National Anthem

[Zombie Sheep]

[s]Iain wrote on 18:03, 29th Nov 2004:
Don't you know the meaning of devolution?!


I would suggest that Jack McConnell doesn't know the meaning either.

[s] Gubbins at wrote on 18:43, 29th Nov 2004:
Verse 6 of God Save the Queen:

It never actually was officially part of the anthem, remember, but I agree with your point though.

[Humphrey]

Given that Britainia doesnt rule jack shit anymore it seems a bit silly to have it as our national anthem. God Save the Queen??, well as Eddie Izzard says, thats one saved fucking queen. The Sex Pistols version said it all really. Jerusalem is the only choice in my opinion.

[the reason for the word w]

I thought the Aussies had a national anthem, Advance Australia Fair or something like that?

Yeah, they do, but no Aussie knows the lyrics, and it's not as catching as "Waltzing Mathilda", which is also much older. The official national anthem was introduced by the government and the people never warmed to it...

[Thoir tlachd don mhath, i]

We could have Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life. I think it would really suit the Scottish psyche.

[alw6]

[s]the reason for the word witch wrote on 19:12, 29th Nov 2004:
I thought the Aussies had a national anthem, Advance Australia Fair or something like that?

Yeah, they do, but no Aussie knows the lyrics, and it's not as catching as "Waltzing Mathilda", which is also much older. The official national anthem was introduced by the government and the people never warmed to it...



I think you will find that lots of Australians know the words to Advance Australia Fair

[Bread Roll]

[s]the reason for the word witch wrote on 19:12, 29th Nov 2004:
The official national anthem was introduced by the government and the people never warmed to it...


I believe in a poll conducted in Australia, Advance Australia Fair gathered a larger percentage of the vote than Waltzing Matilda - A song about a mattress apparently, although I thought the lyrics were about a man who steals a sheep and then drowns himself in a billabong or something depressing like that according to this website I've found. You learn something new everyday. It was first performed in 1901 apparently also although not adopted as the national anthem until 1970something.

I have way too much time on my hands.



'In joyful strains then let us sing,
"Advance Australia fair!"'


[hr]

Get your philosophy from a bumper sticker

[scumdeeforever]

[s]Bread Roll wrote on 20:06, 29th Nov 2004:
[s]the reason for the word witch wrote on 19:12, 29th Nov 2004:[i]
The official national anthem was introduced by the government and the people never warmed to it...


I believe in a poll conducted in Australia, Advance Australia Fair gathered a larger percentage of the vote than Waltzing Matilda - A song about a mattress apparently, although I thought the lyrics were about a man who steals a sheep and then drowns himself in a billabong or something depressing like that according to this website I've found. You learn something new everyday. It was first performed in 1901 apparently also although not adopted as the national anthem until 1970something.

I have way too much time on my hands.



'In joyful strains then let us sing,
"Advance Australia fair!"'


[hr]

Get your philosophy from a bumper sticker
[/i]



The story behind waltzing matilda as i've heard it goes along the lines of sailors having a special, rolled up mattress, so that when they'd been on long voyages and not seen a woman for months, but didn't fancy any of their mates, they took a little "waltz" with the mattress (matilda as she was affectionately known)

this story could be utter bull, but its great to think of all those people at the rugby singing "sh@gging a mattress! sh@gging a mattress! you'll come a-sh@gging a mattress with me!"

[Ewan Husami]

Dizzee Rascal should rap the National Anthem.

Seeing as he's done such a stirling job with Band Aid 20.

[Gubbins]

I think you will find that lots of Australians know the words to Advance Australia Fair.


Indeed, they were drummed into me at primary school assemblies and have never left me since. And sadly Waltzing Matilda has little to do with attempting procration with bedding material, but tells the story of a squatter who steals a sheep, is caught by the police and drowns himself. Nice national anthem.

Oh, and by the way, a little political intrigue about the morals of anthems, Advance Australia Fair says:
"For those who've come across the seas/
We've boundless plains to share".
This from the country who turned away all those boatloads of immigrants and sent them on to Nauru...

(And verse 6 was, to the best of my knowledge, part of the original performance of God Save the King, back in 1745, during B.P.Charlie's march on Derby or somewhere equally meaningful.)

