National anthem of England
Encyclopedia
While England
does not have an official national anthem
, there are many songs which are considered to fill such a role. In most of the national sporting fixtures 'God Save The Queen' is used, but 'Land of Hope and Glory' is also fairly popular
, the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament
(MP) for Leeds North West
, introduced an Early Day Motion
(EDM) in the House of Commons, proposing that England have its own national anthem. The EDM called for all English sporting associations to "adopt an appropriate song that English sportsmen and women, and the English public, would favour when competing as England." There has also been an EDM calling for "Jerusalem" to be given official status as the national anthem of England, proposed by Daniel Kawczynski
, the Conservative Party
MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham
on 18 October 2006.
In April 2008 Greg Mulholland called for the England national rugby league team
to replace "God Save the Queen" with an English national anthem at the Rugby League World Cup
(RL World Cup) to be held in Australia
in autumn 2008
and on 28 April he put forward another EDM in the House of Commons, noting that Scotland
and Wales
who are also taking part in the RL World Cup, will all have their own national anthems, and therefore calling on England to use an English national anthem rather than the British national anthem, with the proposal that English rugby league fans should be given the chance to choose an English anthem. However, God Save the Queen was used.
On St George's Day
, April 23, 2010, the Commonwealth Games Council for England
launched a poll to allow the public to decide which anthem would be played at the 2010 Commonwealth Games
in Delhi, India. Voters could choose between God Save the Queen
, Jerusalem
and Land of Hope and Glory
with the winning song being adopted as the official anthem for Team England. Jerusalem was declared the winner on 30 May 2010, securing 52% of the vote.
's poem "And did those feet in ancient time" is the song "Jerusalem", with music by Hubert Parry
, which was orchestrated
by Edward Elgar
in 1922 for a large orchestra at the Leeds Festival
. Upon hearing the orchestral version for the first time, King George V
said that he preferred that "Jerusalem" replace "God Save the King" as the national anthem. "Jerusalem" is also, as with "Land of Hope and Glory" performed at the annual Last Night of the BBC Proms
.
It was used as a campaign slogan by the Labour Party
in the 1945 general election
when Clement Attlee
said they would build "a new Jerusalem". The song is also the unofficial anthem of the Women's Institute, and historically was used by the National Union of Suffrage Societies
. It has also been sung at conferences of the Conservative Party
.
It is frequently sung as an office or recessional hymn in English cathedrals, churches and chapels on St George's Day
. The hymn is also sung in some churches on "Jerusalem Sunday", a day set aside to celebrate the Holy city
of Jerusalem in Anglican Churches
throughout the world and even in some Episcopal Churches in the United States
. However some clergy in the Church of England
have and refused to allow it in their churches on the grounds that it is too nationalistic and is not a prayer to God (which hymns always are).
There have been calls to give "Jerusalem" official status.
In 2000 a rendition of "Jerusalem" by Fat Les
was adopted by the English Football Association
as the England football team's official song for the UEFA Euro 2000 competition. Jerusalem has been the ECB's official hymn since 2003, being played before the start of play each day of home test matches. Although God Save the Queen was the anthem sung by England players before games in 2010 ICC World Twenty20
and 2010–11 Ashes series
.
has long been traditionally played amidst much flag-waving at the climax of the Last Night of the BBC Proms.
At international rugby league matches, England
often sang Land of Hope and Glory as their national anthem
(but since the 2005 internationals switched to God Save the Queen
). The song was also used as the victory anthem of England at the Commonwealth Games
until Jerusalem was adopted in 2010. England has no official national anthem, and usually just adopts the United Kingdom
's official anthem, God Save the Queen during sporting events, though there are calls for this to be changed. A 2006 survey conducted by the BBC suggested that 55% of the English public would rather have Land of Hope and Glory than God Save the Queen as their national anthem.
" has always been a strong contender, although this is also linked to remembrance.
