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Line 1: − + − − The Hymn Jerusalem, based upon the poem, is often sung at the annual conferences of the [[Conservative Party]]. Line 7:
Line 5: − + − + − + − + + − + − <br />+ − + − ::Bring me my arrows of desire!+ − + − ::Bring me my chariot of fire!+ − + − + − + − ::In England’s green and pleasant Land.+ + + + + + + + + + +
Changes, plus song info
'''And did those feet in ancient time''' is an English patriotic poem written by William Blake in the 19th Century. It tells of the legend that the Lord Jesus traveled to England, then under heathen Roman rule. 'Jerusalem' is used as a metaphor for the kingdom of heaven, and the poem exhorts the audience to fight for a reassertion of God's rule on earth. The poem can also be seen as a lament for a time in which decency, tolerance and respect for fellow man were present among all.
'''And did those feet in ancient time''' is the verse part of the prose/verse preface of a poem, "Milton – a poem", written and printed by the English poet [[William Blake]] in the first decade of the 19th Century. It recalls the legend that the Lord Jesus travelled to [[England]]. 'Jerusalem' is used as a metaphor for the kingdom of heaven, and the poem exhorts the audience to fight for a reassertion of God's rule on earth. It is a veiled protest against the conditions spreading throughout this "green and pleasant land" with the growing effects of the Industrial Revolution.
==Text==
==Text==
The text is as follows:
The text is as follows:
:And did those feet in ancient time
:And did those feet in ancient time
::walk upon England’s mountains green?
:Walk upon England’s mountains green?
:And was the holy Lamb of God
:And was the holy Lamb of God
::on England’s pleasant pastures seen?
:On England’s pleasant pastures seen?
:And did the [[countenance divine]]
::shine forth upon our clouded hills?
:And did the Countenance Divine
:Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
:And was Jerusalem builded here
:And was Jerusalem builded here
::among these dark Satanic Mills?
:Among these dark Satanic Mills?
:Bring me my bow of burning gold!
:Bring me my Bow of burning gold!
:Bring me my Arrows of desire!
:Bring me my spear! O clouds, unfold!
: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,
:I will not cease from Mental Fight,
:till we have built Jerusalem
:Nor shall my Sword sleep in my hand,
:Till we have built Jerusalem
:In England’s green & pleasant Land.
The original print edition contains the following line at the end of the verses:
:"Would to God that all the Lord's people were prophets." Numbers, xi. ch., 29 v.
=="Jerusalem"==
The song, '''''“Jerusalem”''''' was written to the above text by English [[composer]] [[Hubert Parry]] during 1915-16, at the suggestion of the Poet Laureate, Robert Bridges, for a meeting of the “Fight to Right” universal suffrage movement, and had its first public performance during the celebrations marking the attainment of voting rights for women in 1918.
It was taken over by the “Women’s Institute”, and various other groups - cultural and political - and became extremely popular. These days, it enjoys its annual enthusiastic bellow at the “Last Night of the Proms”, and has a unique place in English culture as a sort of unofficial national anthem at sporting contests. (A song, “Fight for Right”, written by [[Edward Elgar]] at the same time for the same purpose, and with far more bellicose words, has failed to last the distance.)
[[Category:Poetry]]
[[Category:Patriotic songs]]
[[Category:Patriotic songs]]