‘Jerusalem’ takes its words from a poem by William Blake and is often put forward as an alternative English national anthem. But how well do you know its lyrics and history?
‘Jerusalem’ is a beautiful hymn by choral trailblazer Sir Hubert Parry, and a favorite for England’s national anthem.
‘And did those feet in ancient time’ - also the hymn’s first line, and alternate title - is a poem written by William Blake around 1808. Taken from the preface to his great work Milton: A Poem in Two Books, the poem was inspired by the legend that Jesus might have travelled, with Joseph of Arimathea, to England - to Glastonbury, to be precise.
According to its most common interpretation, Blake’s poem suggests that a visit from Jesus will create heaven in England, in contrast to the ‘dark Satanic Mills’ of the Industrial Revolution.
The tune to ‘Jerusalem’, written much later in 1917, was composed by Parry, who also wrote the choral favorite ‘I Was Glad’.
- Who wrote the hymn ‘Jerusalem’?
When ‘Jerusalem’ was included as a patriotic poem in a 1916 collection for a country at war, it immediately caught the eye of Parry - who was more than happy, at the suggestion of the Poet Laureate, Robert Bridges, to set it to music, calling it simply ‘Jerusalem’.
Parry had died just four years earlier, so this re-orchestration was Elgar’s way of paying tribute to his fellow composer.
‘Jerusalem’ tells of the legend that Jesus might have travelled to Glastonbury
- Lyrics to Jerusalem:
"And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen?
And did the Countenance Divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among these dark Satanic mills?
Bring me my bow of burning gold:
Bring me my arrows of desire:
Bring me my spear: O clouds unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire.
I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land."
- Is ‘Jerusalem’ England’s national anthem?
‘God Save the Queen’ is the national anthem for the UK, and it is often also used for England.
But ‘Jerusalem’ has become an unofficial second national anthem and is often used by England at sporting fixtures, such as the Commonwealth Games, where each of the home nations is represented separately.
It has become the official hymn of the English Cricket Board and is usually sung at both the Rugby League Challenge cup Final and the Super League final.
- www.classicfm.com/composers/p...