This music was selected by our headmaster at Openshaw Technical High School(in Manchester UK) in 1959 as the school hymn; to be sung in the assembly hall prior to classes. He (Mr. Ogden) said that the boys only school sang the hymn with such gusto and enthusiasm that it moved him to take such an action. Something he had never done before. I now live in Perth Western Australia but whenever I hear this hymn I am transported back to 'those dark satanic mills'! Shld. be the Brits National Anthem
It's a beautiful poem, and has become a beautiful hymn. It's unfortunate that it's been misinterpreted by so many. This is one of the few videos on YouTube that has set the song to lovely pastoral scenes of the "green and pleasant land" Blake wanted to protect from ugly factories and industrialism.
I love this hymn although I finally had to search on YouTube to find the lyrics printed out. This was part of the royal wedding yesterday and is also featured at the end of the movie "Chariots of Fire" which got its title from a line in here.
The opening words/questions are based on the tradition that young Jesus visited Britain in the company of Joseph of Arimathea (which also holds that the latter returned after the Crucifixion and founded the first Christian community in Britain at Glastonbury). Like King Arthur, these assertions are historically unproven/unproveable, & recorded many, many centuries after the alleged events. However, at least it's plausible on its face, as there was much trade with the Med for Cornish metals.
Thanks for the correction D. That's what happens when I post a comment well after I should be in bed. In fact my error was even worse than you stated. I was more like 900 years early. Cheers.
It's obvious by the comments here that none of you understand the words of William Blake in this song so let me explain. William Blake is asking the question "was the holy Lamb of God (Jesus)
On England's pleasant pastures seen?" He is making reference to the fact that Joseph of Arimathea (the uncle of Jesus) was a metal trader to the Holy Roman Empire. Some historians, William Blake obviously one of them speculate that Jesus accompanied his uncle to England to obtain metals like tin.
@woodcraftboy Thanks for the explanation. One small thing. Holy Roman Empire refers to the German dominated political reality of 10th to 18th century. I think you simply meant the Roman Empire. You were probably just typing quickly. Wrote Holy as a reflex after having wrote Jesus.
@bdweightexer That's exactly it. I made my comment well after I should have went to bed and inadvertently added Holy before Roman Empire. Thanks for the correction. JamesDC Penny did as well a couple of weeks ago.
Exactly my sentiments. I had to learn this song at Primary school and the quaint but purely nonsensical story behind it, it being told as if it were historical fact.
1. "God chose England...That is God's plan for England."
Huh? Are you your god's self-appointed spokesman?
2. "England abandon the Lord's chosen people of Isreal in 1948 when Isreal need her most for protection..."
The Jews wanted their own homeland and England out. Haven't you ever heard of the King David Hotel bombing and other acts of terrorism and sabotage towards the British Forces in Palestine?
@Danstrhal818 no, this song may be very british but our history, like said above, is made of immigrints. what are the odds sometime in the past month you've had a chinise or a indian?
Basically, Blake's poem has been hijaacked and usurped by the very people he hated. They simply failed to understand it. Take away the church organs and choirs, and read the words.
A fantastic poem, and often rousing at nationalist events. Perhaps this is because so few people seem to understand the historical context and deliberate irony of Blake. In Jerusalem, Blake is questioning the establishment, and indeed the traditional faith of the establishment. Britain was rapidly changing from an agrarian society and economy to an industrial hell. There is no sense of glory or pride in 'Jerusalem' - indeed the reverse is true.
Kind of creepy, actually. Slow and stately enough, but replace "Christ" and "Christianity" with "Mohammad" and "Islam" and see how it sounds. The call for eventual theocracy is chilling. "Chariots of fire" and unsleeping swords in the hands of religious zealots are problems, not solutions.
@sgmainstay Probably because it's hard to rhyme, duh. You should let tvnorth, who posted this, know that you have doubts, because s/he seems convinced this is all about CHRIST and CHRISTIANITY, too. There's a CHRISTIAN church shown in the video. The verses quoted are from ancient Hebrew texts, which is no better. I'm not interested in establishing a theocracy of any flavor -- Jewish, Christian or otherwise.
@notanotheraccount yup I know it's about Christianity (and did the Holy Lamb of God), I was merely stating facts. It's an uplifting song, anyway you look at it
@sgmainstay - No it is not necessarily about christian religion.
It is all about a call for manifesting social justice, reverberated through scripture:
indeed - The great poet, Willam Blake, refers to social justice - against the satanic mills of exploitation during the industial revolution of the 18th century in England.
The anthem is Christian in the sense of calling for compassion and justice.
Take note also - "My Chariot of fire" refers to The prophet Elias, heading to unify with god, concluding an eventful life of fighting for justice against wrongdoings done by Israelite kings, queens and priests.
Does it make the anthem jewish?
No.
Jerusalem of the time had been under Ottman muslim control. does it mean this is a muslim anthem?
No.
There is No call or justification of Theocracy here
As I say elsewhere - you are taking the words too literally without understanding the bigger picture. Blake was anything but an establishment figure, more of an alternative or 'indie' rebel. His point is that the christian-based establishment were responsible for the destruction of the England they claimed to champion. I wish we had a Blake around nowadays, to shake things up a bit!
I notice that many of the slides in this video are of village churches. That's all very nice, but wouldn't it be even better if the English would actually GO to those churches once in a while?
So you have no faith friend? For example faith that summer will follow winter, that the floor of the lift you are in in doesn't fall out at the 15th.storey, that the doctor gives you the right tablets when you are ill; etc. etc. I gather then that you believe in nothing!
great song from a great country.....forget talk of immigrants, if they dont like it here then let them fuck off to where they want to be,this is part of our history and i am proud of it, if they behave them selves they can stay with pleasure
England is like a picture book - beautiful beyond belief in the countryside and the cathedrals are breathtaking. However all this stuff was built by anglo saxons and normans, not by arabs or muslims or pakistanis and the current British short-sighted nonsense of letting in zillions of these people with completely different backgrounds and ways of thinking will destroy the country. It is demographics and is unbelievably sad.
Really beautiful scenery! Makes me want to visit England very badly.
I made an arrangement of "Jerusalem" last week for soprano soloist and full orchestra, and just posted it here on YouTube a couple of days ago. Please have a listen when you have the time. I hope you enjoy it.
I can understand that, but William Blake was not Christian in any traditional sense. True, he drew heavily from Biblical and Greek imagery. But in his beliefs, he dwelt more on the border between pantheism and humanism.
