Blake's Jerusalem by Billy Bragg

England's unofficial national anthem performed by Billy Bragg on his 1990 album, The Internationale.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• classical
• folk

[tomcatvmp]

good song . but if we sell ourselves down that road we are weaker all round

[rebellionsucks]

what road?

[482c]

Lillburne, Walwyn, Spence, Blake--all part of the great tradition of English democracy!

[rebellionsucks]

Let's not forget Tom Paine!

[newellfisher]

A dignified explanation of enlightened English nationalism.

Well done!

[rebellionsucks]

Thanks

[nowandzen7]

Bragg is a socialist.....but he's also a great musician ....as this song clearly shows.....England should replace god save the queen with this song......it's much better!

[mytimetravellingdog]

love Blake, he is one of the greatest poets (and artists) in history. he was revolutionary in all aspects of his life and beliefs.

(although ths isnt jerusalem, its actually a poem in the preface to MIlton. Blake's Jerusalem an illuminated book)

the book Blake and the impossible history of the 1790s is well worth reading if anyone has an interest in him. it looks at how much more radical blake was than even any of his contemporaries

and i love bill bragg as well.

[karezza6]

@hem1934

Fuck off.

[karezza6]

Men of England, heirs of glory

Rise like Lions after slumber In unvanquishable number,

Shake your chains to earth like dew

Which in sleep had fallen on you-

Ye are many — they are few"

Shelley

[karezza6]

God bless William Blake.

[hem1934]

This is a beautiful song. But it has nothing to do with English nationalism, and Blake didn't write this poem as a praise to England. You can't make English nationalism ok. English nationalism is inherently reactionary.

[frankmilespml]

@Londonfogey Ah watch the film.

[frankmilespml]

@Londonfogey Ah watch da film.

[GuyFawkes15]

We are England and Billy is the best bloke to represent us.

[IrishandFolkmusic]

I was born here and lived here my entire life, I hate 'God Save The Queen' as an anthem it does not really represent what is a good country, Jerusalem is a song you could sing with such pride.

[hernhillrebel]

How hilarious that Bragg has to embrace little Englanderism, (so many of whose advocates barely disguise their anti Scottish/Irish/ Welsh prejudice) in a desperate ploy to undermine the UNITED Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. I saw his dumb book in the library- he was posing on the front with the crusaders cross, no doubt before going off to do a benefit concert for Palestinian refugees. He has never been elected to office and now lives a midde class life in rural Dorset.