After something of a media and social media furore, largely confected as a culture war by the right it might be suggested, the BBC have determined that Rule Britannia will be played at the Last Night of the Proms this year but without the words. Apparently the words will be back next year.
This suggests that the BBC is still on the page of thinking that Black Lives Matter is a moment not a movement.
Objections to the song came because of the words but also because of the context it is now sung in. When you get Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage backing something you know something is very wrong.
The song itself has a mixed history. Written as patriotic, the tune was often played but with different words sung.
It was for example played at Peterloo on 16th August 1819 when 18 people died and hundreds were injured by the Yeomanry after peacefully protesting for the vote.
The words sung are not fully clear but one likely version included the verse:
Will ye yield to die with hunger?
Shall the dungeon hide each head?
Shall the scoundrel Borough-monger
Rob you of your hard earn’d bread?
Perhaps the BBC could try Rule Britannia with similar words in 2021
I like the alternative words but I’m struggling to make them scan, whether to the verse or the chorus.
I think the Proms has cleverly postponed the problem with Rule Britannia in recent years by turning it into a celebration of high camp rather than jingoism – I will always treasure the memory of Juan Diego Flórez singing it while dressed as an Inca – but there’s clearly an issue with a song climaxing on the word “Slaves!” and the implication that as long as Britons aren’t slaves we’re not all that bothered about anyone else.