God save the Queen !

[ardcarp]

Don't take this too seriously folks, but would you sing it if (a) you didn't believe in God and (b) you disapproved of the Monarchy ?
I would (a) because I'm a hypocrite and (b) because I like a good mass sing-song...be it Jerusalem or The Mayor of Bayswater.

[Once Was 4]

Don't take this too seriously folks, but would you sing it if (a) you didn't believe in God and (b) you disapproved of the Monarchy ?
I would (a) because I'm a hypocrite and (b) because I like a good mass sing-song...be it Jerusalem or The Mayor of Bayswater.

How about (c) - to not do so would offend elderly war veterans whose sacrifices, and those of their friends who were robbed violently of their lives, enables us to express strong views without fear of arrest or worse?

[ardcarp]

Ah. You are taking it seriously.

[Bryn]

It would depend upon the circumstances. I suppose my outlook might reasonably be described as atheistic and anti-monarchist, but I hold no particular antipathy towards Brenda, and she is only a constitutional monarch. However, were I to hold a leading role in public life, I think that in a formal situation I would remain silent.

[Serial_Apologist]

How about (c) - to not do so would offend elderly war veterans whose sacrifices, and those of their friends who were robbed violently of their lives, enables us to express strong views without fear of arrest or worse?

Well I'm not so sure that I would exclude your "worse" there, OW4, given how keen certain so-called newspapers seem to be to stir up a lynchmob mentality against people expressing the same freedom of speech those same papers claim for themselves, by so doing in silence. How would you like it if, with your principles in wide circulation, you were to be exposed in flagrante by the press, and accused of being a hypocrite? I think you might describe that as a Catch 22 situation, no?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I believe that there is not a God and should not be a Monarch, so I do not stand for the National Anthem, nor do I sing the (to me) meaningless words. I have made this known to all the Headteachers for whom I have worked - one encouraged me to stay in an assembly to show the children that there were (a) people who conscientiously object to the National Anthem / (b) such disrespectful pinko freaks in the world. The others "excused" me from attending such assemblies.

It is something I do take seriously.

[Stillhomewardbound]

The problem is there the words, but then that's easily fixed:

"Let's drink our precious gin
Long live our noble gin
Let's drink the gin
Imbibe victorious
Ginny and glorious
Long to hang over us
Let's drink the gin"

[Nick Armstrong]

The Britten arrangement was possibly the best thing about the LNOP !

[teamsaint]

No.

even though, in answer to the OP
a). I probably am a hypocrite at times
and
b). a mass sing song is indeed fun.

I have noticed at big football matches substantial numbers of people don't sing the national anthem.

Its dreary musically, in any case.

[Nick Armstrong]

Its dreary musically, in any case.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given at #8!

[teamsaint]

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given at #8!

pushing your luck really there, but as its you....I might just......

did they do all the verses ?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The Britten arrangement was possibly the best thing about the LNOP !

My favourite is the Willcocks arrangement, written for the Charles & Di Royal Wedding.

[Conchis]

I'm not a republican or an atheist, so I would probably sing it - albeit without much enthusiasm, because it's a dreary tune. I wish we could have Jerusalem as our N.A. but then it excludes Scotland, Ireland and Wales and its sentiments might be considered 'socialistic' by some.

But why you should be obliged to sing it if you ARE a republican and/or an atheist is beyond me. JC called it right, imo.

[teamsaint]

The 1977 version is a good deal better.

I'd sing that one.

[vinteuil]

How about (c) - to not do so would offend elderly war veterans whose sacrifices, and those of their friends who were robbed violently of their lives, enables us to express strong views without fear of arrest or worse?

... which one could re-write :

" whose sacrifices, and those of their friends who were robbed violently of their lives, enables us to express strong views without fear of arrest or worse"

- such sacrifices being in part to enable a democracy and free speech - which should allow any public figure to retain a dignified silence while others burble away apparently to encourage an Imaginary Friend in the Sky to "save" an individual whose position in society is debatable....

And another thing [speaking as a good HIPP person... ]

did they do all the verses ?

(thank you, teamsaint! )

.... why don't we hear the full version - including :

"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 King! "












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