England v Switzerland Match Chit Chat

[Merging Cultures]

6 hours ago, urban.spaceman said:

A chance to sing your national anthem, despite being an atheist who's not such a big fan of it? (bring on Jerusalem)

Sounds like you had a good time!! 

 

One thing I'd like to clarify re the anthem. Do you mean you'd like William Blake's Jerusalem, the one about Jesus visiting England?

 

"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?"

[Finnegan]

"I'm an atheist so we should sing Jerusalem"

[Guest MattP]

Why people get hung up on the words of a national anthem I have no idea.

 

The French aren't really going to start slitting throats because they sing words saying it, I doubt Mahrez is really thinking about machine gunning people when he sings the Algerian dirty, no Argentinian is getting aroused about having sex with horses whilst bouncing up and down. (Might have made that up not checked)

 

The only offensive thing about GSTQ is how we've chosen it over Jerusalem or LOHAG. Although it can be done well as Euro 96 showed.

Edited 12 September 2018 by MattP

[Finnegan]

I love the lyrics to La Marseillaise. They're ****ing bonkers

 

Little fact for you, it was actually written by a royalist and nabbed by the revolutionary forces. Thanks QI. 

[Guest MattP]

3 minutes ago, Finnegan said:

I love the lyrics to La Marseillaise. They're ****ing bonkers

 

Little fact for you, it was actually written by a royalist and nabbed by the revolutionary forces. Thanks QI. 

Interesting, didn't know that either. 

[Finnegan]

1 minute ago, MattP said:

Interesting, didn't know that either. 

 

Haha, you get some great stuff out of QI. 

 

I think it was QI that taught me that the guy that wrote Amazing Grace was one of the most prolific swearers of all time, he was frequently admonished by his captain for being the "most profane man" he'd ever encountered. I enjoy citing that when people question my language or imply those that swear have low intelligence. 

 

As for anthems, ours is pretty soft, it's all about poets and bards although it does make me laugh that we stand at sporting events belting out lines about maintaining a language most of us don't speak, in a language most of us don't speak. 

[UniFox21]

F**k it, change the anthem for that song they sang all night. Seeing the whole nation scream out "Southgate your the one". Poetic. 

Edited 12 September 2018 by UniFox21

[fuchsntf]

8 hours ago, Stadt said:

Land of Hope and Glory for me

 "This is my House".  ....now there's an anthem

[Finnegan]

 

 

 

[Sol thewall Bamba]

Kop looked great stood up with flags strung across the front last night! 

[Ted Maul]

There were quite a few standing in the kop, but also quite a few bemused and annoyed that people were standing  we had to move further back. Made for a decent atmosphere at times though, the place would be so different with a big standing section.

 

On the subject of national anthems- ours is almost certainly the worst in the world.

Edited 12 September 2018 by Ted Maul

[Finnegan]

23 minutes ago, Ted Maul said:

There were quite a few standing in the kop, but also quite a few bemused and annoyed that people were standing  we had to move further back. Made for a decent atmosphere at times though, the place would be so different with a big standing section.

 

On the subject of national anthems- ours is almost certainly the worst in the world.

 

You've obviously never seen Red Bull win a grand prix. 

[urban.spaceman]

5 hours ago, Merging Cultures said:

Sounds like you had a good time!! 

 

One thing I'd like to clarify re the anthem. Do you mean you'd like William Blake's Jerusalem, the one about Jesus visiting England?

 

"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?"

 

4 hours ago, Finnegan said:

"I'm an atheist so we should sing Jerusalem"

Sounds daft I know but it means more than that.

 

It talks about the myth of Jesus (who I also think is a myth) visiting England and building Jerusalem. "Jerusalem" is a metaphor for heaven in this case. The rest of the poem doesn't mention him after the next line:

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 Englands green & pleasant Land.

 

What it actually means is that we should all take on the responsibility to strive to build a better society for England. We have a chance to make England literally a heaven on Earth, and we should all work towards that.

 

For that reason it makes me feel far more patriotic than singing about a non-specific deity saving an interchangeable head of state from some sort of peril.

 

It's also one you can properly belt out like La Marseillaise or Flower of Scotland.

[Finnegan]

Blake was a committed Christian and a humanist that was incredibly cynical of the industrial revolution. 

 

Jerusalem is partially metaphorical but its about a theoretical second coming of Jesus, whereby he saves "green and pleasant" England from the black landscape of industrialism, making England once more a "heaven."

 

It's not really a patriotic piece, it's actually an eco anthem tbf. 

[Dan]

2 hours ago, Sol thewall Bamba said:

Kop looked great stood up with flags strung across the front last night! 

Should be like that every game.

[Finnegan]

Honestly never thought I'd be reciting a level English Lit in a foxestalk match thread. This place. 

[spacemunky]

2 hours ago, Ted Maul said:

 

 

On the subject of national anthems- ours is almost certainly the worst in the world.

We're right there with you!

 

"Oooh Caaaah-nuh-duh!"

[the fox]

7 hours ago, MattP said:

 

 

The French aren't really going to start slitting throats because they sing words saying it, I doubt Mahrez is really thinking about machine gunning people when he sings the Algerian dirty, no Argentinian is getting aroused about having sex with horses whilst bouncing up and down. (Might have made that up not checked)

 

Here's the national anthem so you won't make the same mistake again. 

