Sunday, September 21, 2014

In England's Green & Pleasant Land



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 & pleasant Land


This poem by William Blake set to music by Parry was inspired by the story that a young Jesus accompanied by Joseph of Arimathea travelled to what is now England.  The legend is from a idea in the Book of Revelation and describing a Second Coming where Jesus establishes a new Jerusalem, a metaphor for Heaven.  The song is so well loved that it is called the "unofficial" anthem of England.



Remember that I told you I would be away for a few weeks and would be very busy? Richard and I were in England! We had a wonderful time and the weather was glorious! Lots to tell you about and you know that Richard took lots of photos! I was happy that I was able to see The Last Night of the Proms on the "telly".  
Didn't see all of it, but we saw the last part, with the songs from Mary Poppins and all the Last Night of the Proms favorites...Jerusalem, Land of Hope and Glory, and Rule Britannia...which, by the way, I kept humming the whole time I was there!)
 
I love the song "Jerusalem".  As an American, I didn't know it until I first heard it in the 80's from the film "Chariots of Fire" (which is one of my FAVORITE films of all time,  I truly love it.)
The director of the movie was going to name it "Running" until he heard this song from another one of my favorite TV shows of all time, "Songs of Praise".  
Look what I found here, from Wikipedia...showing William Blake's words written in his own hand and at the bottom he has written the words "Would to God that all the Lord's people were Prophets".  It is from the Bible, from the Book of Numbers. 
 
 

 




 
Of course, I have the video for you!  The conductor, Sakari Oramo, had such an infectious enthusiasm!  I hope that you enjoy this as much as I do!
 
 
 
More to come about England, I promise you.  Richard's photos are just stunning, just you wait until you see them!  Did we make it to London? Did I talk with everyone that I met about Louis Zamperini? What do you think?  :-)
 

45 comments:

  1. Welcome back, dear Kay! The first picture is very beautiful, and I am looking forward to all the "more to come" you've promised.
    So happy for you that you were able to make this trip together - and a (VERY) belated Happy Birthday to Richard!

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    1. Thank you, dear Meike!
      It was wonderful! We had perfect weather, we walked for miles and spent a lot of time with family and friends. I was able to have a nice gluten free cake for Richard, I took a picture of it, so look out for it! Thanks for the belated birthday wishes for Richard! x

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  2. How wonderful that you got to make a trip to England. I'll be looking forward to all the pictures!

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    1. Yes look out for them...you might be seeing them for the next two years or so, we took so many! LOL!

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  3. As soon as I got your postcard of Eastbourne, I guessed you were in Sussex. I am so glad that the weather was kind to you. The Sussex countryside is spectacular when the sun shines. Last Night of the Proms is always special and more so this year with the Referendum. The No" vote was such a relief - I stayed awake all night listening to the results coming in - and I don't "do" late nights and certainly never "all nights!" Looking forward to seeing your pictures of my home county. x

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    1. Yes! Sussex by the sea, as Kipling called it, is a most beautiful spot.
      Do you know that I said to Richard after looking at YouTube for the video to put on this post that from the past years, everyone always sang along with for THIS year, I felt that it was with much more GUSTO and I thought it was because of the Voting in Scotland that was about to happen! They all sang with such ENTHUSIASM! And I loved it!
      You WILL see more photos, of course!
      Take care, wave at me from the beach as I will wave to you from atop our favorite mountain! xx

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  4. I had a feeling you might be in England. I know you had a great time, we sure did and we don't have family there like you do. Can't wait to see your pictures.

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    1. It truly was a good time and very nice to see family and friends.
      Cheers!

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  5. How wonderful! I'm excited to hear all about your trip and really, really excited to see the photos! Welcome back and have a great week!

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    1. Thank you very much! Back to the salt mines this week!

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  6. How wonderful, Kay! Wow! I cannot wait to read your posts about this vacation.
    Have you ever seen the program Jam and Jerusalem?

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    1. Thanks, Kristi!
      I haven't heard of that show, but I just looked it up and I bet I would like it.
      We sometimes get shows like that here but about 10 years or so after they air in Britain! We will ask our in-laws about a certain show, and they have to search their memories so we can discuss a certain show! HA! We are helping with their brain functions! :-)

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  7. Most amazing! I used to see this on TV when I was younger.
    I love Jerusalem!:-)

    Looking forward to the pictures

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    1. Never been to Jerusalem, but I think I have seen great photos of it, and I bet it was on YOUR blog! :-)

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  8. It sounds like you had a glorious time, and part of me is jealous, and a bigger part happy for you and can't wait to hear all about it!

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    1. Little part jealous but a bigger part happy...you really tickle me...by just a few words, I know just what you mean! :-)

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  9. How happy I am for you. You must have felt as if you were in heaven. I cannot wait for your next installment.

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    1. Thank you. I only wish I had your gift of writing...sitting on the beach listening to the stones crash against the shore...that is my idea of heaven.

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  10. My landlords are over in the UK at present, too. They're in Orford. They go over every years...often twice a year...to visit family.

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    1. I would love to see Oxford. The furthest north that I have ever been is London Zoo! (But I truly loved it, by the way!)

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    2. Not Oxford, Kay...Orford in Suffolk. They've just bought a little cottage there...they're renovating it at present and will place it on the rental market; and use it when they visit.

