Last Night of the Proms - Rule, Britannia! video free download

The stirring British anthem Rule, Britannia! as performed at the annual Last Night of the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Though the lyrics are older, the song appeared in Britain in the 1740s and has been performed, with modifications, ever since. It is still sung by patriotic British crowds at sporting and cultural events.

There are elements of patriotic fervour, optimism and gloating in the lyrics of Rule, Britannia! It emerged at a time when the British empire was increasing in size, its naval power was in ascension, and military campaigns against its arch-rival France were more successful than not. Britons - or at least their middle- and upper-classes - also considered themselves the freest people in Europe, sentiments that are echoed in the stirring crescendo "Britons never never never will be slaves!" By implication it mocks the absolutist monarchies of France, Spain, Austria and Russia, whose kings and emperors were not constrained by parliaments and whose citizens enjoyed no voting rights. The great freedom of Britons in the 1700s was, of course, only comparative: voting rights and political representation were still based on land and wealth.

When Britain first at Heaven's command

Arose from out the azure main.

This was the charter of the land

And guardian angels sang this strain.

Rule, Britannia! rule the waves!

Britons never never never will be slaves!

The nations not so blest as thee,

Must in their turn to tyrants fall,

While thou shalt flourish great and free

The dread and envy of them all.

Rule, Britannia! rule the waves!

Britons never never never will be slaves!

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