Other English patriotic songs which have been proposed as possible national anthems of England include traditional songs such
as "Rose of England
", an English patriotic song written by Ivor Novello
in 1937 for his musical Crest of the Wave, and popularised by Vera Lynn
. The flower to which the song's lyrics refer is one of England's national emblems, the Tudor Rose
. Also, "There'll Always Be an England
", an English patriotic song, written and distributed in 1940 and highly popular throughout World War II. It was composed and written by Ross Parker and Harry Par-Davies. The words were written by Hugh Charles
, and the most popular version was sung by Vera Lynn
. Also proposed have been modern patriotic songs such as "A Place called England" written by English folk singer
Maggie Holland, which won the Best Original Song award at the 2000 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
does not have an official national anthem
National anthem
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
, there are many songs which are considered to fill such a role. In most of the national sporting fixtures 'God Save The Queen' is used, but 'Land of Hope and Glory' is also fairly popular
Multi-sport events
- At the Commonwealth GamesCommonwealth GamesThe Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
, Team EnglandCommonwealth Games Council for EnglandEngland is one of only six countries to have competed in every Commonwealth Games since the first Empire Games in 1930. The others are Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Scotland and Wales....
uses "Jerusalem" as the victory anthem from 2010 onwards. The Commonwealth Games Council for England conducted a poll of members of the public which decided the anthem for the 2010 Commonwealth Games2010 Commonwealth GamesThe 2010 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XIX Commonwealth Games, were held in Delhi, India, from 3 to 14 October 2010. A total of 6,081 athletes from 71 Commonwealth nations and dependencies competed in 21 sports and 272 events, making it the largest Commonwealth Games till date...
. The three options were "God Save The QueenGod Save the Queen"God Save the Queen" is an anthem used in a number of Commonwealth realms and British Crown Dependencies. The words of the song, like its title, are adapted to the gender of the current monarch, with "King" replacing "Queen", "he" replacing "she", and so forth, when a king reigns...
", "Jerusalem" and "Land of Hope and GloryLand of Hope and Glory"Land of Hope and Glory" is a British patriotic song, with music by Edward Elgar and lyrics by A. C. Benson, written in 1902.- Composition :...
". Jerusalem was the clear winner with 52% of the vote.
Single sport events
- At international football matches, EnglandEngland national football teamThe England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
uses "God Save the Queen" as the national anthem. - At international rugby unionRugby unionRugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
matches, EnglandEngland national rugby union teamThe England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
uses "God Save the Queen" as the national anthem whilst "Land of Hope and Glory"is the anthem played prior to kick off. - At international rugby leagueRugby leagueRugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
matches, EnglandEngland national rugby league teamThe England national rugby league team represent England in international rugby league football tournaments. The team has now seen a revival, having largely formed from the Great Britain team, who also represented Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The team is run under the auspices of the Rugby Football...
uses "God Save the Queen" as the national anthem. - At international test cricketTest cricketTest cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
matches, England has, since 2003, used "Jerusalem" as its entrance anthem. - At international lacrosseLacrosseLacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
matches, the EnglandEnglish Lacrosse AssociationLacrosse in England is an amateur sport played mainly by community based clubs and university teams. Lacrosse began in England in 1876 when a visiting group of Canadians captained by Dr. W. G. Beers of Montreal played exhibition matches up and down the country...
Men's team uses "God Save The Queen" and the Women's team uses "Jerusalem" as the national anthems. - At international football matches, the England men's teamEngland national football teamThe England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
uses "Jerusalem" against the AndorraAndorraAndorra , officially the Principality of Andorra , also called the Principality of the Valleys of Andorra, , is a small landlocked country in southwestern Europe, located in the eastern Pyrenees mountains and bordered by Spain and France. It is the sixth smallest nation in Europe having an area of...
football team.
Proposed anthems
On 20 April 2007, Greg MulhollandGreg Mulholland
Gregory Thomas Mulholland is a Liberal Democrat politician in the United Kingdom, and is the Member of Parliament for Leeds North West. He was first elected at the 2005 general election, winning the seat from Labour and was re-elected with an increased majority at the 2010 general election. Before...