 

 

We swear by the lightning that destroys,
By the virtuous and fragrant blood,
By the shining, fluttering banners,
In the steep and majestic mountains,
That we have risen to revolution in life or death
and we have resolved that Algeria shall live

So bear witness, bear witness, bear witness!

 

 

We are soldiers in the name of righteousness have revolted
And for our independence to war have risen.
Had we not spoken up none would have listened
So we have taken the drum of gunpowder as our rhythm
And the sound of machine guns as our melody,
and we have resolved that Algeria shall live –

So bear witness, bear witness, bear witness!

 

 

O France, the time of reproach has passed
And we have closed like a book;
O France, the day of reckoning is at hand
So prepare to receive from us our answer!
In our revolution is the end of empty talk;
and we have resolved that Algeria shall live –

So bear witness, bear witness, bear witness!

 

 

From our heroes we shall make an army come to being,
and on our dead we build glory,
Our spirits shall ascend to immortality
And on our shoulders we shall raise the standard.
To the nation’s Liberation Front we have sworn an oath,
and we have resolved that Algeria shall live –

So bear witness, bear witness, bear witness!

 

 

The cry of the Fatherland sounds from the battlefields.
Listen to it and heed the call!
Let it be written with the blood of martyrs
And be read to future generations.
Oh, Glory, we have held out our hand to you,
and we have resolved that Algeria shall live –

So bear witness, bear witness, bear witness

Edited 12 September 2018 by the fox

[Strokes]

14 minutes ago, the fox said:

Here's the national anthem so you won't make the same mistake again. 

 

 

We swear by the lightning that destroys,
By the virtuous and fragrant blood,
By the shining, fluttering banners,
In the steep and majestic mountains,
That we have risen to revolution in life or death
and we have resolved that Algeria shall live

So bear witness, bear witness, bear witness!

 

 

We are soldiers in the name of righteousness have revolted
And for our independence to war have risen.
Had we not spoken up none would have listened
So we have taken the drum of gunpowder as our rhythm
And the sound of machine guns as our melody,
and we have resolved that Algeria shall live –

So bear witness, bear witness, bear witness!

 

 

O France, the time of reproach has passed
And we have closed like a book;
O France, the day of reckoning is at hand
So prepare to receive from us our answer!
In our revolution is the end of empty talk;
and we have resolved that Algeria shall live –

So bear witness, bear witness, bear witness!

 

 

From our heroes we shall make an army come to being,
and on our dead we build glory,
Our spirits shall ascend to immortality
And on our shoulders we shall raise the standard.
To the nation’s Liberation Front we have sworn an oath,
and we have resolved that Algeria shall live –

So bear witness, bear witness, bear witness!

 

 

The cry of the Fatherland sounds from the battlefields.
Listen to it and heed the call!
Let it be written with the blood of martyrs
And be read to future generations.
Oh, Glory, we have held out our hand to you,
and we have resolved that Algeria shall live –

So bear witness, bear witness, bear witness

You guys need to go to war with France, I reckon we would help 

[Guest MattP]

@the fox it mentions machine guns.

[Jimothy]

8 hours ago, MattP said:

Why people get hung up on the words of a national anthem I have no idea.

 

The French aren't really going to start slitting throats because they sing words saying it, I doubt Mahrez is really thinking about machine gunning people when he sings the Algerian dirty, no Argentinian is getting aroused about having sex with horses whilst bouncing up and down. (Might have made that up not checked)

 

The only offensive thing about GSTQ is how we've chosen it over Jerusalem or LOHAG. Although it can be done well as Euro 96 showed.

Only two things annoy me about the national anthem. First, it's turgid. It's ****ing terrible, so slow and sluggish. Secondly, it's not England's. I don't mind them playing it where the UK is represented, but seeing as the other three get their own, I think maybe England should. Other than that, it's fine, the lyrics don't bother me

[Manwell Pablo]

On 11/09/2018 at 08:14, kingcarr21 said:

I'm amazed that a category 2 adult ticket is £45 for a friendly  Absolutely shocking No wonder there are so many tickets still available

 

I laughed when I saw the ticket prices

 

The game lived up to it's billing of a typical England Friendly as well, thoroughly boring, glad I didn't bother. Still, trying to keep my post World Cup positive thinking going  

[the fox]

3 hours ago, MattP said:

@the fox it mentions machine guns.

Well, it doesn't talk about having sex with horses, does it? 

[Guest MattP]

5 minutes ago, the fox said:

Well, it doesn't talk about having sex with horses, does it? 

I said that in reference to the Argentinian one.

 

I also said it might not be true but some of those gauchos are dodgy.

Edited 12 September 2018 by MattP

[the fox]

3 minutes ago, MattP said:

I said that in reference to the Argentinian one.

 

I also said it might not be true but some of those gauchos are dodgy.

My bad ?

 

Here's the Argentina one BTW. 

 

Hear, mortals, the sacred cry:
"Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!"
Hear the sound of broken chains
See noble equality enthroned.

Their most worthy throne have now opened
The United Provinces of the South.
And the free people of the world reply:
"To the great Argentine people, hail!"
"To the great Argentine people, hail!"
And the free ones of the world reply:
"To the great Argentine people, hail!"
And the free ones of the world reply:
"To the great Argentine people, hail!"

May the laurels be eternal
that we were able to achieve
that we were able to achieve
Let us live crowned in glory
Or let us swear to die with glory
Or let us swear to die with glory
Or let us swear to die with glory.

 

No horse businesses here

 

The anthem kinda sound like the Algerian one.