Time for a new English National anthem. Here is my suggestion.

"God save our gracious Queen..." - the opening line to the English national anthem. As a non-royalist and an atheist, singing these words at sporting events such as the World Cup or Olympics with passion and pride is next to impossible. I am proud to be English, we have a great country that should represent fairness and equality, providing a beacon to emerging nations around the world, a modern and advanced society. Our national anthem should represent this nation and be uplifting and inspiring, with lyrics that fill people with pride and awe, not divide the nation along religious/royalist/nationalistic lines by banging on about gods, a ruling monarch and an historical warring past.

The idea of singing about national pride at sporting events seems a little silly in the first place but, if we are going to do so, then we should at least be singing something that all involved can feel connected to. There are even other verses to the English national anthem that seem more appropriate than the one we currently use. ( Same Tune ) Check out the lyrics for the 4th verse:

 

"May just and righteous laws

Uphold the public cause,

And bless our isle.

Home of the brave and free,

Fair land and liberty,
We pray that still on thee

Kind heaven may smile."

 

Still a touch religious but a definite improvement on the first verse that some people blindly shout out at present.
Roy Hodgson, the present England football manager, has ordered the players to sing the national anthem at the 2014 World Cup to show passion & pride but many in the squad and crowd must feel that the words they are singing just do not represent them. It did however, inspire the players to come bottom of their group. It is time, therefore, that we had a new anthem, one that the nation can sing without deference to ruling overlords or mention of colonial wars and religion.

So here are my new lyrics for the national anthem that I will be singing form now on. I have written them myself. We should probably have a new tune too but, for now, we'll be singing this to the standard tune.

     "We are so Glorious,
       Striving victorious
       Hopeful and free
       Proud of our gracious land
       United and strong we stand
       Justice in heart and hand
       Hopeful and free."

Now, I can see myself belting that out with pride in my heart. Fairness, hope and pride. Come on people, #moveforward, have some real pride in your heart and join me in singing something meaningful, modern and proud. Enger-land!