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Hymns We Sing
A series of articles about well-
by Frank White
No 1 -
Words Wm.Blake (1757 – 1827) Music C.H.H.Parry(1848 – 1918)
Hymn – Dictionary definition “A song or ode in praise or adoration of God or some deity.”
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 those dark Satanic Mills?
Have we really understood the meaning of the words to this Hymn? If we pause for
a moment and think about the first verse -
And of course the reference to Satanic Mills does not refer to Cotton or other Mills but to Pagan religious (?) sites such as Stonehenge etc.
Thus we have the Jerusalem legend.
This legend is very much dependant on the mysterious Joseph of Arimathea who it is alleged brought the young Jesus to England. If we look at the gospels Jesus disappears from them between the age of 12 and 30. Did he in this time visit England with Joseph? an intriguing thought and the thoughts behind the words in the first verse.
There is , of course, a complete lack of hard evidence to prove that Jesus or anyone
connected with him came to England. However the story behind “Jerusalem” has endured
and if nothing-
The second verse -
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 and pleasant land.
Blakes original words for the fifth line were – “from mental strife”
This verse suggests that we put on the armour of God and fight the good fight till we have built Jerusalem or our idea of it where ever we want it.
So next time we sing this or any other Hymn try and imagine the meaning behind well known words.