'England Arise!'

There is now something of a debate about a national anthem for England and the front-runner is “Jerusalem.”

Perhaps the SOYMB blog, a bit tongue in cheek, propose that 'England Arise!', written in 1896 by Edward Carpenter, should also be a contender.

England, arise! The long, long night is over,

Faint in the East behold the dawn appear,

Out of your evil dream of toil and sorrow –

Arise, O England, for the day is here!

From your fields and hills,

Hark! The answer swells –

Arise, O England, for the day is here!

People of England! All your valleys call you,

High in the rising sun the lark sings clear,

Will you dream on, let shameful slumber thrall you?

Will you disown your native land so dear?

Shall it die unheard –

That sweet pleading word?

Arise, O England, for the day is here!

Over your face a web of lies is woven,

Laws that are falsehoods pin you to the ground,

Labor is mocked, its just reward is stolen,

On its bent back sits Idleness encrowned.

How long, while you sleep,

Your harvest shall it reap?

Arise, O England, for the day is here!

Forth, then, ye heroes, patriots and lovers!

Comrades of danger, poverty and scorn!

Mighty in faith of Freedom, thy great Mother!

Giants refreshed in Joy’s new rising morn!

Come and swell the song,

Silent now so long;

England is risen, and the day is here!