National Song
National Song - meaning Summary
Triumphant English National Pride
Tennyson’s “National Song” is a short, boastful celebration of England and its people. It repeatedly proclaims English superiority—men, women, and sailors—while dismissing the French in a taunting chorus. The poem foregrounds national pride, maritime dominance, and traditional gender roles, using a rousing refrain to encourage communal singing. Its tone is triumphant and exclusionary, aiming to unify listeners through patriotic affirmation rather than nuanced reflection.
Read Complete AnalysesThere is no land like England Where’er the light of day be; There are no hearts like English hearts, Such hearts of oak as they be. There is no land like England Where’er the light of day be; There are no men like Englishmen, So tall and bold as they be. Chorus. For the French the Pope may shrive ’em, For the devil a whit we heed ’em, As for the French, God speed ’em Unto their hearts’ desire, And the merry devil drive ’em Through the water and the fire. Chorus. Our glory is our freedom, We lord it o’er the sea; We are the sons of freedom, We are free. There is no land like England, Where’er the light of day be; There are no wives like English wives, So fair and chaste as they be. There is no land like England, Where’er the light of day be; There are no maids like English maids, So beautiful as they be. Chorus.—For the French, etc.
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