Monday, May 19, 2014

England's Green and Pleasant Land...

William Blake (1757-1827) was an English poet and artist, and is best remembered for his poem, And Did Those Feet in Ancient Time.  There are several interpretations of the poem, but I won't go into those here.
In 1916, Sir Hubert Parry (1848-1918) set it to music, and it soon became a hugely popular hymn as Jerusalem.  Today, it is considered an anthem.  Need I say more?


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 these 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. 



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