, the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Leeds North West
Leeds North West (UK Parliament constituency)
Leeds North West is a parliamentary constituency in the City of Leeds, West Yorkshire which is represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
, introduced an Early Day Motion
Early day motion
An Early Day Motion , in the Westminster system, is a motion, expressed as a single sentence, tabled by Members of Parliament for debate "on an early day" . Controversial EDMs are not signed by Government Ministers, PPS or the Speaker of the House of Commons and very few are debated on the floor...
(EDM) in the House of Commons, proposing that England have its own national anthem. The EDM called for all English sporting associations to "adopt an appropriate song that English sportsmen and women, and the English public, would favour when competing as England." There has also been an EDM calling for "Jerusalem" to be given official status as the national anthem of England, proposed by Daniel Kawczynski
Daniel Kawczynski
Daniel Robert Kawczynski is the Conservative Party Member for Parliament for Shrewsbury and Atcham in Shropshire, England.-Biography:...
, the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham
Shrewsbury and Atcham (UK Parliament constituency)
Shrewsbury and Atcham is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
on 18 October 2006.
In April 2008 Greg Mulholland called for the England national rugby league team
England national rugby league team
The England national rugby league team represent England in international rugby league football tournaments. The team has now seen a revival, having largely formed from the Great Britain team, who also represented Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The team is run under the auspices of the Rugby Football...
to replace "God Save the Queen" with an English national anthem at the Rugby League World Cup
Rugby League World Cup
The Rugby League World Cup is an international rugby league competition contested by members of the Rugby League International Federation . It has been held nearly once every 4 years on average since its inaugural tournament in France in 1954...
(RL World Cup) to be held in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in autumn 2008
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
and on 28 April he put forward another EDM in the House of Commons, noting that Scotland
Scotland national rugby league team
The Scotland national rugby league team represent Scotland in international rugby league football tournaments. The team is run under the auspices of the Scotland Rugby League, and are nicknamed The Bravehearts. Scotland are not regarded as a test nation...
and Wales
Wales national rugby league team
The Wales national rugby league team represent Wales in international rugby league football matches. Currently the team is seventh in the RLIF World Rankings. The team were run under the auspices of the Rugby Football League, but an independent body, Wales Rugby League, now runs the team from...
who are also taking part in the RL World Cup, will all have their own national anthems, and therefore calling on England to use an English national anthem rather than the British national anthem, with the proposal that English rugby league fans should be given the chance to choose an English anthem. However, God Save the Queen was used.
On St George's Day
St George's Day
St George's Day is celebrated by the several nations, kingdoms, countries, and cities of which Saint George is the patron saint. St George's Day is celebrated on 23 April, the traditionally accepted date of Saint George's death in AD 303...
, April 23, 2010, the Commonwealth Games Council for England
Commonwealth Games Council for England
England is one of only six countries to have competed in every Commonwealth Games since the first Empire Games in 1930. The others are Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Scotland and Wales....
launched a poll to allow the public to decide which anthem would be played at the 2010 Commonwealth Games
2010 Commonwealth Games
The 2010 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XIX Commonwealth Games, were held in Delhi, India, from 3 to 14 October 2010. A total of 6,081 athletes from 71 Commonwealth nations and dependencies competed in 21 sports and 272 events, making it the largest Commonwealth Games till date...
in Delhi, India. Voters could choose between God Save the Queen
God Save the Queen
"God Save the Queen" is an anthem used in a number of Commonwealth realms and British Crown Dependencies. The words of the song, like its title, are adapted to the gender of the current monarch, with "King" replacing "Queen", "he" replacing "she", and so forth, when a king reigns...
, Jerusalem
And did those feet in ancient time
"And did those feet in ancient time" is a short poem by William Blake from the preface to his epic Milton a Poem, one of a collection of writings known as the Prophetic Books. The date on the title page of 1804 for Milton is probably when the plates were begun, but the poem was printed c. 1808...
and Land of Hope and Glory
Land of Hope and Glory
"Land of Hope and Glory" is a British patriotic song, with music by Edward Elgar and lyrics by A. C. Benson, written in 1902.- Composition :...
with the winning song being adopted as the official anthem for Team England. Jerusalem was declared the winner on 30 May 2010, securing 52% of the vote.
