England's National Anthem: Origins and Adoption
England's national anthem, 'God Save the King', was first adopted in September 1745 during the reign of King George II. The original composer remains unknown, making it a historic musical mystery. The song was chosen as a patriotic ode to the monarch, serving as a public expression of loyalty to the Crown during a time when rebellions threatened the throne.
Royal Switch: From Queen to King
For seventy years, the anthem was sung as 'God Save the Queen' in honour of Queen Elizabeth II. Following her death in September 2022, the lyrics were officially altered to honour King Charles III. This change has caused confusion, with fans and players occasionally slipping back into old habits by singing 'Queen' instead of 'King' or using female pronouns like 'her' instead of 'him'.
Common Lyrical Mistakes
The most frequent slip-up occurs because the first two lines refer to 'our' King, while the third line uses 'the' King. Singers often incorrectly interchange these words. Additionally, many people forget that only the first verse is typically sung at official sporting events. The third verse is known by some, but the remaining additional verses are rarely sung and largely forgotten.
No Authorised Version
Interestingly, there is no single authorised version of the national anthem. The exact words are a matter of tradition, and many long variations and extra verses exist, reflecting the ever-changing history of the British monarchy.
England's Sporting Adoption
England traditionally uses the UK-wide anthem for several of its sporting teams. Fans will proudly sing it ahead of the World Cup round of 32 match against DR Congo on Wednesday. This has sparked debate over whether the English football side should adopt a separate, unique song like 'Jerusalem' instead.
Full Lyrics
First verse:
God save our gracious King!
Long live our noble King!
God save the King!
Send him victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God save the King.
Second verse:
Thy choicest gifts in store,
On him be pleased to pour,
Long may he reign.
May he defend our laws,
And ever give us cause,
To sing with heart and voice,
God save the King.
Third verse:
Not in this land alone,
But be God's mercies known,
From shore to shore!
Lord make the nations see,
That men should brothers be,
And form one family,
The wide world o'er.
