Actually the Star-Spangled Banner doesn't sound too bad if one sings the tune in strict 1-2-3 time, 18th-century style, rather than with the schmalzed-up 19th century interpretation singers usually give it.

Still, the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" is better music than "Star Spangled Banner", and pretty good words too.

Then there's always Billings' "Chester".

I thought England had that Blake Poem with "bring me my chariot of fire" and "Jerusalem in England's green and pleasant land." That won't do for the whole UK, though.

Should "Great green gobs of greasy grimy gopher guts" be the international English-speaking children's anthem ?

T.