Jerusalem
The best known version of William BlakeWilliam Blake
William Blake was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognised during his lifetime, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of both the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age...
's poem "And did those feet in ancient time" is the song "Jerusalem", with music by Hubert Parry
Hubert Parry
Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, 1st Baronet was an English composer, teacher and historian of music.Parry's first major works appeared in 1880. As a composer he is best known for the choral song "Jerusalem", the coronation anthem "I was glad" and the hymn tune "Repton", which sets the words...
, which was orchestrated
Orchestration
Orchestration is the study or practice of writing music for an orchestra or of adapting for orchestra music composed for another medium...
by Edward Elgar
Edward Elgar
Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet OM, GCVO was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestral works including the Enigma Variations, the Pomp and Circumstance Marches, concertos...
in 1922 for a large orchestra at the Leeds Festival
Leeds Festival (classical music)
The Leeds Festival was a classical music festival which took place between 1858 and 1985 in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.The first festival celebrated the opening of Leeds Town Hall by Queen Victoria on 7 September 1858...
. Upon hearing the orchestral version for the first time, King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
said that he preferred that "Jerusalem" replace "God Save the King" as the national anthem. "Jerusalem" is also, as with "Land of Hope and Glory" performed at the annual Last Night of the BBC Proms
The Proms
The Proms, more formally known as The BBC Proms, or The Henry Wood Promenade Concerts presented by the BBC, is an eight-week summer season of daily orchestral classical music concerts and other events held annually, predominantly in the Royal Albert Hall in London...
.
It was used as a campaign slogan by the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
in the 1945 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1945
The United Kingdom general election of 1945 was a general election held on 5 July 1945, with polls in some constituencies delayed until 12 July and in Nelson and Colne until 19 July, due to local wakes weeks. The results were counted and declared on 26 July, due in part to the time it took to...
when Clement Attlee
Clement Attlee
Clement Richard Attlee, 1st Earl Attlee, KG, OM, CH, PC, FRS was a British Labour politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1945 to 1951, and as the Leader of the Labour Party from 1935 to 1955...
said they would build "a new Jerusalem". The song is also the unofficial anthem of the Women's Institute, and historically was used by the National Union of Suffrage Societies
National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies
The National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies , also known as the Suffragists was an organisation of women's suffrage societies in the United Kingdom.-Formation and campaigning:...
. It has also been sung at conferences of the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
.
It is frequently sung as an office or recessional hymn in English cathedrals, churches and chapels on St George's Day
St George's Day
St George's Day is celebrated by the several nations, kingdoms, countries, and cities of which Saint George is the patron saint. St George's Day is celebrated on 23 April, the traditionally accepted date of Saint George's death in AD 303...
. The hymn is also sung in some churches on "Jerusalem Sunday", a day set aside to celebrate the Holy city
Holy city
Holy city is a synonym applied to many cities, all of them central to the history or faith of specific religions. Such cities may also contain at least one headquarters complex which constitutes a major destination of human...
of Jerusalem in Anglican Churches
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
throughout the world and even in some Episcopal Churches in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. However some clergy in the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
have and refused to allow it in their churches on the grounds that it is too nationalistic and is not a prayer to God (which hymns always are).
There have been calls to give "Jerusalem" official status.
In 2000 a rendition of "Jerusalem" by Fat Les
Fat Les
Fat Les is a British band consisting of Alex James from Blur, actor Keith Allen and artist Damien Hirst. Vocals on their singles were provided by Keith Allen , Alex James , Lily Allen , Andy Kane , Lisa Moorish and Michael Barrymore .Fat Les created the...
was adopted by the English Football Association
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
as the England football team's official song for the UEFA Euro 2000 competition. Jerusalem has been the ECB's official hymn since 2003, being played before the start of play each day of home test matches. Although God Save the Queen was the anthem sung by England players before games in 2010 ICC World Twenty20
2010 ICC World Twenty20
-------------------------------------------------Group A:---------Group B:---------Group C:---------Group D:---------Super 8s:...
and 2010–11 Ashes series
2010–11 Ashes series
The 2010–11 Ashes series was played in Australia as part of the England cricket team's tour of Australia during the 2010–11 cricket season. Five Tests were played from 25 November 2010 to 7 January 2011...