In this poem, the "chariot of fire" (2 Kings 2:11), the "arrow of desire" (Cupid), and the other instruments seem to represent tools of divine intervention and authority. When the narrator summons them, he stands for all of us. We are the divine that must bring heaven to earth.
Err, about the "arrows of desire"... I take back what I said. Arrows were often used with saints to represent their desire for God (to wit, St. Theresa describing her love for God as an arrow piercing her heart, most famously depicted by Bernini in his sculpture at St. Maria della Vittoria, Rome).
This is a beautiful hymn. I just recently learned the words to this song from the William Blake poem, although I learned to play the melody from hearing it from the movie "Chariots of Fire." I am an American, but I think this is a beautiful anthem that is a tribute to the Brits.
Why is it that the most patriotic of British songs always brings the BNP crawling out from under whatever rock they live? Britain has a long and proud history of imigration and is one of the most tolerant nations on earth. Every wave of migrants from the Hugenots, aristocrat French, German Jews, Afro Caribeans, Indians etc have all added to this country. Its only government 'initiatives' that force us to look at our differences rather than our similarities that cause most of the problems.
So you like the idea of mass immigration and multi-culture? Neither works. Mass immigration cripples the infrastructure and multi-culture forces segregation. Or does a Somali criminal enrich your life?
We'v had enough of the Lib/Lab/Con muppets, their lies and their deceit. We want our country back and we'll get it one way or the other.
A vote for BNP is a vote for Britain. Anything else is liberal nonsense. you can always join Islam4UK if you like.
@AngloSaxon1921 if you are that dumb to believe the bnp is goin to stand up 4 anglo saxons then you must be one delusional idiot. common sense can tel you that hes just another politicians whose bein used thats all. the pple in power dont care what colour you are as long as they remain in power and their ass are rich as hell. racism dont wke coz when push comes to shove you all are in same hole which is poverty instead of all you comin 2gether to fight for your freedom coz believe me you ant
@AngloSaxon1921 you ant free right now you are bein taught to hate asians yet the same government allowed these muslim asians in. they werent cryin terrorism them. we now know where the next war goin 2 be. you dont ask who has the money to lend your governments nor who your children are in debt to nor do you ask why you are killin each other just becoz a politician tels you to. just wake up and smell the coffee there is no such thing as society its just one man for himself thats all.
As an American, I can attest to the fact that multiculturalism does work. I myself am half Italian and half Indian, and one parent is Catholic and the other Indian. If these two people can marry, than the least that others can do is live next to each other in peace.
We had to deal with our legacy of slavery and racial injustice, where as you haven't had to deal with your legacy of colonial rule. Though we are far from perfection, those Somalians you're referring to would be accepted with open arms, as they have been in many Mid-Western communities, some of the most conservative parts of the country.
I know that immigration has caused Britain a ton of troubles, but treating other peoples as sub-humans is exactly the wrong way to react.
Yeah, mass immigration doesn't work. That's why the US are such a poor and powerless country. Even the girls look shitty, preferably those ugly ugly female hollywood stars with European and/or Asian roots. Nationalist inbreed on the other hand is the real deal! Rule Britannia!
Yeah, very clever. Not really that funny either im afraid.
I didnt realise you were such an enlightened chap. Here was me thinking that Romanians and Somali rapists only came here for free housing, free benefits, a british passport and free health care.
Of course, they came here to enrich our culture and to contribute in ways such as theft and rape.
If you're going to come here from the Congo and cure cancer. By all means, please. But i suspect you won't. Just a drain on the tax payer.
Oh sorry. You're German. I should have done my research before i posted.
I went to Germany recently. I like Germany a lot. I like to go for the experience, beer, bratwurst.
So why am i always disappointed when i just see a load of Turks everywhere? As a tourist i don't want to see that. If i want Turks i'll go to Turkey or North London.
If you wanted to say that any nation should carefully select who to let into the country, I agree. In that way, Germany is indeed one bad example, because over centuries we had no immigration tests or even obligations to learn German. But as scyldschefing said, there's no point in rejecting immigration as a whole, for in general it gives benefits in cultural richness and "biodiversity" within a population. I'd always prefer cleverly controlled immigration over dumb nationalism. As does nature.
@MettwurstSamurai I agree with your comment on immigration. But you also miss out another factor. Integration or the modern lack of. Britain, England especially, has had many waves of immigration over the years. But (unless it was an invasion) they came on the premise that they would integrate into society. Irish and Hugenouts etc all integrated and became a part of Britain. Modern immigrants try and CHANGE Britain. Away from what this beautiful hymn celebrates.
I agree on that. Integration is immigrants integrating into our society, not the other way round. We really have to be careful, especially in terms of political Islam becoming stronger and stronger within our western countries. One problem is that most muslims are getting more children than the European average, which must eventually lead to us having to legally accept very ugly things like Sharia law just by the simple rules of democracy.
@MettwurstSamurai The day Shariah law is implemented into the British system is the day that Britain dies. It wont be Britain anymore. This hymn will have no meaning.
@PHT07UK Did I say it was near implementation? And how do you know it will never be? The conclusion of multi-culturalism, when taken to full, is that each culture lives under their culture- as they relate more to that, will have a family, make friends in that culture etc- so that the one country becomes a patchwork of little ones. Shariah on a national level is a way off, but not locally, areas of 90% Muslim pop in parts of London, Leeds etc could argue for it, and some judges are sympathetic
Not British, but I thought the BNP was just anti-Muslim immigration, and they didn't really care about any other issues. As an American descendant of a prominent Huguenot family who fled to the British court after the persecutions in France, I can only say hurray for such a great country, from which America got its laws, language, and culture.
@eurobasher Agree with you 100%. I don't understand why the BNP types think that being proud to be English means being racist. I am proud to be English, but in no way am I a racist or ignorant. I love this land as it is (on the whole) a tolerant nation. I believe it is the far right that has hijaked the English Flag, and given it negative images. This is wrong. We should love England for the hotpotch of people she is, and has always been. xxx
@eurobasher We have always had immigration, but always in small numbers, not in the massive amounts we have had in the last 50 years or so. I am not a supporter of the BNP btw, just wanted to elaborate on your statement.
@claptonbrucebaker : You are more than right ! Multiculturalism is to Brazilianise the English speaking world ; to create a racially diverse impoverished mass class ruled over by a narrow wealthy class.
Hey guys I pressed two hands down here. Just a mistake. I wanted to press hand up for two great comments. The one about Python and the one about Blake. Sorry guys. I liked your comments.
