Why do we have a rubbish National Anthem?

[kurtz]

How come all these other countries have great national anthems such as;

USA The Star spangled Banner, rockets bursting in air...all that very stirring

France Le Marselies (apologies for spelling) blood of invaders spilling on to the ground...way to go

Germany German Women, German Wine, German Song...prefer red myself so I'll pass on the Reisling...

and what do we have? Some dreary little ditty asking some deity of middle eastern provenance to look after some unelected foriegner who's been placed in charge of us.

Now I've got some suggestions;

Jerusalem, I know this kind of negates what I said about the present National Anthem, but it's a great singalong kind of song. In fact I think the British citizenship test should be to be able to sing both verses of this, then eat a pork pie and drink two pints of bitter (possibly mild) in a half hour ladies can have lager (in half pint glasses!) anyway I digress, onwards

I vow to thee my country, I'd drop the last verse though, smacks of godbothering

Rule Brittania, trouble is I think people from other countries might point at us and laugh given the current state of the navy.

Land of Hope and Glory, ditto Music far better though (IMHO).

an honourable mention goes to Billy Bragg's Between the Wars, I'll put it on the poll just in case.

Okay any other suggestions post them with comments, I'll put a don't know and I'll redo the poll if there are any other sugestions.

Mike.