The best letter to the newspaper that I’ve read recently was in regard to the recent suggestion that England should have a national anthem for sporting occasions – that is, for when the different countries of the United Kingdom have their own individual teams. I don’t really see why to be frank, and I have my doubts about most of the suggestions. Jerusalem has already been adopted by the WI and starts with two questions to which the answer is, simply, “NO.” And it’s out of date in regard to dark satanic mills, too. For one thing, there are precious few mills and for another, any remaining aren’t. “I vow to thee my country” is frankly tricky to sing. And it does go on a bit. And Prince Charles and Lady Di chose it for their wedding, which isn’t the best recommendation. “Land of hope and glory”, I’m fond of, I have to say, but I don’t think there’s any chance (and little recommendation for) widening England’s bounds, and Mother of the Free gives rise to a hollow laugh, nowadays. Still, it’s aspirational, I suppose.
But better than any of those was the suggestion of the Hokey Cokey. Think about it, darlings. It’d be marvellous at any sports event. Consider the All Blacks’ haka, followed by ‘in, out, in, out, shake it all about.’ And the roar of the chorus. Here’s what I mean. There are lots of examples on YouTube and this one is slightly slow but the children are delightful and I loved them. Anyway, just hold in your mind the thought of the big occasion. It’ll work, won’t it? It has everything going for it.
Ours is based upon an 18th Century English drinking club song, To Anacreon in Heaven. It’s turgid and practically un-singable, even by professional vocalist.
The original words were brilliant though, innit? I had no idea, thank you.
Not sure. Those kids look under duress to me. How about ‘Hands, knees and boomps-a-daisy’?
Sounds promising (though I think the children look charmingly shy but willing).
We Are the Champions seems like an obvious choice. American baseball has Take Me Out to the Ballgame. I don’t know if other pro sports have a theme song.
So good to have a topic in the news that is lighthearted, one suggestion I heard was to put some words to Barwick Green, the Archers theme tune.
The English rugby team, just down the road from here use Swing Low sweet chariot, I am not sure this would work for an England anthem.
The Hokey Cokey would be a distinct improvement on Jerusalem.
Billy Connolly suggested replacing “God Save The Queen” with Barwick Green years ago, but not with any proper words, just “dum de dum de dum de dum, dum de dum de da da.”
It could catch on.
A letter in The Times today suggests that the Hokey Cokey could be the anthem for the EU referendum. In? Out? Shake it all about?