As for what "red, white and blue" means to me, the answer is... America (which is my country, which got its colors from the UK flag, so they happen to be the same colo(u)rs! I like the English anyway, and I don't care whether it's fish-and-chips England or chicken tikka England.
this video read in conjunction with 'Daughter's Of Fire' by Erskine is awsome, especially when my own 6th great grandparents abraham and Grace Spence resided in Darley , Abraham died there in 1752 so landscape is special to me. Wonderful to think christ also visited England- why not?
God look down on us English, have pity, for as a nation we have sinned. You gave us this green and pleasant land and yet know in our folly we bulldoze and we desecrate. May you have mercy on our souls and make our leaders know wisdom, that they may preserve what is so great about our country rather than destroy. Blake was an inspired man, this was about invoking god to help those who loved their country. Let us invoke him now, and use Blake's words to save us.
i am angry about all the problems england has lately but this song reminds me of how deep down i have an enormous amount of pride and love for this country. i mean these pictures say it all
I love this hymn. The sublime melody so perfectly fits Blake's lyric. And the way the Brit's sing it with such lovely pride. It brings tears to my eyes. I am not even an English subject. I'm American. Go figure. You don't have to be religious to enjoy it. I've looked at most of the videos of Jerusalem. Even sent some to friends who, of course, can't enjoy them as much as I do, but... I enjoy the song so much I've decided to learn it so I can sing when I want to lift my mood.
Tippy mugs the hymn by William Blake was written over 200 years ago, back then builded was correct. To change it would just ruin the whole poetry of it.
Apparently Blake only went to church 3 times; for is christening, wedding and funeral. and considering the song is about building 'Jerusalem' (by which he meant a kind of heaven on earth) in england, not waiting for the afterlife, is this song really as religious as people make out?
All religion is stupid. Spiritual bureaucracy between man and God but even so the Question still remains which religion is correct one and i not talking about sub branches of Christianity. Iam talking about Hinduism Islam, Sikhism. YES DONT PRETEND THEY DONT EXIST. JUST STICK YOUR FINGERS IN YOUR EARS GOING BAH BAH BAH YOU LIE HERETIC!
It's strange how none of you get what Jerusalem is about. Blake was an ardent admirer of the French revolution and thought something similar was needed in Britain. Jerusalem is a call to revolution with the overthrow of the established order and the creation of a "socialist" utopia (Jerusalem) by destroying the unfair work practices in those dark satanic mills!
Nothing to do with god but in pointing out what a shit hole the country was at that time
jerusalem doesnt refer to the city in the middle east, it means a kind of heaven on earth sutible for the second coming of christ. The name of the channel island Jersey is short for jerusalem (so new jersey in usa is new jerusalem) and 'salem in usa . Its only the last 100yrs americans have pushed the idea that blakes jerusalem is the city in the middle east.
enaj, I was more or less jesting....but I was raised there, and had a 3-year Air Force tour (of a 24 year career) there. Now a confirmed Westerner. You are right about the South, and even some parts of the North and West are very nice. But it is overcrowded, corrupt (see the last days online news) and the urban areas are just plain sad. Jerusalem of the song and the mind it just ain't!
I agree with you but I live in Cape May which is quite pleasant. Was born in Philly and spent most of my life there so this part of NJ is a nice change.
New Jersey is named after the Channel Island of Jersey, which itself is named after Julius Caesar, not Jerusalem
The words about creating a new Jerusalem are not calling for literally building a city, but symbolically creating a "pure" new Jerusalem collectively from each town and village, based on Christian virtues.
Not necessarily, some people believe that Blake was getting at what he perceived to be empty ritualism within the churches... at the expense of spirituality. Blake fashioned himself as a poet/prophet/bard and he was a non conformist (he's buried in the nonconformist cemetery in London). I personally think if that was what he was getting at, he was making an extremely valid point.
brilliant song, very patriotic and better than the national anthem, but its about a city not in England, it wouldn't really work as the national anthem, rule Britannia would be better
Not at all. This song was written as a comment on the industrialised cities as well as being a statement of religious faith, hence why he's talking about the 'satanic mills'. It could equally apply to anywhere in England too.
to some extent, but satanic mills could also refer to the pagan stone circles etc. I just think rule Britannia would be more appropriate, England has never been the centre of religious fervour, thats y we became protestant (to some extent).
we have been a centre for religious conflict, but generally speaking religion has always been weaker in Britain, this evident today, catholic countries take religion more seriously, and so do the americans, but we have never been massive on religion, it is why we have made such major advances in technology instead of the arts.
Sorry, but religion hasn't always been weak in Britain. We have our own christian religion (chuch of england), queens and kings kept changing the laws saying which religion you can and can't be. There was a plot to kill the king over religion.
But nowa days it's not important, just not all the time.
it isn't our own christian religion, it is just the reformed version, there is a church of France, Germany and Scotland. It just refers to the fact that we aren't under control from Rome. The fact we reformed because the King wanted a divorce and not because of the reasons given by Luther is surely proof we aren't massively religious, in comparison to other countries at least. This is why we r so diverse in England, while i am religious, i feel this wouldn't represent Britain.
The term "satanic mills" of England was actually used by Nostradamus in one of his prophecies. So this line is thought to be an allusion to him. What he referred to is another question.
Norway00999 - are you suggesting that unemployment and higher taxes are peculiar to Britain? The whole world has a few probs reight now, if you hadn't niticed. Or, perhaps you are just being a little unkind to your neighbours across the North Sea.
I really wish this was England`s official NA. Lovely pics, I thought at first it was Brimham Rocks - I wasn`t far wrong, it is Nidderdale, same area. God bless England, our beautiful green land.
AS an Englishman and Briton I am immensely proud that we have great sings such as this!Blake wrote the words at a time of great social upheaval and Parry's music is magical. To think that Christ himself may have walked on the soil of the Motherland - amazing message, absolutely amazing song!
tvnorth, I think you are quite right it is about the Industrial Revolution and not a Christian hymn at all.davidmentiply's quote from Blake's other poem "London" is quite apt; the "mind -forged manacles" mentioned in the second verse are what we must not "cease from mental fight" against and refer to internalised ideology which leads people to accept their own oppression.
