Instead of the tired X-Factor format, perhaps there should be a TV competition to compose and then have performed a new National Anthem? So long as no one under 40 is allowed to vote, it might work.

That could actually be a part of it if it did become the national anthem. Imagine a sporting event with the whole crowd singing, then shouting that at the end

..in your opinion, but then perhaps you've never heard it being sung at Wembley (for example). I don't detect much embarrassment, and I'm afraid you've lost me with the mad the dictator stuff. Most people on the planet would recognise the UK national anthem, and I really don't think anyone pays much attention at all to the words, let alone spending anguished hours pondering over their true nature and meaning

...that's because at least a third, if not more, are singing "God save the team".

With Jerusalem I can see your point. I'm not religious either but "Abide with Me" would easily make it to my desert island. A lost soul, contemplating an imminent death, concerned for the mark he has made on the world and what is to come. Something everyone can relate to backed with a cracking tune. Everyone who's felt their own mortality at any rate.

To the same tune as GSTQ

"At last the Queen is dead
Cod'ead chopped off 'er 'ead
The Queen is dead

If any of her kin
Try to rise up again
Cod'ead will do 'em in
All praise cod'ead

If you're referring to the religious content in Jeruselam, I don't mind it, because it is reference to the history and culture that formed this country. I do mind praying to a mythical being I don't believe in toprotect the life of someone I or my peers did not choose to have influence over us.

Which country shares the tune with us?

It's definitely a reference to our history and culture, because when it was written people could ask the question "did those feet in ancient times...?" without people saying "No, they didn't. Are you really so self absorbed as to assume a Judean Trot' you've chosen to nominate as son of god would come to this irrelevant backwater two thousand years ago? No wonder the rest of the world thinks we're arrogant 2@s."

Though I admit it sounds great when 80,000 people are asking that stupid question.

I can't recall the "Love Thy Neighbour" theme tune but maybe that would be a better anthem for these days of a multi-ethnic Britain.

It changed slightly about ten years ago. It sounds too French now. I'm still not over it.

Exactly, people like to belt out a good tune, especially after a few bevvies, and frankly the issue of whether some or all of the words are ultimate poetry, indisputable fact or a total bunch of crap doesn't even register, and is entirely beside the point.

I mean, I've seen people crying like a baby to "Danny Boy", who don't even drink Guinness.

Heard it sung at Wembley many times and never been roused by it once. Singing in praise of the descendants of illegal immigrants isn't something I'm really in favour of. Land of hope and glory however, especially before the game v the aussies at Wembley back in the 90's was stunning.

A mad dictator would have a song, as national anthem that was all about him/her, with no mention of the country it supposedly represents. I know the queen is titular head but in law, you and I along with everyone else in the UK are the queens subjects. We aren't citizens, nor do we have inviolable rights guaranteed by constitution. Things like the current national anthem help perpetuate this and it basically gets on me nerves.

There’s the version from Human Traffic...

I’m trying to be myself
Understand everyone
It’s a mission and a half

Looking at everyone
Trying to learn something
But I’m getting more confused
It’s hard being cool

Our generation
Alienation
Have we a soul?

Techno emergency
Virtual reality
We’re running out of new ideas
Who is the queen?

I’d like Lemon Jelly’s ‘Nice weather for ducks’.

Leichtenstein

Love thy neighbour,
Walk up and say "How be ya
Gee! But I'm glad to see ya, pal,
How's tricks? What's new?"
Love thy neighbour,
Offer to share his burden,
Tell him to say the word "n"
You will see him through
Especially if there should be
a beautiful girl next door,
Say to that girl next door,
don't think I'm bold
But my mother told me to
Love thy neighbor
And you will find your labor,
A great deal easier,
Life'll be breezier
If you Love Thy Neighbor

That sounds just the ticket.

but if you'd had less beer, or brought an alarm clock ... ?




We are both subjects and citizens, but in fact Parliament and the law reign supreme. You need to face the facts as in the 21st century, this is how in reality it works. Oh and our constitution is just fine (I know, - part of my degree was Constitutional Law) and in a global perspective, I don't perceive British citizens as being comparatively short of rights.

The Queen also, for instance, prosecutes every criminal. I've never seen her in court, though.

And I can't for the life of me think how the national anthem helps perpetuate anything.




well that's fair enough!

Fal de ral de ral do indeed

[url=http://www.televisiontunes.com/Love_Thy_Neighbour.htmlLove Thy Neighbour Audio[/url

No sound on this computer. Will listen tonight. Thanks.

Do you think it would it be rousing enough for a deciding Test against Australia?

I'm sure someone else, who's had your level of education would argue differently about the constitution and our rights but just say we elected a government whose manifesto promise was to get rid of the monarchy, house of lords and redistribute the 95% of wealth owned by 5% of the population to the proles and the Queen said you can go and do one? After the legal niceties had been exhausted, who would the Armed forces and police support do you think? Especially in view of the fact that they swear allegiance to the Queen and her ministers.

As a civil servant I also work for the crown. That doesn't mean that come the revolution her maj can automatically count on my support.

No complaints about the lyrics when belted out from the Southstand last night, it's the passion behind the words that are important

So I was watching the game, and I didn't really care who won to begin with but as it turned into more of a game I started rooting for Leeds. There was one passage of play where I felt if Leeds had scored I might even have jumped off the couch with my arms in the air. And then the Leeds fans spontaneously as one sang the national anthem, and suddenly I was rooting for Manly. Maybe you had to be there.