# UK / Music knowledgeable dopers, ID this song fragment **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 1, 2004, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-music-knowledgeable-dopers-id-this-song-fragment/267020 "2004-10-01T13:42:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-music-knowledgeable-dopers-id-this-song-fragment/267020/1 "2004-10-01T13:42:31Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-music-knowledgeable-dopers-id-this-song-fragment/267020/2 "2004-10-01T13:47:57Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-music-knowledgeable-dopers-id-this-song-fragment/267020/3 "2004-10-01T13:48:00Z")
This is “Jerusalem”. It is a well known tune in the UK but not common in the USA. Emerson Lake & Palmer did a version on their Brain Salad Surgery album. It gets airplay on classic rock stations. The lyrics are from a poem by William Blake. And did those feet in ancient times, walk upon England’s mountains green… The music writer’s name escapes me, it might be someone named Parry. ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-music-knowledgeable-dopers-id-this-song-fragment/267020/4 "2004-10-01T13:48:02Z")
Jerusalem 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 these 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 ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-music-knowledgeable-dopers-id-this-song-fragment/267020/5 "2004-10-01T13:56:28Z")
Thanks, Anybody got a link to where I can hear it? ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-music-knowledgeable-dopers-id-this-song-fragment/267020/6 "2004-10-01T13:58:13Z")
Oh and I guess that where they got the name Chariots of Fire! Cool! I lernt too things from dis here thread. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-music-knowledgeable-dopers-id-this-song-fragment/267020/7 "2004-10-01T14:02:59Z")
Fill yer boots… THis is also sung at Englands Rugby internationals [http://www.weddingguide.co.uk/articles/wordsmusic/hymns/Hymn-AndDidThoseFeetInAncientTimes.asp](http://www.weddingguide.co.uk/articles/wordsmusic/hymns/Hymn-AndDidThoseFeetInAncientTimes.asp) ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-music-knowledgeable-dopers-id-this-song-fragment/267020/8 "2004-10-01T14:15:17Z")
Thanks! 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. ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-music-knowledgeable-dopers-id-this-song-fragment/267020/9 "2004-10-01T14:28:26Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > Boy that bridge seems tough to sing. It is a bit of a complicated rythm for a hymn… Well, how tough can it be if Greg Lake managed it? ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-music-knowledgeable-dopers-id-this-song-fragment/267020/10 "2004-10-01T14:39:54Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > Thanks! > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-music-knowledgeable-dopers-id-this-song-fragment/267020/11 "2004-10-01T15:00:49Z")
> [@Sean Factotum](#): > > Well, how tough can it be if Greg Lake managed it? 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.) ---
**Author:** ![Gotterfunken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58956e/32.png) [@Gotterfunken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gotterfunken)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-music-knowledgeable-dopers-id-this-song-fragment/267020/12 "2004-10-01T16:02:57Z")
Yes, Blake was anti-pollution, in a sense–he’s evoking England’s unspoiled, pastoral origins and contrasting them with modern industrialism. And “those feet,” of course, belong to Jesus–who according to a [medieval legend](http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/Joseph_Arimathaea.htm) (which Blake believed to be true) had visited England as a child. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-music-knowledgeable-dopers-id-this-song-fragment/267020/13 "2004-10-02T00:52:03Z")
> [@Sean Factotum](#): > > Well, how tough can it be if Greg Lake managed it? I don’t get this snipe at Greg Lake. In his heyday, his voice was considered to be one of the best around. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-music-knowledgeable-dopers-id-this-song-fragment/267020/14 "2004-10-02T01:36:27Z")
> [@Skopo](#): > > Yes, Blake was anti-pollution, in a sense–he’s evoking England’s unspoiled, pastoral origins and contrasting them with modern industrialism. > > And “those feet,” of course, belong to Jesus–who according to a [medieval legend](http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/Joseph_Arimathaea.htm) (which Blake believed to be true) had visited England as a child. I knew who the Holy Lamb of God was. I mean, I’m an American but I’m not a total heathen. But thanks for the link on the legend. Now why hasn’t Ms. Church recorded this? ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-music-knowledgeable-dopers-id-this-song-fragment/267020/15 "2004-10-02T07:34:26Z")
> [@owlstretchingtime](#): > > “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. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-music-knowledgeable-dopers-id-this-song-fragment/267020/16 "2004-10-04T14:23:50Z")
> [@BwanaBob](#): > > I don’t get this snipe at Greg Lake. In his heyday, his voice was considered to be one of the best around. YMMV. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Already\_in\_Use](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@Already\_in\_Use](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Already_in_Use)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-music-knowledgeable-dopers-id-this-song-fragment/267020/17 "2004-10-04T15:32:36Z")
Monty Python also used the song in at least one episode, but I forget the context. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-music-knowledgeable-dopers-id-this-song-fragment/267020/18 "2004-10-04T15:35:18Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-music-knowledgeable-dopers-id-this-song-fragment/267020/19 "2004-10-04T16:04:48Z")
> [@Already in Use](#): > > Monty Python also used the song in at least one episode, but I forget the context. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Monty Pytyhon used “jerusalem” when ever a song was needed. There’s no obvious reason other than it is a song that would be well known to all. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-music-knowledgeable-dopers-id-this-song-fragment/267020/20 "2004-10-04T22:00:27Z")
> [@Sean Factotum](#): > > 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. 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.