CAN Jerusalem be built among the dark satanic mills? Yes! This song is remarkably inspirational.
wannacu100 1 month ago
Comment removed
alwaysbehumble 2 months ago
This music was selected by our headmaster at Openshaw Technical High School(in Manchester UK) in 1959 as the school hymn; to be sung in the assembly hall prior to classes. He (Mr. Ogden) said that the boys only school sang the hymn with such gusto and enthusiasm that it moved him to take such an action. Something he had never done before. I now live in Perth Western Australia but whenever I hear this hymn I am transported back to 'those dark satanic mills'! Shld. be the Brits National Anthem
leroymaximus 4 months ago
@4142375867985295 To damm right
burnley5960 6 months ago
It's a beautiful poem, and has become a beautiful hymn. It's unfortunate that it's been misinterpreted by so many. This is one of the few videos on YouTube that has set the song to lovely pastoral scenes of the "green and pleasant land" Blake wanted to protect from ugly factories and industrialism.
TheMsFatboy 8 months ago 2
thats because the rest of the world i so poor and desperate. we use their resources, and thats why they have the right to come in europe..
peter871 8 months ago
@peter871 What resources are these exactly ?
ARYAN88SPIRIT 7 months ago
I love this hymn although I finally had to search on YouTube to find the lyrics printed out. This was part of the royal wedding yesterday and is also featured at the end of the movie "Chariots of Fire" which got its title from a line in here.
AnneBowen1 9 months ago
An absolutely gorgeous melody. I think the most beautiful melody I have ever heard.
astrolog7000 9 months ago
bye bye english
TheBrinaleck 11 months ago
a wonderfull song
MrVanhelsing009 11 months ago
The opening words/questions are based on the tradition that young Jesus visited Britain in the company of Joseph of Arimathea (which also holds that the latter returned after the Crucifixion and founded the first Christian community in Britain at Glastonbury). Like King Arthur, these assertions are historically unproven/unproveable, & recorded many, many centuries after the alleged events. However, at least it's plausible on its face, as there was much trade with the Med for Cornish metals.
baraxor 11 months ago
@baraxor his uncle owned copper mines in scotland,that is a fact by roman records
Peattie61 6 months ago
Thanks for the correction D. That's what happens when I post a comment well after I should be in bed. In fact my error was even worse than you stated. I was more like 900 years early. Cheers.
woodcraftboy 11 months ago
With the government, all that countryside is gonna be gone before I hit 60....no place for me to retire then :'(
MegaJParry 11 months ago
Uh oh. Did somebody say "matress" to Mr Lambert?
AResidentoftheCosmos 1 year ago 17
It's obvious by the comments here that none of you understand the words of William Blake in this song so let me explain. William Blake is asking the question "was the holy Lamb of God (Jesus)
On England's pleasant pastures seen?" He is making reference to the fact that Joseph of Arimathea (the uncle of Jesus) was a metal trader to the Holy Roman Empire. Some historians, William Blake obviously one of them speculate that Jesus accompanied his uncle to England to obtain metals like tin.
woodcraftboy 1 year ago
@woodcraftboy 'Holy' Roman Empire? about 600 years early mate. :D
JamesDCPenny 11 months ago
@woodcraftboy Thanks for the explanation. One small thing. Holy Roman Empire refers to the German dominated political reality of 10th to 18th century. I think you simply meant the Roman Empire. You were probably just typing quickly. Wrote Holy as a reflex after having wrote Jesus.
bdweightexer 11 months ago
@bdweightexer That's exactly it. I made my comment well after I should have went to bed and inadvertently added Holy before Roman Empire. Thanks for the correction. JamesDC Penny did as well a couple of weeks ago.
woodcraftboy 11 months ago
What a rubbish song! Its tune goes nowhere, contains the most nonsensical bosh, and encourages the most arrant neo-imperialistic arrogance...
darpuzw 1 year ago
@darpuzw
Exactly my sentiments. I had to learn this song at Primary school and the quaint but purely nonsensical story behind it, it being told as if it were historical fact.
brokenscimitar 1 year ago
Comment removed
krislean1 1 year ago
@krislean1
1. "God chose England...That is God's plan for England."
Huh? Are you your god's self-appointed spokesman?
2. "England abandon the Lord's chosen people of Isreal in 1948 when Isreal need her most for protection..."
The Jews wanted their own homeland and England out. Haven't you ever heard of the King David Hotel bombing and other acts of terrorism and sabotage towards the British Forces in Palestine?
brokenscimitar 1 year ago
@Danstrhal818 no, this song may be very british but our history, like said above, is made of immigrints. what are the odds sometime in the past month you've had a chinise or a indian?
aye, thought so.
xXxStrifeMexXx 1 year ago
I got here by Monty Python XD
MegaJParry 1 year ago 34
somehow got here by catherine tate 0_0
Spongeb0bSqu4repants 1 year ago
Basically, Blake's poem has been hijaacked and usurped by the very people he hated. They simply failed to understand it. Take away the church organs and choirs, and read the words.
wornpick1 1 year ago
@wornpick1 or listen to the ELP version
swolocz07 1 year ago
A fantastic poem, and often rousing at nationalist events. Perhaps this is because so few people seem to understand the historical context and deliberate irony of Blake. In Jerusalem, Blake is questioning the establishment, and indeed the traditional faith of the establishment. Britain was rapidly changing from an agrarian society and economy to an industrial hell. There is no sense of glory or pride in 'Jerusalem' - indeed the reverse is true.
wornpick1 1 year ago
i'm not even English, and I get a thrill whenever i hear this song
sgmainstay 1 year ago
Kind of creepy, actually. Slow and stately enough, but replace "Christ" and "Christianity" with "Mohammad" and "Islam" and see how it sounds. The call for eventual theocracy is chilling. "Chariots of fire" and unsleeping swords in the hands of religious zealots are problems, not solutions.
notanotheraccount 1 year ago
@notanotheraccount the word Christianity doesn't appear once in this song
sgmainstay 1 year ago
@sgmainstay Probably because it's hard to rhyme, duh. You should let tvnorth, who posted this, know that you have doubts, because s/he seems convinced this is all about CHRIST and CHRISTIANITY, too. There's a CHRISTIAN church shown in the video. The verses quoted are from ancient Hebrew texts, which is no better. I'm not interested in establishing a theocracy of any flavor -- Jewish, Christian or otherwise.
notanotheraccount 1 year ago
@notanotheraccount yup I know it's about Christianity (and did the Holy Lamb of God), I was merely stating facts. It's an uplifting song, anyway you look at it
sgmainstay 1 year ago
@sgmainstay - No it is not necessarily about christian religion.
It is all about a call for manifesting social justice, reverberated through scripture:
indeed - The great poet, Willam Blake, refers to social justice - against the satanic mills of exploitation during the industial revolution of the 18th century in England.
