Rose of England
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"Rose of England" is a patriotic song with music by Welsh composer Ivor Novello and lyrics by Englishman Christopher Hassall written in 1937 for their musical Crest of the Wave. Contrary to some reports, it was not popularised by Vera Lynn during the war years. The only recording which she made of the song was on the long-playing album More Hits of the Blitz released in 1966 and which has been included on several Compact Disc releases. This was the choice of her producer, the (then) recently hired David Gooch, who also produced the final album recorded by Alma Cogan. John Cleese used the music for his comic song I've got a ferret sticking up my nose on I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again.
The flower to which the song's lyrics refer is one of England's national emblems, the Tudor Rose. The song's popularity has led to some calls for it to replace "God Save the Queen" as the English sporting anthem.[1]
The song was played by Maggie Smith in the motion picture A Private Function and by Patricia Routledge in an episode of Keeping Up Appearances.
Lyrics
- Grown in one land alone
- Where proud winds have blown
- There’s not a flower born of the shower
- Braver than England’s own
- Though gales of winter blow
- Piercing hail and snow
- Shining she stays bright as in days of yore
- Old England’s pride still blossoms
- Fresh on Englands shore
- Rose of England thou shalt fade not here
- Proud and bright from growing year to year
- Red shall thy petals be as rich wine untold
- Shared by thy warriors who served thee of old
- Rose of England breathing England’s air
- Flower of chivalry beyond compare
- While hand and heart endure to cherish thy prime
- Thou shalt blossom to the end of time
- Rose of England breathing England’s air
- Flower of liberty beyond compare
- While hand and heart endure to cherish thy prime
- Thou shalt blossom to the end of time
See also
- The Road to Freedom (Chris de Burgh album), which includes a different song with the same title
References
- ^ Phillip, Robert (1997-03-15). "And now, time for our musical interlude". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on September 13, 2004. Retrieved 2007-08-06.
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