National song of England is 'God Save the Queen', the British National Anthem. It is usually sung before England's football matches as well as some other sporting events. England's Rugby team, however, have unofficially adopted Land of Hope and Glory which is sung before rugby matches.

The British National Anthem is not wholly English as it incorporates all the countries that make up the United Kingdom. Many people, like the England Rugby team, prefer a more patriotic song for England such as Land of Hope and Glory or Jerusalem.

In 2009, a new and more modern national song for England was written and composed by Sam Dunkley, a folk musician. The new song was 'intended to reflect English customs, ideas and creativity in contemporary times', and gave its first airing on St George's Day (England's National Day).

Popular choices to be the National Song of England are:

Land of Hope and Glory

Composed by Edward Elgar

Edward Elgar composed the Land of Hope and Glory music for Pomp and Circumstance. It was produced in 1902 and used at the coronation of George V.

Land of Hope and Glory
Mother of the Free
How shall we extol thee
Who are born of thee?
Wider still and wider
Shall thy bounds be set
God, who made thee mighty
Make thee mightier yet...
God, who made thee mighty
Make thee mightier yet.

Jerusalem

Composed by William Blake

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 those 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 chariot 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.

Other songs of England

Other related pages

British National Anthem

National Song of Wales

National Song of Scotland

National Song of Northern Ireland and Ireland