The anthem is Christian in the sense of calling for compassion and justice.
Uranoneptunian 1 year ago
Take note also - "My Chariot of fire" refers to The prophet Elias, heading to unify with god, concluding an eventful life of fighting for justice against wrongdoings done by Israelite kings, queens and priests.
Does it make the anthem jewish?
No.
Jerusalem of the time had been under Ottman muslim control. does it mean this is a muslim anthem?
No.
There is No call or justification of Theocracy here
Uranoneptunian 1 year ago
As I say elsewhere - you are taking the words too literally without understanding the bigger picture. Blake was anything but an establishment figure, more of an alternative or 'indie' rebel. His point is that the christian-based establishment were responsible for the destruction of the England they claimed to champion. I wish we had a Blake around nowadays, to shake things up a bit!
wornpick1 1 year ago
Always been one of my favourites
Clickon for my favourite Bible verse
xummij 1 year ago
why?
wornpick1 1 year ago
me too,
theglastonburygirl 1 year ago
Sang this in school. Didn't realise how it cool it was, with all of us spotty little sh*ts out of tune. I mouthed it for several years, personally.
neocoders 1 year ago
I notice that many of the slides in this video are of village churches. That's all very nice, but wouldn't it be even better if the English would actually GO to those churches once in a while?
jmichal2 1 year ago
@jmichal2 i totally agree with you, hardly anyone goes to church anymore. its shameful
UltimateTidusFan 1 year ago
@UltimateTidusFan On current demographics England will be a muslim state within 50 years then you can replace them with mosques.
beanersss 1 year ago
anybody can bring anything into the uk......and get away with it!
try taking a christian bible into an islamic country!!!
buzzerb1 1 year ago 3
i agree with you but Christianity is still the same mentality as Muslims Blind faith. Only a fool would call faith a virtue
Machineghosts 1 year ago
So you have no faith friend? For example faith that summer will follow winter, that the floor of the lift you are in in doesn't fall out at the 15th.storey, that the doctor gives you the right tablets when you are ill; etc. etc. I gather then that you believe in nothing!
trackieben 1 year ago
great song from a great country.....forget talk of immigrants, if they dont like it here then let them fuck off to where they want to be,this is part of our history and i am proud of it, if they behave them selves they can stay with pleasure
mal334455 1 year ago
whenever life is just too unbearable and the trials and tribulations seem too much, this is what i listen to.
nor shall my sword sleep in my hand, till we have built jerusalem.. in england's green and pleasant land.
cracklydubplate 1 year ago
England is like a picture book - beautiful beyond belief in the countryside and the cathedrals are breathtaking. However all this stuff was built by anglo saxons and normans, not by arabs or muslims or pakistanis and the current British short-sighted nonsense of letting in zillions of these people with completely different backgrounds and ways of thinking will destroy the country. It is demographics and is unbelievably sad.
punzoid 1 year ago 6
This video really makes me miss Harrogate and the surrounding areas. Those were some of the best years of my life.
JamesD423 1 year ago
Here here, I lived there for a number of years a truly beautiful town. Now I live in the North East; nothing compares to that place.
GraySkulls1995 1 year ago
too late for that
BNP is British
Lib/Lab/Con is anti-British
Pick a side
AngloSaxon1921 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Watch my video.
It's about Earth shift. Continental Drift: One huge supercontinent, became 2 continents, then 5 (or 6) continents and then?
I wonder, did the Middle east and its region were exist when the continent were 2?
watch?v=j7I_eFoIk64
fridaysabtu 1 year ago
Really beautiful scenery! Makes me want to visit England very badly.
I made an arrangement of "Jerusalem" last week for soprano soloist and full orchestra, and just posted it here on YouTube a couple of days ago. Please have a listen when you have the time. I hope you enjoy it.
AmenhotepThree 1 year ago
Someone tells me that they are Anglican, and I immediately hear this hymn in my mind.
BenAliGtor 2 years ago
I can understand that, but William Blake was not Christian in any traditional sense. True, he drew heavily from Biblical and Greek imagery. But in his beliefs, he dwelt more on the border between pantheism and humanism.
In this poem, the "chariot of fire" (2 Kings 2:11), the "arrow of desire" (Cupid), and the other instruments seem to represent tools of divine intervention and authority. When the narrator summons them, he stands for all of us. We are the divine that must bring heaven to earth.
scyldschefing 1 year ago
Err, about the "arrows of desire"... I take back what I said. Arrows were often used with saints to represent their desire for God (to wit, St. Theresa describing her love for God as an arrow piercing her heart, most famously depicted by Bernini in his sculpture at St. Maria della Vittoria, Rome).
scyldschefing 1 year ago
...and did the shell-suited chav wheel his trolley around ASDA...
animatetime 2 years ago
No, he got his head kicked in for looking like a homosexual German
Burgess321 2 years ago
Made me homesick for North Yorks!
ValerieHarris1 2 years ago
I'm always homesick for Nth Yorkshire.. Am an ex pat but not by choice. Rothwell Woodlesford .Oulton miss them ...Oh and my birth place Sheffield ..
bebop58 1 year ago
National Anthem? You lot should show more respect for HRH!
SNIFFERTHESECOND 2 years ago
THIS SHOULD BE OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM!!!
jackpawilson 2 years ago 4
This is a beautiful hymn. I just recently learned the words to this song from the William Blake poem, although I learned to play the melody from hearing it from the movie "Chariots of Fire." I am an American, but I think this is a beautiful anthem that is a tribute to the Brits.
switzvideo 2 years ago 3
Comment removed
VallarionTheWise 2 years ago
I think this song should be national anthem 4 england!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-)
REVSASH1 2 years ago 60
@REVSASH1 It is de facto.
patsyd80 1 year ago
@REVSASH1 agreed
MegaJParry 1 year ago
@REVSASH1 i so agree
williehackitt1 1 year ago
Why is it that the most patriotic of British songs always brings the BNP crawling out from under whatever rock they live? Britain has a long and proud history of imigration and is one of the most tolerant nations on earth. Every wave of migrants from the Hugenots, aristocrat French, German Jews, Afro Caribeans, Indians etc have all added to this country. Its only government 'initiatives' that force us to look at our differences rather than our similarities that cause most of the problems.
eurobasher 2 years ago 47
Nice comment,eurobasher!
mwchinbach 2 years ago 2
So you like the idea of mass immigration and multi-culture? Neither works. Mass immigration cripples the infrastructure and multi-culture forces segregation. Or does a Somali criminal enrich your life?
