'Jerusalem' has been immortalized in North America by Monty Python skits.

Sinners in the hands of a funny god.

That is FUNNY! Cheered up an other wise tedious weekend, that did!

"Jerusalem" is probably the most incoherent and nonsensical piece of verse ever to have become popular.

The first two verses (both questions) can be answered with a resoundng "No". There's no evidence that the "Holy Lamb of God" ever was seen on England's pleasant pastures, or that Jerusalem was ever "builded here"

Someone has pointed out that the "dark Satanic mills" must, in Blake's experience, have been windmills (doing a useful job, of course). Chimneys belching smoke came about a long time after Blake wrote, and in the north of England, which, as far as I know, Blake never visited.

As for the next two verses, after someone has brought Blake his "Bow of burning gold", "his Arrows of desire" (what on earth can they be?), his "Spear" and his "Chariot of fire" what is he going to do? Why, "not cease from Mental Fight", while his Sword doesn't sleep in his hand (apparently not needing to be brought).

"Mental Fight" is perhaps the giveaway - Blake as precursor of those who think that by passing resolutions they have actually done something. And, on the largest useless scale isn't that all the UN ever does?

At least "Rule Britannia" and "Land of Hope and Glory" had some contemporary relevance; though whether Britain still mothers the free is a moot point.

Findlay, you are of course quite correct but I think you are missing the point: you can set a phone book to music and still produce the desired effects. Jerusalem's lyrics might as well be about the taste and texture of silly-putty and it would still be a magnificent song.

Jerusalem works for exactly the same reason the totally bonkers but oh so marchable Vindaloo works (you want utterly insane lyrics?) ... both are perfect songs for that surrogate war activity we call 'international sports'. No one actually thinks about the lyrics!

Thanks for the lyric to Vindaloo .... Well, it's not Cole Porter....

Quote of the day, eh? Why, thanks very much.

Read the whole thing on the cricket thread! It's a shame you missed the BBC dig.

It's a daft song, but it's one I can't sing without choking up, usually at the Chariots of Fire bit. My fondest memory is from my wedding in France, when I managed to con the priest into letting us sing it. All my family and friends belted it out like it was a rugby match (or indeed cricket) and terrified the unsuspecting locals.

Pete - thanks for contributing to the much-valued and ancient confusion the British arouse in French hearts. I can imagine the scene and hope it got your marriage off to a wonderful start!

Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson did an awesome version of Jerusalem on his 1998 (?)solo album, Chemical Wedding. He adds a little here and there as I understand it but it really is very good (if you're into metal anyway).

Though I didn't realize it was based on a hymn at the time I first heard it, I just thought it was an awesome song.

For "awesome", read "awful". After hearing it 100 times or so, I simply got tired of listening to this sort of rubbish. I suppose it's the same with "Cum-bai-yah" for people who sing it.

Is awesome American for awe-inspiring? I suppose it doesn't mean "inspired to actually do something", just a song that gives one one a warm, comfortable feeling, like going on a demonstration - no, can't be bothered to do anything, really, just sing a song.

A real UN pathology.

UN pathology?

That might explain why I get the sudden urge to pass out poorly xeroxed socialist newsletters every time I listen to it.

IIRC Blake's 'dark Satanic mills' were the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, which taught rationalism, which Blake disaproved of.