When Hubert Parry put William Blake's "Jerusalem" to music, he was
inspired by Blake's message about God first making his presence in what
is today's England. Blake was a prolific poet, writing poems
like "Tiger, Tiger" and "The Lamb."
The poem is kind of a nationalistic anthem talking about God's feet
walking among "England's Mountains green" in the ancient times before
we were born. We see imagery of "dark Satanic mills" and "the Holy
Lamb of God" brought to life, thanks to Parry's musical setting.
Each year, this song is sung at the Last Night of the Proms concert to
conclude the musical season at the Albert Hall. Often, there is so
much nationalism and patriotism that it gives an eerie quality to its
message.
To be continued....