We'v had enough of the Lib/Lab/Con muppets, their lies and their deceit. We want our country back and we'll get it one way or the other.
A vote for BNP is a vote for Britain. Anything else is liberal nonsense. you can always join Islam4UK if you like.
England Loyal
Rule Britannia,
AngloSaxon1921 1 year ago
@AngloSaxon1921 if you are that dumb to believe the bnp is goin to stand up 4 anglo saxons then you must be one delusional idiot. common sense can tel you that hes just another politicians whose bein used thats all. the pple in power dont care what colour you are as long as they remain in power and their ass are rich as hell. racism dont wke coz when push comes to shove you all are in same hole which is poverty instead of all you comin 2gether to fight for your freedom coz believe me you ant
wadza122 1 year ago
@AngloSaxon1921 you ant free right now you are bein taught to hate asians yet the same government allowed these muslim asians in. they werent cryin terrorism them. we now know where the next war goin 2 be. you dont ask who has the money to lend your governments nor who your children are in debt to nor do you ask why you are killin each other just becoz a politician tels you to. just wake up and smell the coffee there is no such thing as society its just one man for himself thats all.
wadza122 1 year ago
As an American, I can attest to the fact that multiculturalism does work. I myself am half Italian and half Indian, and one parent is Catholic and the other Indian. If these two people can marry, than the least that others can do is live next to each other in peace.
scyldschefing 1 year ago
We had to deal with our legacy of slavery and racial injustice, where as you haven't had to deal with your legacy of colonial rule. Though we are far from perfection, those Somalians you're referring to would be accepted with open arms, as they have been in many Mid-Western communities, some of the most conservative parts of the country.
I know that immigration has caused Britain a ton of troubles, but treating other peoples as sub-humans is exactly the wrong way to react.
scyldschefing 1 year ago
Yeah, mass immigration doesn't work. That's why the US are such a poor and powerless country. Even the girls look shitty, preferably those ugly ugly female hollywood stars with European and/or Asian roots. Nationalist inbreed on the other hand is the real deal! Rule Britannia!
MettwurstSamurai 1 year ago
Yeah, very clever. Not really that funny either im afraid.
I didnt realise you were such an enlightened chap. Here was me thinking that Romanians and Somali rapists only came here for free housing, free benefits, a british passport and free health care.
Of course, they came here to enrich our culture and to contribute in ways such as theft and rape.
If you're going to come here from the Congo and cure cancer. By all means, please. But i suspect you won't. Just a drain on the tax payer.
AngloSaxon1921 1 year ago
By the way. What made the USA what it is today?
Mass immigration from advanced European countries. Or mass immigration from Africa and South America?
here's a hint. What language do you American's speak?
No doubt you'll point to what invaluable work African slaves did in cotton fields. Wow, anything else?
AngloSaxon1921 1 year ago
Oh sorry. You're German. I should have done my research before i posted.
I went to Germany recently. I like Germany a lot. I like to go for the experience, beer, bratwurst.
So why am i always disappointed when i just see a load of Turks everywhere? As a tourist i don't want to see that. If i want Turks i'll go to Turkey or North London.
AngloSaxon1921 1 year ago
If you wanted to say that any nation should carefully select who to let into the country, I agree. In that way, Germany is indeed one bad example, because over centuries we had no immigration tests or even obligations to learn German. But as scyldschefing said, there's no point in rejecting immigration as a whole, for in general it gives benefits in cultural richness and "biodiversity" within a population. I'd always prefer cleverly controlled immigration over dumb nationalism. As does nature.
MettwurstSamurai 1 year ago
@MettwurstSamurai I agree with your comment on immigration. But you also miss out another factor. Integration or the modern lack of. Britain, England especially, has had many waves of immigration over the years. But (unless it was an invasion) they came on the premise that they would integrate into society. Irish and Hugenouts etc all integrated and became a part of Britain. Modern immigrants try and CHANGE Britain. Away from what this beautiful hymn celebrates.
thebigJM92 1 year ago
@thebigJM92
I agree on that. Integration is immigrants integrating into our society, not the other way round. We really have to be careful, especially in terms of political Islam becoming stronger and stronger within our western countries. One problem is that most muslims are getting more children than the European average, which must eventually lead to us having to legally accept very ugly things like Sharia law just by the simple rules of democracy.
MettwurstSamurai 1 year ago
@MettwurstSamurai The day Shariah law is implemented into the British system is the day that Britain dies. It wont be Britain anymore. This hymn will have no meaning.
thebigJM92 1 year ago
@thebigJM92
josephonwhidbey 1 year ago
@thebigJM92 If that should happen you are welcom in my America. We can use all the Brits you can send. G.S.T.Q.
josephonwhidbey 1 year ago
@josephonwhidbey Thankyou my friend. I will be sure to take your great nation up on that offer. But lets hope it doesnt come down to that....
thebigJM92 1 year ago
@thebigJM92 You're talknig shit. Shariah law is nowhere near any stage of implementation and nor will it ever be.
PHT07UK 1 year ago
@PHT07UK Did I say it was near implementation? And how do you know it will never be? The conclusion of multi-culturalism, when taken to full, is that each culture lives under their culture- as they relate more to that, will have a family, make friends in that culture etc- so that the one country becomes a patchwork of little ones. Shariah on a national level is a way off, but not locally, areas of 90% Muslim pop in parts of London, Leeds etc could argue for it, and some judges are sympathetic
thebigJM92 1 year ago
@eurobasher
Not British, but I thought the BNP was just anti-Muslim immigration, and they didn't really care about any other issues. As an American descendant of a prominent Huguenot family who fled to the British court after the persecutions in France, I can only say hurray for such a great country, from which America got its laws, language, and culture.
Justjokingjackrabbit 1 year ago
@eurobasher Those who would steal our liberty first try to devide and conquor and only then will they unite in order to rule.
josephonwhidbey 1 year ago
@eurobasher
then you dont know anyone in the BNP!
xrw5000x 1 year ago
@eurobasher "Britain has a long and proud history of imigration and is one of the most tolerant nations on earth." And look where that has got us!
iowmilo 1 year ago
@eurobasher eh not britain but England is most tolerant of nations
lordkrill 1 year ago
@eurobasher
SO VERY WELL SAID. Thanks.
