ENGLAND are into the quarter-finals of the World Cup with hopes of winning the competition.
The Three Lions are renowned for belting rousing renditions of national anthem ‘God Save the Queen’ before games – and fans will rejoice to sing the popular lyrics once again in Qatar as well as in front of the television.
But following The Queen’s passing in September, her son Prince Charles became King.
The England team will now sing ‘God Save the King‘ at the World Cup instead as they face France TONIGHT.
God Save the King has three verses, with only the first one sung at sports events.
The lyrics are as follows:
God save our gracious King!
Long live our noble King!
God save the King!
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us:
God save the King!
O Lord our God arise,
Scatter her enemies,
And make them fall:
Confound their politics,
Frustrate their knavish tricks,
On Thee our hopes we fix:
God save us all.
Thy choicest gifts in store,
On her be pleased to pour;
Long may she reign:
May she defend our laws,
And ever give us cause,
To sing with heart and voice,
God save the King!
God Save the King is the de facto national anthem of the United Kingdom.
It is sung at all events in which the country is represented, however no national anthem has official status as the UK has never passed a national anthem law.
God Save the King is normally taken to be the English national anthem.
But in actual fact, England doesn’t have a national anthem at all.
The issue has been debated in parliament before, with many believing that English sports teams should have a unique song to sing at events.
Most sports teams representing England will sing God Save the King before events.
The English team sing Jerusalem at the Commonwealth Games.
It has been used officially since 2010 after a public vote.
Previously, England athletes sang Land of Hope and Glory at the Commonwealth Games.
The poet William Blake created the lyrics to Jerusalem in 1804, with Hubert Parry adding music in 1916.
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?
And did the countenance divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among those 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 chariots of fire!
I will not cease from mental fight;
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England’s green and pleasant land.
