| And Did Those Feet In Ancient Time |
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Though the poem had been written during the Napoleonic Wars , it was clearly intended by its author to address internal English issues. The term "Satanic Mills", which entered the English language from this poem, is most often interpreted as referring to the early and History Of Socialism In Great Britain . Other explanations offered for "Satanic Mills" were the Established Church , the universities of Oxford and Cambridge , or neolithic remains such as Stonehenge which Blake considered Satanic.(See [http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/And_did_those_feet_in_ancient_time ). Whatever Blake's exact intention, it seems unlikely that the "mental fight" refered to was a concrete war waged by an army against an external enemy, or that the various archaic weapons enumerated were intended to represent modern arms. (All the more so as Blake was an outspoken supporter of the French Revolution , whose successor Napoleon - Britain's main enemy at the time of writing - claimed to be.) Nevertheless, the poem - little known during the century which followed its writing - was included in a patriotic anthology of verse published in 1916, a time when morale had begun to decline due to the high number of casualties in the First World War and the perception that there was no end in sight. Under these circumstances, it seemed to many to define what Britain was fighting for. Therefore, Parry was asked to put it to music at a Fight for Right campaign meeting in London's Royal Albert Hall . The most famous version was Orchestrated by Sir Edward Elgar in 1922 for the Leeds Festival. Upon hearing the orchestral version for the first time, King George V said that he preferred that ''Jerusalem'' replace '' God Save The King '' as the National Anthem. This is considered to be one of England 's most popular Patriotic songs, often being used as an alternative national anthem. It is variously associated with English Nationalism , Anti-modernism , Post-modernism , Socialist ideals, and Christianity , thereby holding a rather odd position. ''Jerusalem'' is the official anthem of the British National Party and the British Women's Institute , and historically was used by the National Union Of Suffrage Societies . (See {Link without Title} ) The text of the poem was inspired by the Legend that Jesus , while still a young man, accompanied Joseph Of Arimathea to Glastonbury . Blake's biographers tell us that he believed in this legend. However, the poem's Theme or Subtext is subject to much sharper debate, probably accounting for its popularity across the philosophical spectrum. As a paean to a mythical Englishness the poem has come under criticism: after all, the first verse is a series of questions to which the 'truthful' answer is no, while the second frames a series of demands to which the reply might well be "get them yourself!". Consequently many see it as unsuitable as an alternative National Anthem, and its reference to a foreign capital city as puzzling to other nations. It is unlikely that Blake intended such a literal interpretation. One particular line from the poem, "Bring me my chariot of fire", which inspired the title of the film '' is taken directly to heaven. A church congregation sings "Jerusalem" at close of the film. TEXT :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. Some versions (including Blake's original) have "strife" rather than "fight". NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
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