ColonialPetersen 1 year ago
@eurobasher Agree with you 100%. I don't understand why the BNP types think that being proud to be English means being racist. I am proud to be English, but in no way am I a racist or ignorant. I love this land as it is (on the whole) a tolerant nation. I believe it is the far right that has hijaked the English Flag, and given it negative images. This is wrong. We should love England for the hotpotch of people she is, and has always been. xxx
cjacja21 9 months ago
Comment removed
claptonbrucebaker 9 months ago
@eurobasher We have always had immigration, but always in small numbers, not in the massive amounts we have had in the last 50 years or so. I am not a supporter of the BNP btw, just wanted to elaborate on your statement.
llllegquvwffvr 9 months ago
@llllegquvwffvr These Liberal idiots won't be happy until England looks like Brazil.
claptonbrucebaker 9 months ago
@claptonbrucebaker : You are more than right ! Multiculturalism is to Brazilianise the English speaking world ; to create a racially diverse impoverished mass class ruled over by a narrow wealthy class.
MusicPredominates 9 months ago
@MusicPredominates That's absolutely right!
claptonbrucebaker 9 months ago
nice
SuperFree2fly 2 years ago
Hey guys I pressed two hands down here. Just a mistake. I wanted to press hand up for two great comments. The one about Python and the one about Blake. Sorry guys. I liked your comments.
PeterRoeder31 2 years ago
There'll always be an England,
While there's a country lane.
Wherever there's a cottage small
Beside a field of grain
There'll always be an England
While there's a busy street.
Wherever there's a turning wheel
A million marching feet.
Rickyrab 2 years ago 4
As for what "red, white and blue" means to me, the answer is... America (which is my country, which got its colors from the UK flag, so they happen to be the same colo(u)rs! I like the English anyway, and I don't care whether it's fish-and-chips England or chicken tikka England.
Rickyrab 2 years ago
this video read in conjunction with 'Daughter's Of Fire' by Erskine is awsome, especially when my own 6th great grandparents abraham and Grace Spence resided in Darley , Abraham died there in 1752 so landscape is special to me. Wonderful to think christ also visited England- why not?
ruby4942 2 years ago
God look down on us English, have pity, for as a nation we have sinned. You gave us this green and pleasant land and yet know in our folly we bulldoze and we desecrate. May you have mercy on our souls and make our leaders know wisdom, that they may preserve what is so great about our country rather than destroy. Blake was an inspired man, this was about invoking god to help those who loved their country. Let us invoke him now, and use Blake's words to save us.
thebigJM92 2 years ago
i am angry about all the problems england has lately but this song reminds me of how deep down i have an enormous amount of pride and love for this country. i mean these pictures say it all
SuperTravisbickle 2 years ago 3
MONTY PYTHON FTW
4thSennin 2 years ago
Yes, Monty Python sings this!
PeterRoeder31 2 years ago
May the Lords chariot of fire once again descend on the city of london and the land of england be blessed of heaven.
jdwildish 2 years ago
Pateley bridge, walked there. British and proud.
Let the hymn last for ever. x]]
JackIlkleySkate 2 years ago 3
I love this hymn. The sublime melody so perfectly fits Blake's lyric. And the way the Brit's sing it with such lovely pride. It brings tears to my eyes. I am not even an English subject. I'm American. Go figure. You don't have to be religious to enjoy it. I've looked at most of the videos of Jerusalem. Even sent some to friends who, of course, can't enjoy them as much as I do, but... I enjoy the song so much I've decided to learn it so I can sing when I want to lift my mood.
BillSalem 2 years ago 6
Tippy mugs the hymn by William Blake was written over 200 years ago, back then builded was correct. To change it would just ruin the whole poetry of it.
funkingmajic 2 years ago
The only thing wrong with this song is the term "builded," which should be "built."
tippymugs 2 years ago
this clearly has nothing to do with religion and is blatant comment on the industrial revolution and a view to making england a powerful nation
physicalhate 2 years ago
Apparently Blake only went to church 3 times; for is christening, wedding and funeral. and considering the song is about building 'Jerusalem' (by which he meant a kind of heaven on earth) in england, not waiting for the afterlife, is this song really as religious as people make out?
PeteJones100 2 years ago 3
As a non-English Lutheran, I find the theology to be odd at best, but I really don't care in this instance, because this is such a lovely hymn.
mahz6 2 years ago
A truly inspiration hymn. To think that Christ(God) himself may have walked upon the soil of our motherland!
God bless Britain.
God bless the British people! Whether they be English , Scottish, Welsh or Irish.
God please our sovereign Queen ElizabethII.
God bless our wonderful country. For there is none other like it!
bobphillifent 2 years ago 9
Comment removed
funnymagi 2 years ago
we had this played at my next door neighboughs grandads funeral who i knew v. well.
06louth 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
All religion is stupid. Spiritual bureaucracy between man and God but even so the Question still remains which religion is correct one and i not talking about sub branches of Christianity. Iam talking about Hinduism Islam, Sikhism. YES DONT PRETEND THEY DONT EXIST. JUST STICK YOUR FINGERS IN YOUR EARS GOING BAH BAH BAH YOU LIE HERETIC!
GodMarley666 2 years ago
CHILLL!!! You're going to give yourself a heart attack! We all die, so, one day we will know! GOD BLESS YOU!
adamrayromo 2 years ago
ecoutez le "jerusalem" par emerson lake and palmer
kayorn 2 years ago
this used to be my school song in Barbados...its always makes me feel so safe and happy
MizzRiverP 2 years ago 2
Much better than our current anthem.
Versettie 2 years ago
So emotional! I cannot speak!
lincsposter 2 years ago
It's strange how none of you get what Jerusalem is about. Blake was an ardent admirer of the French revolution and thought something similar was needed in Britain. Jerusalem is a call to revolution with the overthrow of the established order and the creation of a "socialist" utopia (Jerusalem) by destroying the unfair work practices in those dark satanic mills!
