St George’s Day greetings to all.
Politically, I’m still very much a Unionist who loathes the idea of the United Kingdom disintegrating any further than it already has in the last century. I am British, first and foremost and I’m proud of my Scots and Irish heritage, nevertheless, I am also very much an Englishman. So today is an appropriate time for a little unashamed English patriotism. By the way, the building in the featured image is Lincoln Cathedral, begun in 1186, the tallest building in the world from 1311 to 1548 and home to one of the copies of the Magna Carta.
Here are three songs for you, I hope you enjoy them.
First, William Blake’s Jerusalem sung in the Chapel Royal of St George in Windsor Castle, the last resting place of ten of England’s Kings.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsmskpgOL2w
Now, a song by folk singer Ralph McTell. Not great quality, but this song always brings a lump to my throat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8FBM3GjExE
Lastly, a great, lusty old drinking song from the Napoleonic Wars. A rough and ready version sung in a pub, as it should be. Although the singer is English, this pub is not in England, it’s in Minnesota!
4 replies on “Happy St George’s Day”
I am American but ethnically I am (mostly) English. I’m proud to be English!
I’ll have to look up who St. George is, I recon.
He was a soldier under the Emperor Diocletion. He was martyred for refusing to recant his faith. He’s also the patron saint of Ethiopia, Catalonia, Georgia (the Caucasian nation, not the US State), Genoa and Milan.
England also has St Dunstan, St Edmund, King and Martyr, St Edward the Confessor and, if you’re feeling really bold, St Charles King and Martyr, the only saint of the Anglican (Episcoplian) Church.
God Save The Queen!