[flarewearer]

The beauty of Flower of Scotland is that it is a recently composed piece from the 1960's that became adopted as an anthem because of its popularity; not because it was politically correct, incorrect or some well meaning, overpaid politicians decided we needed it.
Surely it speaks for itself that in less than 20 years it went from a plinkety-plunkety folk record by a pair of leather tank-top wearing beardies to a cracking national anthem.

[hr]* 9 out of 10 cannibals agree;
"vegetarians taste BETTER"

[Chain Mailer]

[s]maz wrote on 18:41, 29th Nov 2004:
caledonia 's calling me.... moves me to tears pretty much everytime i hear it - especially if i'm far far away from home


Oh yes! that is a beautiful song! Or what about the one that goes 'Will you go lassie go, and we'll all go together' Or maybe one by Runrig, that would be really Scottish as you'd have to sing in Gaelic


[hr]
Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious

[flarewearer]

Oh yes! that is a beautiful song! Or what about the one that goes 'Will you go lassie go, and we'll all go together'


you're thinking of Wild Mountain thyme. Nice song, but is a love song rousing enough for a national anthem?

[hr]
* 9 out of 10 cannibals agree;
"vegetarians taste BETTER"

[Gubbins]

[s]Chain Mailer wrote on 22:49, 29th Nov 2004:
[s]maz wrote on 18:41, 29th Nov 2004:[i]
caledonia 's calling me.... moves me to tears pretty much everytime i hear it - especially if i'm far far away from home


Oh yes! that is a beautiful song! Or what about the one that goes 'Will you go lassie go, and we'll all go together' Or maybe one by Runrig, that would be really Scottish as you'd have to sing in Gaelic [/i]

Caledonia has definitely GOT to be a contender, good old Dougie Maclean. Wild Mountain Thyme is a bit peely-wally for a national anthem, however nice the tune. Runrig would get my vote as well, but which song?

[David]

how about the theme from high road?

[Zombie Sheep]

I think Runrig do some cracking Scottish songs, songs that are full of emotion, but I don't think any of them really would cut it as a national anthem - maybe Loch Lomond, but then that wasn't their own song.

[hr]"The feudal system of land tenure, that is to say the entire system whereby land is held by a bassal on perpetual tenure from a superior is, on the appointed day, abolished. Scotland, 28th November 2004.

[Anon.]

Lord grant that Marshal Wade
May by thy mighty aid
Victory bring.
May he sedition hush,
And like a torrent rush,
Rebellious Scots to crush.
God save the Queen!

The emphasis here is not about crushing Scots, but about crushing rebels. Vast numbers of Scots did not support the Jacobite cause, but those who did were guilty of treason against the lawful monarch, confirmed in his place by the Parliament of the nation.

[KateBush]

[s]Anon. wrote on 10:08, 30th Nov 2004:
[i]Lord grant that Marshal Wade
May by thy mighty aid
Victory bring.
May he sedition hush,
And like a torrent rush,
Rebellious Scots to crush.
God save the Queen!

The emphasis here is not about crushing Scots, but about crushing rebels. Vast numbers of Scots did not support the Jacobite cause, but those who did were guilty of treason against the lawful monarch, confirmed in his place by the Parliament of the nation.
[/i]

do be quiet, donald!

[Rob Milsom]

If we're talking Runrig songs - why not 'Alba'? Suggests itself, really. 'An Toll Dubh' would be my preference - although it's probably too based around the Gaels to be a national anthem. Would be good to have at least some Gaelic in the national anthem regardless.

Of other suggestions - Wild Mountain Thyme has a lot of emotion, but in addition to being a bit lightweight, also only really works well if it's sung in perfect tune - which in a crowd of any size, won't happen.

Scots Wha' Hae has by far the most stirring limits, but the tune to which it's set is far too maudlin.

Actually, I don't see too much wrong with 'Flower of Scotland'. It's a truly popular national anthem. All it needs is to be beefed up a little - and for people to stop setting it to waltz time (Murrayfield is by far the worst offender here)

[kas48]

[s]Steveo wrote on 15:59, 29th Nov 2004:
Don't allow Scotland to have one.

You have God Save The Queen like the rest of the UK.

[hr][s]Strangers passing in the street....by chance two seperate glances meet[/s]






she's not our bloody queen!!

[g]

[s]kas48 wrote on 18:29, 3rd Mar 2005:
she's not our bloody queen!!


I second that motion! Oh, and Bill Gates still doesn't deserve a knighthood...