Nothing to do with god but in pointing out what a shit hole the country was at that time
couldntcareanyway 2 years ago 4
jerusalem doesnt refer to the city in the middle east, it means a kind of heaven on earth sutible for the second coming of christ. The name of the channel island Jersey is short for jerusalem (so new jersey in usa is new jerusalem) and 'salem in usa . Its only the last 100yrs americans have pushed the idea that blakes jerusalem is the city in the middle east.
chewymatty1 2 years ago 2
New Jersey is the New Jerusalem? Yo, you ever been there? EEEEYuck...sure as hell not on the Turnpike....
oldcorps76 2 years ago
It is called the garden state. Have you ever been to South Jersey? Not industrial like the north and very pretty.
enaj78 2 years ago
enaj, I was more or less jesting....but I was raised there, and had a 3-year Air Force tour (of a 24 year career) there. Now a confirmed Westerner. You are right about the South, and even some parts of the North and West are very nice. But it is overcrowded, corrupt (see the last days online news) and the urban areas are just plain sad. Jerusalem of the song and the mind it just ain't!
oldcorps76 2 years ago
I agree with you but I live in Cape May which is quite pleasant. Was born in Philly and spent most of my life there so this part of NJ is a nice change.
enaj78 2 years ago
@chewymatty1
New Jersey is named after the Channel Island of Jersey, which itself is named after Julius Caesar, not Jerusalem
The words about creating a new Jerusalem are not calling for literally building a city, but symbolically creating a "pure" new Jerusalem collectively from each town and village, based on Christian virtues.
baraxor 11 months ago
Love this...memories singing this hymn during morning devotion at my high school for girls in Auckland, New Zealand.
iusedtobethere 2 years ago
among those dark satanic mills; wen appear a
christian church!! please.. THIS IS A VERY BIG
MISTAKE!
voglia correggere per favore!
cherno billy
abacous81 2 years ago
Who gives a toss, seriously? The video is just showing random buildings. Get over it.
ChromeXk 2 years ago
Not necessarily, some people believe that Blake was getting at what he perceived to be empty ritualism within the churches... at the expense of spirituality. Blake fashioned himself as a poet/prophet/bard and he was a non conformist (he's buried in the nonconformist cemetery in London). I personally think if that was what he was getting at, he was making an extremely valid point.
sword4thelord 2 years ago
anybody heard Emerson Lake & Palmer's Version?
ToxicLabProductions 2 years ago 2
brilliant song, very patriotic and better than the national anthem, but its about a city not in England, it wouldn't really work as the national anthem, rule Britannia would be better
EmperorHarold 2 years ago
Not at all. This song was written as a comment on the industrialised cities as well as being a statement of religious faith, hence why he's talking about the 'satanic mills'. It could equally apply to anywhere in England too.
fassaalbrecht 2 years ago
to some extent, but satanic mills could also refer to the pagan stone circles etc. I just think rule Britannia would be more appropriate, England has never been the centre of religious fervour, thats y we became protestant (to some extent).
EmperorHarold 2 years ago
It most certainly was a center of religious fervor for many centuries.
AntiquityCentury21 2 years ago
we have been a centre for religious conflict, but generally speaking religion has always been weaker in Britain, this evident today, catholic countries take religion more seriously, and so do the americans, but we have never been massive on religion, it is why we have made such major advances in technology instead of the arts.
EmperorHarold 2 years ago
Sorry, but religion hasn't always been weak in Britain. We have our own christian religion (chuch of england), queens and kings kept changing the laws saying which religion you can and can't be. There was a plot to kill the king over religion.
But nowa days it's not important, just not all the time.
Versettie 2 years ago
it isn't our own christian religion, it is just the reformed version, there is a church of France, Germany and Scotland. It just refers to the fact that we aren't under control from Rome. The fact we reformed because the King wanted a divorce and not because of the reasons given by Luther is surely proof we aren't massively religious, in comparison to other countries at least. This is why we r so diverse in England, while i am religious, i feel this wouldn't represent Britain.
EmperorHarold 2 years ago 3
Yes polities dictated what was true and not truth itself aka your made up God!
GodMarley666 2 years ago
The term "satanic mills" of England was actually used by Nostradamus in one of his prophecies. So this line is thought to be an allusion to him. What he referred to is another question.
JustPeisma 2 years ago
this should be englands national anthem :)
Ell898 2 years ago
inspirational and uplifting
classicfmdudette 2 years ago
Great, much better than the NA.
beginnersgambling 2 years ago
I so love this anthem and hymn..it is so majestic and moving.
Long live ENGLAND and the USA !!!
USAShane 2 years ago 8
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Fuck America. Nuke Washington!
God Save The Queen.
dovotr 2 years ago
I truly wish I was born English and not American.
LoraLizabeth 2 years ago 3
why would you even say that?
ToxicLabProductions 2 years ago
why isn't this our national anthem
MEEP012 2 years ago 2
It is better known and nicer than the one we've got I know that...
fassaalbrecht 2 years ago
And if "those feet" returned today, why would he stay when England is being "trashed" by the Religion of Peace?
beheadedchristian 3 years ago
Norway00999 - are you suggesting that unemployment and higher taxes are peculiar to Britain? The whole world has a few probs reight now, if you hadn't niticed. Or, perhaps you are just being a little unkind to your neighbours across the North Sea.
MARKBPHARM 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Banks bankrupt + unemployment + higher taxes = England foul-smelling health hazard
norway00999 3 years ago
RBS and HBOS are both Scottish lol
Unemployment is still low by European standards.
Taxes haven'tt risen yet, maybe in a few years.
Goathead82 3 years ago
I really wish this was England`s official NA. Lovely pics, I thought at first it was Brimham Rocks - I wasn`t far wrong, it is Nidderdale, same area. God bless England, our beautiful green land.
englishrose47 3 years ago 4
Terribly written critique of the poem ... A very conspicuous incorrect semi-colon and just poor sentence construction.
asdfghjkl1155 3 years ago
Comment removed
Independence4Britain 3 years ago
He wasn't hung for treason at all. He died in his bed, with his wife by his side, aged 69.
MrNobody808 3 years ago
Comment removed
Independence4Britain 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
"And was Jerusalem builded here among those...."
Isnt this grammatically wrong? Builded?
mohammedgandoo 3 years ago
It should be buildededed.
DeeperRootsProject 3 years ago
AS an Englishman and Briton I am immensely proud that we have great sings such as this!Blake wrote the words at a time of great social upheaval and Parry's music is magical. To think that Christ himself may have walked on the soil of the Motherland - amazing message, absolutely amazing song!
treborzx 3 years ago 4
i totally agree with you mate
Caboose8154 3 years ago
I'm American and I love this song! That's saying something about how this song can be enjoyed by any nationality.
nrein89 3 years ago 5
tvnorth, I think you are quite right it is about the Industrial Revolution and not a Christian hymn at all.davidmentiply's quote from Blake's other poem "London" is quite apt; the "mind -forged manacles" mentioned in the second verse are what we must not "cease from mental fight" against and refer to internalised ideology which leads people to accept their own oppression.
caprinecapers 3 years ago
very beautiful hymn. i am from slovakia but like england and its music very much
bozzque 3 years ago