.
Land of Hope and Glory
Land of Hope and GloryLand of Hope and Glory
"Land of Hope and Glory" is a British patriotic song, with music by Edward Elgar and lyrics by A. C. Benson, written in 1902.- Composition :...
has long been traditionally played amidst much flag-waving at the climax of the Last Night of the BBC Proms.
At international rugby league matches, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
often sang Land of Hope and Glory as their national anthem
National anthem
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
(but since the 2005 internationals switched to God Save the Queen
God Save the Queen
"God Save the Queen" is an anthem used in a number of Commonwealth realms and British Crown Dependencies. The words of the song, like its title, are adapted to the gender of the current monarch, with "King" replacing "Queen", "he" replacing "she", and so forth, when a king reigns...
). The song was also used as the victory anthem of England at the Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
until Jerusalem was adopted in 2010. England has no official national anthem, and usually just adopts the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's official anthem, God Save the Queen during sporting events, though there are calls for this to be changed. A 2006 survey conducted by the BBC suggested that 55% of the English public would rather have Land of Hope and Glory than God Save the Queen as their national anthem.
Other English patriotic songs
"I Vow to Thee, My CountryI Vow to Thee, My Country
I Vow to Thee, My Country is a British patriotic song created in 1921 when a poem by Sir Cecil Spring-Rice was set to music by Gustav Holst.-History:...
" has always been a strong contender, although this is also linked to remembrance.
Other English patriotic songs which have been proposed as possible national anthems of England include traditional songs such
as "Rose of England
Rose of England
"Rose of England" is a patriotic song written by Welsh composer Ivor Novello in 1937 for his musical 'Crest of the Wave'. Contrary to some reports, it was not popularised by Vera Lynn during the war years. The only recording which she made of the song was on the long-playing album 'More Hits of the...
", an English patriotic song written by Ivor Novello
Ivor Novello
David Ivor Davies , better known as Ivor Novello, was a Welsh composer, singer and actor who became one of the most popular British entertainers of the first half of the 20th century. Born into a musical family, his first successes were as a songwriter...
in 1937 for his musical Crest of the Wave, and popularised by Vera Lynn
Vera Lynn
Dame Vera Lynn, DBE is an English singer-songwriter and actress whose musical recordings and performances were enormously popular during World War II. During the war she toured Egypt, India and Burma, giving outdoor concerts for the troops...
. The flower to which the song's lyrics refer is one of England's national emblems, the Tudor Rose
Tudor rose
The Tudor Rose is the traditional floral heraldic emblem of England and takes its name and origins from the Tudor dynasty.-Origins:...
. Also, "There'll Always Be an England
There'll Always Be an England
"There'll Always Be an England" is an English patriotic song, written and distributed in the summer of 1939, which became highly popular upon the outbreak of World War II...
", an English patriotic song, written and distributed in 1940 and highly popular throughout World War II. It was composed and written by Ross Parker and Harry Par-Davies. The words were written by Hugh Charles
Hugh Charles
Hugh Charles is a Canadian football running back for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. He was originally signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2007 before signing with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2008. He played college football at Colorado. He was...
, and the most popular version was sung by Vera Lynn
Vera Lynn
Dame Vera Lynn, DBE is an English singer-songwriter and actress whose musical recordings and performances were enormously popular during World War II. During the war she toured Egypt, India and Burma, giving outdoor concerts for the troops...
. Also proposed have been modern patriotic songs such as "A Place called England" written by English folk singer
Folk music of England
Folk music of England refers to various types of traditionally based music, often contrasted with courtly, classical and later commercial music, for which evidence exists from the later medieval period. It has been preserved and transmitted orally, through print and later through recordings...
Maggie Holland, which won the Best Original Song award at the 2000 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.