I Vow to Thee, My Country is a British patriotic song created in 1921 when a poem by Sir Cecil Spring-Rice was set to music by Gustav Holst.
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The origin of the lyrics is a poem by diplomat Cecil Spring-Rice which he wrote in 1908 whilst posted to the British Embassy in Stockholm. Then called Urbs Dei or The Two Fatherlands, the poem described how a Christian owes his loyalties to both his homeland and the heavenly kingdom. The first verse, as originally composed, had an overtly patriotic stance, which typified its pre-first world war era.
In 1912, Spring-Rice was appointed as Ambassador to the United States of America where he influenced the administration of Woodrow Wilson to abandon neutrality and join Britain in the war against Germany. After the Americans entered the war, he was recalled to Britain. Shortly before his departure from the US in January 1918, he re-wrote and renamed Urbs Dei, significantly altering the first verse to concentrate on the huge losses suffered by British soldiers during the intervening years.
The second verse is a reference to the United Kingdom, and particularly to the sacrifice of those who died during the First World War. The last verse, starting "And there's another country", is a reference to heaven. The final line is based on Proverbs 3:17, which reads in the King James Bible, "Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace."
In 1921 Gustav Holst adapted the music from a section of Jupiter from his suite The Planets to create a setting for the poem. The music was extended slightly to fit the final two lines of the first verse; the resulting hymn tune is usually referred to as Thaxted (named after the village where Holst lived for many years). This was first performed in 1925 and became a common element at Armistice memorial ceremonies.[1]
The lyrics as usually sung omit the middle verse as not being suitable for modern use.[2][3]
The third verse is a possible source for the title to both the play and the film Another Country, where the hymn is sung.[citation needed]
I Vow to Thee, My Country is a British patriotic song created in 1921 when a poem by Sir Cecil Spring-Rice was set to music by Gustav Holst.
Contents |
The lyrics come from a poem by Cecil Spring-Rice that he wrote in 1908 when he was working at the British Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden. At first called Urbs Dei, or The Two Fatherlands, the poem is about how a Christian owes her loyalties to both her homeland and the Kingdom of Heaven. The first verse, as written, had a very direct and heated patriotism that has become less popular since the First World War.
In 1912, Rice was sent to Washington, D.C. as the British ambassador to the United States of America. While serving as ambassador, he tried to get President Woodrow Wilson to give up on neutrality and join Britain and her Empire in the war against Germany. After America entered the war, Rice was called back to Britain. Shortly before he left the United States, in January of 1918, he re-wrote and re-titled Urbs Dei, after making big changes to the first verse to talk more about the huge losses that British soldiers were having in the war years.
The first verse talks about Great Britain, and mainly about those who died during the First World War. The end verse, that starts with the line "And there's another country", is talking about heaven. The final line of the end verse uses the Proverbs 3:17 as its base, which reads, "Her ways are of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace."
In 1921 Gustav Holst changed the music from a section of the song Jupiter from his suite The Planets to create a setting for the poem. The music was made a bit longer so that it would fit the last two lines of the first verse; the end result is usually called the Thaxted (named after the village where Holst lived for many years). This was first performed in 1925 and became very common at Armistice memorial ceremonies.[1]
Later on, Z. Randall Stroope would arrange a choir version of this song called "Homeland." He still used the "Jupiter" theme from the planets but also used two additional verses of his own to pay homage to his father who marched in the Bataan Death March.
The lyrics as usually sung without the middle verse because it is not suitable for modern use.[2][3]
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| | BBC Radio 4 discussion of the hymn - BBC - Radio 4 - Today Programme Arts Report |
| | The sound of silence - BBC NEWS | UK | Magazine | The sound of silence |
| | "I vow to thee my country..." - Faith Central - Times Online - WBLG: I vow to thee my country... |
| | British Imperialistic Anthems - Modern History Sourcebook: British Imperialistic Anthems - Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory |
| | "O God, Beyond All Praising" - Oremus Hymnal: O God beyond all praising |
| | Anthem4England.co.uk - Anthem 4 England - English National Anthem |
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