I recently went down a rabbit hole, rereading the poems of William Blake, and I came cross this version of “Jerusalem,”music by Hubert Parry, orchestrated by Elgar, based on a poem by Blake. A pacifistic and anti-industrial poem, referencing a possible Jesus visit to England (probably fiction) it appears to be almost an English national anthem or hymn.
I bring it up because I’m quite intrigued-though I’ve heard it on multiple soundtracks and events I really knew nothing about its history or its significance. I’d be curious to hear my English and European friends add some color about their perceptions of it:
Re: Jerusalem
Posted: Sep 18, 2025 3:38 am
by Guy Rowland
Lawrence wrote: ↑Sep 16, 2025 3:07 pmreferencing a possible Jesus visit to England (probably fiction)
Love this.
"And was Jerusalem builded here". It's absolutely bonkers, isn't it? You're quite right, it's our unofficial national anthem, swelling the nation with pride. Obviously no-one reflects for a millisecond on the words and their literal meaning, it's just MY GOD ISN'T BRITAIN JUST MAGNIFICENT.
To be fair to Blake, I think it never was meant to be taken literally. It can be taken as a lovely sentiment, a deep appreciation for nature under threat from grotesque industrialisation. Something about appreciating the simple pleasures of the place you live so much it makes you feel it is the pinnacle of God's creation.
Somehow that nuance gets lost in the rah-rah of Last Night Of The Proms with Union Jacks everywhere.
I used to work on a disreputable anarchic but utterly joyful kids show, to this day an absolute career highlight. We'd get the most absurd complaints. I remember one was so pompously unhinged I got the producer to read it out, recorded it and slapped Jerusalem over the top. Obviously I can't share it, but God it made us laugh (more innocent times - a complaint like that would now would causes bosses to quake but back then we just set it to music). That's what I think of when I hear it now - absurd pomposity.
Another patriotic Brit tune is that wonderful graceful theme in the middle of Holst's Jupiter. Someone added words, "I vow to thee my country". That hasn't dented it for me, I still absolutely adore Jupiter. What an incredible piece it is, it starts brilliantly and at every turn it just gets better and better. Every element is memorable and distinct from one another.
EDIT - speaking of pomposity, this from the truly amazing 90s satirical news show The Day Today uses Jupiter in an emergency film held in reserve for times of national crisis. This still makes me howl with laughter.
Does America have an unofficial national anthem or two, Larry? Generally curious about this phenomenon around the world...
Re: Jerusalem
Posted: Sep 18, 2025 5:02 am
by RobS
Lawrence wrote: ↑Sep 16, 2025 3:07 pmreferencing a possible Jesus visit to England (probably fiction)
Guy Rowland wrote: ↑Sep 18, 2025 3:38 am
EDIT - speaking of pomposity, this from the truly amazing 90s satirical news show The Day Today uses Jupiter in an emergency film held in reserve for times of national crisis. This still makes me howl with laughter.
Lawrence wrote: ↑Sep 16, 2025 3:07 pmreferencing a possible Jesus visit to England (probably fiction)
Love this.
"And was Jerusalem builded here". It's absolutely bonkers, isn't it? You're quite right, it's our unofficial national anthem, swelling the nation with pride. Obviously no-one reflects for a millisecond on the words and their literal meaning, it's just MY GOD ISN'T BRITAIN JUST MAGNIFICENT.
To be fair to Blake, I think it never was meant to be taken literally. It can be taken as a lovely sentiment, a deep appreciation for nature under threat from grotesque industrialisation. Something about appreciating the simple pleasures of the place you live so much it makes you feel it is the pinnacle of God's creation.
Somehow that nuance gets lost in the rah-rah of Last Night Of The Proms with Union Jacks everywhere.
I used to work on a disreputable anarchic but utterly joyful kids show, to this day an absolute career highlight. We'd get the most absurd complaints. I remember one was so pompously unhinged I got the producer to read it out, recorded it and slapped Jerusalem over the top. Obviously I can't share it, but God it made us laugh (more innocent times - a complaint like that would now would causes bosses to quake but back then we just set it to music). That's what I think of when I hear it now - absurd pomposity.
Another patriotic Brit tune is that wonderful graceful theme in the middle of Holst's Jupiter. Someone added words, "I vow to thee my country". That hasn't dented it for me, I still absolutely adore Jupiter. What an incredible piece it is, it starts brilliantly and at every turn it just gets better and better. Every element is memorable and distinct from one another.
EDIT - speaking of pomposity, this from the truly amazing 90s satirical news show The Day Today uses Jupiter in an emergency film held in reserve for times of national crisis. This still makes me howl with laughter.
Does America have an unofficial national anthem or two, Larry? Generally curious about this phenomenon around the world...
Thanks for that, Guy. In a chilling journey towards authoritarianism in America, Jerusalem seems relatively benign as a patriotic/religious song, but as all such themes do, it does seem to glorify their homeland. I guess that’s the idea:“absurd pomposity “
America has a number of alternates, though only one official anthem. Alternates include “America the Beautiful” “My Country Tis of Thee”, and “God Bless America” ,the last written by the prolific and incredibly successful songwriter Irving Berlin. There’s also “Lift Every Voice”, the unofficial “Black national anthem.”
As to our official anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner”, you British can blame yourself for that one! Written by Francis Scott Key after observing the shelling of Fort McHenry during the Revolutionary War, he had viewed the American flag still waving during the assault, and it swelled his breast.
Hilariously, both it and “My Country ‘tis of Thee” were written to British melodies, the latter to “God Save the Queen”!
(Btw, LOVE the film!)
Re: Jerusalem
Posted: Sep 18, 2025 12:15 pm
by Lawrence
RobS wrote: ↑Sep 18, 2025 5:04 am
not a fan of national prides honestly
Nor am I Rob, but when I hear the magnificent Ray Charles sing “America the Beautiful” I’m transported.
