Ralph McTell England (Slide Show). English National Anthem candidate?

I was surprised to only find live versions of "England" by Ralph McTell here on YouTube (some at painfully low-fi). So, here's the released version of the song, by the great Ralph McTell, in full-fi, accompanied by some of my photos; Ones that I think represent England. I think this song should be the new National Anthem for England!

Video Produced by Alan T.

"Don't make this out a battle hymn or a song for victory. It's just a way to try to say what England means to me. And our accents and our colours change From the city to the farmland..."

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• England
• Ralph
• McTell
• Celebration
• London
• Wiltshire
• Cumbria
• Cornwall
• Dorset
• Yorkshire
• City
• Country
• Coast

[iglagol]

Well, the song contains this verse, but strange thing, Ralph never performs it. Here it is:

What is it about you that took men into war?

Rows and rows of crosses, who remembers why what for?

The corners of these foreign fields,

The dust in them concealed.

Out of sight but not out of mind,

Don't you know that England feels?

[Trevennor]

@iglagol

Well, the version with this video was released as a single record, so I would suppose that there is a longer album version which perhaps includes that missing verse?

Alan T

[desertstar987]

Great video and song. I'm an Aussie but almost all of my family came out from England to South Aust. in the 1800's. I think that anyone who came from England originally never really left. I'll never vote for an Australian rebublic.

[Trevennor]

@desertstar987

Ah yes, you can take the Englishman out of England, but never the reverse eh 8-)

Glad you liked the video, Ralph must take the Lion's share of the credit though for the great song and lyrics.

ALan T

[TUNEMAKER1701]

I've been searching for this song for years !!!

Thanks for uploading it, you made my day :)

[Trevennor]

@TUNEMAKER1701

I'm glad, it's been a favourite of mine since it was released. Celebratory rather than jingoistic. Just what we need for a new national anthem.

Alan T

[IPW02]

This music was the closing titles from Billy Connolly's World Tour of England, Ireland & Wales. I have tried to find this song without success.

[lugnavatten63]

Whatever else it is, or may become, England is always home. Nuff said!

[Clawjaw]

She still has her problems Ralph but your songs always make me proud to be an Englishman. Cheers for the upload Trevennor.

[Inglese001]

The facts:

It is true that it is the country of Shakespeare, Darwin, Newton and Faraday.

It is true that it invented the modern world (Industrial Revolution)

BUT...........................­you can't trade on past glories!

[iglagol]

This might be the best performance by Ralph. Anyway the others I've heard before leave lots to want. Thank you for showing it here!

[hedcam]

superb. 

[revol148]

@Malc1602 Me to! Good old Ken Bruce eh - even he said he was moved by it!

[revol148]

@desertstar987 you can still like England and yet want your own country to be a Republic at the same time! - it doesn't have to be a case of either/or!