt sorry for Elizabeth for having to rule the country single-handedly, so soon after losing her husband.
It’s subjunctive mood and it expresses a wish or hope. Could be stated as “May god bless America.”
Imperative would require a comma – “God, bless America.”
Maybe, but He seems to be a bit absent minded sometimes. I guess You have a lot on Your plate when you are God, responsible for an entire universe. He also seems to appreciate (or is thought to appreciate) constant reminders about how great He is, so there seems to be a bit a self-esteem problem going on there too.
That actually happened once, with William and Mary; though in that case William III & II outlived Mary II.
It’s not from, it’s for.
ETA: Oh, wait, this is Brits we’re talking about here, isn’t it?
I think you mean pudding.
Save, in the context of “God Save the King/Queen”, as an archaic usage meaning to keep safe, not to rescue.
Sometimes words gain or lose meanings over time.
In the unlinkely event of Scottish secession, I do hope it makes a comeback. Quite catchy.
The program at the Savoyard performance I go to each year says it’s to save her from Bonnie Prince Charlie leading a Jacobite uprising. Presumably these days it would be to save her from an undead Pretender leading zombie Jacobites.
I notice that some Biblical translations render the Solomonic verse as “Long live King Solomon”, and I agree that in this context, “Long live the King” and “God save the King” are synonymous.
In olden times, the death of the monarch was almost never a good thing. At a minimum, it meant an inexperienced and untested hand at the monarchical helm. At worst it could mean a war of succession, regency for a child, or an invitation to pretenders backed by foreign meddlers to stake their claim.
Unless the incumbent monarch was way off the dipshit end of the scale, you were almost always better with the devil you knew than the devil you didn’t know. Hence the frequent injunctions to save and protect the king.
The current Queen is nothing if not long-lived and well-preserved, so perhaps these musical supplications are being heeded.
Well, there are Jacobite successions leading up to the present day. The most commonly accepted one has Franz (Francis II), Duke of Bavaria, as the “rightful” monarch:
You never know about those Bavarians … worse, the current chain of heirs leads to a union of the throne with Leichtenstein.
(Actually, “Duke of Bavaria” isn’t a legally recognized title anyway. German abolished their aristocracy long ago.)
Thanks Shakester. That makes sense…