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    3. Oh how funny, I do need glasses, can you tell? HA!
      Suffolk, I've never been there either but I really do like the sound of that cottage, sounds heavenly!
      P. S. And very often, my eyes see what they THINK they are seeing. For example, I bought a post card for my Dad with farm animals and I thought it said, "All Creatures Great and Small"...but I only noticed it after I bought it that it said "All Creatures GRUNT and SMELL"!!
      Oh well, I mailed it to him from England anyway! :-)

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  11. I'm glad that you had such a great time, I love Jerusalem - as in the hymn, never been to the place. I missed last night of the proms this year, but I have recorded it to watch while I do the ironing this week!! xx

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    1. Oh yes, and I bet you hang your clothes out to dry, don't you? I always do when I am in England but my poor mother in law has to help me EVERY TIME. And my MIL irons so well, that the clothes look as if they have come from the dry cleaners! xx

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  12. Wow, you've been in England! How wonderful! I'm looking forward to hearing all about it!

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    1. Thanks, Terry! You know you will hear more! LOL
      I will drive you crazy!

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  13. Wonderful! I kept listening with the You-tube stream, and listened to God Save the Queen too. I grew up singing this in Canada, before they changed the national anthem (and the flag) in the late 1950's - early 1960's. I still miss it sometimes.

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    1. Hello Carol!
      Lovely to see your comment! I am just like you, I listened to all those songs on YouTube also! And you know I sung along!!
      I was truly pleased that I got to see that last part of The Last Night of the Proms! It was wonderful!
      Thanks again for your comment. Have a great week!

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    2. Oh and meant to say that I love "God Save the Queen" although for me, I always think of "My Country, Tis of Thee"...the same tune!

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  14. Looking forward to your travel stories/pictures. I love Blake's "Jerusalem" and just heard it the other night, watching my DVD of "Chariots of Fire." Also I just learned, from NPR, that Rule Britannia was written by a Scot.

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    1. I LOVE Chariots of Fire! I can't think of anything that could have been done to that movie to make it any better!
      And you know, I think that for the songs for THIS year, there was a great deal of feeling due to the voting that was about to take place in Scotland.
      I love that Rule Britannia song, whoever wrote it! :-)

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  15. I am looking forward to seeing your pictures from your trip. The preview is beautiful.

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    1. Thanks. I think that Richard took some good photos and I am happy he lets me share them with you.

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  16. Dear Kay, welcome back home! Or should I say your other home - England is clearly home to you as well. Just as Germany is to me. Your enthusiasm for your recent trip shines through every word on this post. I cannot wait to see all the beautiful photos. In the meantime - isn't the weather we are having in Georgia right now amazing? I even love the rain, but mostly I love not being so hot all the time.... xoxo Silke

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    1. Hello dear Silke!
      YES! It is hard to make people understand my love for both countries, but I think that you totally get it!!
      And our weather in Georgia just now is FANTASTIC! I could not ask for anything better! We have not even had any rain, just cool mornings and comfortable days with blue skies and white puffy clouds...lovely!
      Take care, my friend!
      Love, Kay

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  17. I love Orano's vest. I loved Chariots of Fire. I loved England. Lucky you! I sure would love to go back to England to see more. Since we can't right now, I'll look at your photos. I'm so glad you had such a great time.

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    1. Kay, we have so much in common!! Thank you for joining in my joy of England and of life! xx

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  18. How wonderful! I'm looking forward to hearing all about your trip too. And "Jerusalem" is one of my favourite songs! So beautiful. When I was at the Glastonbury Abbey ruins about 5 years ago, I sang it with our Archdruidess tour guide while we were standing beside one of the Holy Thorn trees. I was the only one in the tour group who knew the words, LOL!

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    1. I know how much you love hymns and I thought you would love this one too! And you know all the words? I am impressed!

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  19. Kay, how wonderful that you guys were in England. I smiled from ear to ear when I read that! I haven't read any blogs in weeks so I'm glad to be catching up a little now. Can't wait to see your English posts!! Glad you had a safe, fun trip! XOXO

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    1. Thanks, Audrey! Hope you are doing well these days, I bet you are busy now that school is back in, am I right? I only had one child, and the new school year always wore me out!!
      xx

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  20. Hi Kay!!!!! I'm so happy to hear that you and Richard were in England! I can't wait to read the rest of your posts and see Richard's photos. I went immediately to this post first because of it's title. The hymn is my all time favorite. I learned it when I was in the church choir in grade 8. Our choir director was the incredible Prof. Gmeiner from Acadia University and learning that hymn with him is one of my best memories ever.
    And, of course, you talked about Louis Zamperini to everyone! You have me talking about him ~ LOL! It's so good to see you back! *hugs*

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    1. Oh, I am so glad that you love this hymn also!! I can't thank you enough for telling me that!
      And yes, you better believe I talked about Louis Zamperini to anyone who would listen! Hugs to you too, my friend! xx

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  21. Shalom Kay, I'm so glad to find someone blogging about the hymn "Jerusalem"! I only learned about it recently, while researching a post about the real Jerusalem. I was very excited by the idea behind it, and by the music and words.
    Let's compare notes. My posts are here:
    http://jerusalemhillsdailyphoto.blogspot.co.il/2013/04/an-amazing-historical-video-for-st.html

    and

    http://jerusalemhillsdailyphoto.blogspot.co.il/2011/04/wedding-and-legend-about-jerusalem.html

    So glad you got to see the real England now.

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    1. Shalom, Dina!
      It is a very popular hymn in England but I only learned of it in the early 80's from the movie, "Chariots of Fire", one of my favorite movies of all time! I think it is wonderful hymn and I will look at your posts...thank you for telling me!
      I have visited England since 1980... I am either in Georgia or England, I don't have the money or vacation time to go anywhere else! LOL.

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