Because of the various issues described in Britain Versus the UK, the United Kingdom has a national anthem, but the individual UK nations also have their own songs popularly (but unofficially) recognised as anthems. These are most often associated with sporting events where the individual nations compete independently.note
The United Kingdom
- "God Save the King" ("God Save the Queen" when the monarch is female): The official National Anthem of the UK. The authorship of the words and tune are both unknown, although they were established by the mid-eighteenth century. Most people only know the first of the three verses. Contrary to the propaganda of some Scottish nationalists, the notorious "rebellious Scots to crush" verse was not part of the "original" or "official" version of the anthem (there is no "official" lyric), but was used occasionally (it is unclear by how many people) at the time of the 1745 Rebellion. "God Save the King" is also one of two alternative national anthems of New Zealand, and is used by other Commonwealth nations as a "royal anthem" at events where the monarch, their personal representative, or members of the core royal family, are personally present. Used as an anthem by certain England national sporting teams, but its use as an anthem specifically for England can be offensive to people in other UK nations, whether pro- or anti-Union. It also isn't universally popular, with some people finding the music dull and uninspiring (one critic described it as "the funeral march of a dead earwig"), while others consider the lyrics to be undemocratic in their focus on personal allegiance to the monarch rather than any higher concept of the nation or philosophical ideal.
- "Rule, Britannia": The unofficial alternative national anthem of the UK, with words by James Thomson and music by Thomas Arne. Strongly associated with the Royal Navy due to its second line of "Britannia, rule the waves!", but also associated with the UK armed forces in general. A traditional part of the Last Night of the Proms. Also very challenging to sing properly for the average person without formal vocal training.
England
England has two different unofficial national anthems. The choice has definite cultural and political implications.
- "Land of Hope and Glory": Words by AC Benson, set to "Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1" by Sir Edward Elgar. Used as the England national anthem at the Commonwealth Games until 2006, until 2005 by the England rugby league team (replaced by "God Save the King"), and by the England darts team. The finale of the Last Night of the Proms. Strongly associated with the UK Conservative Party, and unpopular with those on the left for this reason and because of its perceived imperialistic lyrics ("Wider still and wider/ Shall thy bounds be set").
- "Jerusalem": Words by William Blake (known as a poem by its first line "And did those feet in ancient time", and initially the preface to his long poem Milton), with music by Sir Hubert Parry. Replaced "Land of Hope and Glory" as the England national anthem at the Commonwealth Games in 2010 after an online poll, also used by the England cricket team. Its use as a hymn in church is controversial, as some clergy consider it too nationalistic and disapprove of Blake's heterodox (to put it mildly) religious beliefs. The anthem of the Women's Institutes, after being strongly associated with the suffragette movement. Has been used by all the major UK political parties, but like "Land of Hope and Glory" it's most strongly associated with the Conservatives.
Yorkshire and Cornwall
Due to complicated historical politics, the royal counties of Yorkshire and Cornwall also have their own official unofficial "national" anthems. They are the biggest counties in England, though sparsely populated. There are several candidates for national anthems in Cornwall, with divided affiliations — the line seems to be somewhere between "like Wales" and "self sovereignty".- "Ilkla Mooar baht'at"note : The tune is the Methodist "Cranbrook", composed by Thomas Clark around 1800, with the lyrics being derived from a folk song about 50 or 60 years later. The language of its lyrics is not the Tyke (Yorkshire) dialect, but the Haligonian language — a subset of it — originating in the area of Halifax, an influential town in the West Riding. The lyrics describe a long-lost friend who explores the moors of the West Riding, and then looks to the future of them potentially catching a deadly cold while out there inadequately dressed before spending several verses prospecting on the cyclical nature of life and death but also how this is giving the friend what they deserve. While the song "Jerusalem" gives a beautiful outlook on the moors of England, this anthem may be taken as more of a cautionary tale as warning away people unfamiliar with the conditions. There are many additional lines and alternative endings to the song, for no other reason than humour. One version features a rap verse by BRIAN BLESSED.
- "The Song of the Western Men"/"Trelawny": Composed musically and lyrically in 1824 by Robert Stephen Hawker, with Cornish lyrics by Henry Jenner, the folk origins of the song are supposed to be much older. Trelawny in the song is presumably a Cornish leader imprisoned by parliament in 1628.
- "Bro Goth Agan Tasow"/"Old Land of my Fathers": Basically just a Cornish version of the Welsh national anthem, this is the song used by Gorsedh Kernow (affiliation to maintain the Celtic traditions of Cornwall) as the anthem.
- "Hail to the Homeland": A more modern prospect for Cornish national anthem, it was composed by Kenneth Pelmear with words by Pearce Gilbert. Similarly, it talks of Celtic tradition, moors, and Cornish patriotism. Interestingly, it also references "Trelawny".
Scotland
Like England, Scotland has two unofficial national anthems, both of which were written after World War II.- "Scotland the Brave"/"Alba an Aigh": English words by Cliff Hanley, music anon. Used as the Scotland national anthem in the Commonwealth Games until 2006, and in the past by the Scotland football team. Canadian singer John McDermott also sings another, less common set of lyrics.
- "Flower of Scotland": Words and music by Ron Williamson. Now used by almost all Scottish national sporting teams. The lyrics specifically celebrate the Scots' defeat of the English at the Battle of Bannockburn, making the song especially popular among Scottish Nationalists.
Wales
- "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau"/"Land of my Fathers": Words by Evan James, music by James James. Used at many Welsh political events, and by most Wales national sports teams. Usually sung in Welsh, which has notoriously embarassed many non-Welsh-speaking Secretaries of State for Wales and Wales national sports players when they try to sing along.
- "Men of Harlech"/"Rhyfelgyrch Gwŷr Harlech": Words and music anon, first published in print around the late-eighteenth/early-nineteenth century. Used traditionally by Welsh army regiments. (Non-Welsh people may be most familiar with it through the film Zulu.)
Northern Ireland
- The Northern Ireland sporting teams use the anonymous folk song "Londonderry Air", (best known as the tune of the song "Danny Boy") as an anthem, without lyrics. (The unified Irish rugby team uses the modern song "Ireland's Call" by Phil Coulter, written specifically for the purpose, for matches outside the Republic of Ireland, and the official Irish national anthem additionally when playing within the Republic.)
- Among extreme Loyalists in Northern Ireland it is common to sing "God Save the King" with the words "No surrender!" interpolated between the first "God save the King" and "send him victorious" (sung to the tune of the instrumental flourish often played at that point). This practice is considered tasteless by more moderate Loyalists and is extremely provocative to Nationalists.
So, as always, it's messy.
