Jeremy Corbyn has been at the centre of a media storm after not singing the national anthem.
Much to the horror of the media and Royalists everywhere, Corbyn took a “respectful silence” at the Battle of Britain memorial ceremony on Tuesday rather than belting out the words to God Save the Queen.
But was he so wrong to stick to silence? Beyond the first paragraph, the lyrics do get a little odd.
For example, the last paragraph calls for the crushing of “rebellious Scots” – hardly appropriate in a post-indyref United Kingdom.
As the world watches Cameron’s every move while he negotiates the issue of Syrian refugees attempting to move through Europe, the lyrics of “Lord make the nations see, that men should brothers be, and form one family, the wide world over” say a lot, especially when you consider the PM’s original offer to the refugees.
For those of you that don’t know the words, here’s the song in full:
God Save the Queen
God save our gracious Queen
Long live our noble Queen
God save the Queen
Send her victorious
Happy and glorious
Long to reign over us
God save the Queen
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 Queen
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 over
From every latent foe,
From the assassins blow,
God save the Queen!
O'er her thine arm extend,
For Britain's sake defend,
Our mother, prince, and friend,
God save the Queen!
Lord grant that Marshal Wade
May by thy mighty aid
Victory bring.
May he sedition hush,
And like a torrent rush,
Rebellious Scots to crush.
God save the Queen!
