I have this tune stuck in my head. The problem is that I don’t know the name of the tune or hardly any of the words. I believe it is a quintessential British/English tune and is either a church hymn or a patriotic song or one of those songs that are both religious and patriotic.
The first words may be “In Ancient Times” but don’t bank on it.
The first bit is an asending line Da Da Da Daaa (the first three notes are pick up 8th notes that start on the and of three and the forth note is a dotted half note, if the song is in common time) these notes simply go up the major scale Sol, la, ti, Dooooe
The last line of the song descends and the words are
When England some some thing.
The song can be heard during Chariots of Fire. It is being played in the church as everyone leaves the funeral, however it does not seem to be on the soundtrack. I’ve also heard the last bit being played and it sounds like 10,000 people at a soccer match are singing it.
I’m pretty sure that the only way to get this song out of my head it to hear the entire thing but I can’t seem to find it.
Any ideas?
Sounds remarkably like “jerusalem” a terrifically popular, and absolutely corking, hymn:
Words here:
And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England’s mountain 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 spear! O clouds, unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire!
I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England’s green and pleasant land.
Boy that bridge seems tough to sing. It is a bit of a complicated rythm for a hymn.
I just gotta ask though.
These dark Satanic Mills? What is that all about? Is it an anti-pollution hymn?
My guess that this is a Church of England Hymn and with all the ‘yeah Englad’ stuff there is very little chance it being sung in any church in the US.
“Dark Satanic Mills”…This hymn was written at the time of the Industrial; revolution when the bucolic English countryside was being covered by – well; dark satanic mills I suppose.
It’s harking back to the rural England.
It is very popular in England – and if England had a national anthem (it doesn’t really – we get stuck with the rather dreary “God Save The Queen” whilst the Celtics get: Land Of My fathers; Flower of Scotland and Danny Boy) Jerusalem would stand a very good chance of getting the nod.
Well maybe the organist is noodling around a bit in the link but putting the words to that is a little strange.
I can see where it could be an anthem. I’m American and I swell with English pride hearing the song.
(Though using a sword to build Jerusalem on England’s green and pleasant land is touch on the surreal side. I think a hammer might be a better choice.)
I’m fairly sure there’s a much more human element to the ‘dark satanic mills’ - they were basically sweatshops, sucking people away from the countryside in their thousands.
Considering how much a fan I am of ELP, I’m surprised I typed that. I’ve never considered Lake that great a vocalist, for some reason. It always seemed to me that his range was limited, and I don’t particularly remember him nailing it on the live version of “Jerusalem” on the triple LP set.
Actually it’s the rhythm of the bridge section that I think is a bit strange. It’s tough to but the words of the “Bring me my” section to that midi file of an ‘organ’ playing the tune. Maybe not tough but awkward.
Not to hijack this thread, I agree that he didn’t quite “hit” it on WBMFTTSTNE live album. But I read somewhere (sorry no cite) that Lake started having voice issues around that time and wound up lowering the keys of many of their songs.
To this day, many of those tunes are still sung in the lower keys. (Big ELP fan too
An excellent song though; one I never got to see live as they never played it in any tour since 1974.
