The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)

Subject: The OBON song
From: Jack Campin
Date: 23 Jun 21 - 10:38 AM

Story about its origins:

https://www.indy100.com/news/one-britain-one-nation-explained-b1871171

Any sightings of parodies yet?

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: GUEST,Gallus Moll
Date: 23 Jun 21 - 01:46 PM

The fascists can get this tae.....!!!!
Fortunately Scotland has a separate education system, I believe most Scottish school holidays will have begun prior to Friday - oh what a shame (NOT)

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Jun 21 - 06:20 PM

Gee, I thought it was only we Americans who engaged in such jingoism.

https://metro.co.uk/video/schoolchildren-encouraged-sing-patriotic-song-one-britain-one-nation-day-2445691/?ito=vjs-link

The lyrics to the song, which the organisation claim was written by schoolchildren in Bradford, are as follows:

One Britain One Nation

Chorus:
We are Britain
And we have one dream
To unite all people
In one great team (repeat)
Verse 1:
Our nation survived through many storms and many wars
We've opened our doors, and widened our island's shores
We celebrate our differences with love in our hearts
United forever, never apart
Chorus:
We are Britain
And we have one dream
To unite all people
In one great team (repeat)
Verse 2:
So many different races, standing in the same place
So many different faces, moving at the same pace
We all stand together with pride in our hearts
United forever, never apart
Chorus:
We are Britain
And we have one dream
To unite all people
In one great team (repeat)
Outro:
Strong Britain, Great Nation
Strong Britain, Great Nation
Strong Britain, Great Nation
Strong Britain, Great Na-a-tion.
Written & Performed by: St John's CE Primary School pupils, Bierley, Bradford

Source: https://metro.co.uk/2021/06/23/what-is-one-britain-one-nation-and-what-are-the-lyrics-to-their-song-14817409/

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: Captain Swing
Date: 23 Jun 21 - 06:36 PM

I worked with a lot of headteachers over the years. I don't think there are many that would let this trash see light of day in their schools.

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: DaveRo
Date: 24 Jun 21 - 03:23 AM

The song is dire, and the idea of all schools being encouraged to sing it is potentually divisive. I hope schools quietly ignore it or there'll be demonstrations at school gates on Friday.

But the organisation promoting this (based in Bradford - an area with a high 'Asian' population) claims some admirable aims
https://www.onebritainonenation.com/our-vision

No doubt the word 'Nation' will be much discussed (and 'Britain'). Is the reference to 'many wars' there to match the populist British identity myth and sneak in the main message? I'm surprised the UK government actually supports it.

'OBON' seems to be a Trademark, I see. Maybe it's a commercial venture and we'll see OBON T-shirts. (Bradford is a major textile-prucing town.)

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Jun 21 - 03:45 AM

Tub thumping drivel

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 24 Jun 21 - 04:38 AM

Bradford has one of the highest densities of immigrants in the UK, including Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Ukranians, Poles and many more. Bearing this in mind, if the song was written by schoolchildren there, it may not be the nationalistic jingo that some seem to think. Such a mixed race community wanting one nation is something to be admired.

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 24 Jun 21 - 04:54 AM

Obviously a 'rap' song, with a capital 'C'.

One Britain, one nation.
Britain is not a nation, it is an island. The 'nation' is either singular, The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, or multiple nations: England, (Northern) Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
This supposedly 'inclusive' 'anthem' has already discarded Northern Ireland.

It comes as no surprise that this comes from Bradford, which, by many accounts, is not the best integrated of societies.

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 24 Jun 21 - 05:36 AM

re the understandable nature of patriotism in Bradford as sympathetically described by DnG-

That's all fine, but it's musical & literary drivel socould you make that nation England please, and leave Scotland out of it?

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: Jack Campin
Date: 24 Jun 21 - 06:35 AM

The choice of launch date is interesting. Most schools in Scotland will have just closed for the summer.

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: GUEST,Derrick
Date: 24 Jun 21 - 06:53 AM

From what I have read about the song,it seems to be part of a school project to promote integration and understanding in a mixed ethnic school. The song was written by the children.
The idea to have an Obon day and sing the song in all schools appears to have come from our illustrious leader the accident prone Boris Johnson.
The idea smacks of patriotic jingoism of the Empire Day kind.
The prime minister on the other hand seems to be determined to break up the UK by his policies on Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: GUEST,RA
Date: 24 Jun 21 - 07:20 AM

On the plus side, what an honour for all those school children to have co-written such a wonderfully powerful, memorable, lyrically and musically unrivalled song which is sure to supplant all current 'national anthems', becoming the one true British National Anthem - meaning these lucky kids will be able to retire on the PRS and Spotify royalties from the song's perpetual use, and never have to work a day in their lives!

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 24 Jun 21 - 07:47 AM

It comes as no surprise that this comes from Bradford, which, by many accounts, is not the best integrated of societies.

Really Nigel? I worked at Morrisons HQ in Bradford for 10 years and it was an amazingly integrated workplace. Some 5 years back there was a report that included it in the least intergrated places but I could link you to many other accounts that dispute that.

And do you have to call music that you don't like "Crap"? Did you do any better when you were at school?

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 24 Jun 21 - 09:41 AM

Did you do any better when you were at school?
As I read it, this wasn't the composition of a single person, but of a group.
The Telegraph even goes a little further: The anthem was composed - with help from their music teacher - by pupils of St John's CE Primary School in Bradford in 2019
We can only guess at the extent of the teacher's input in this.

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Jun 21 - 11:01 AM

could we guess his politics too?- the union isn't flavour of the month north of Gretna

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: GUEST,#
Date: 24 Jun 21 - 11:22 AM

McGonagall lives.

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: Jeri
Date: 24 Jun 21 - 11:38 AM

Re-arrange as needed: NPB
It's a lovely little ditty. Are you one of their moles, Dave?

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: Jack Campin
Date: 24 Jun 21 - 12:33 PM

Parody already

No better than the original unfortunately.

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: GUEST,#
Date: 24 Jun 21 - 12:39 PM

McGonagall strikes again.

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 24 Jun 21 - 01:32 PM

So, a bunch of kids under 11 come up with a song praising the open door policy that welcomed all, celebrating all the different cultures within the one community and promoting integration of different races, yet people here are slagging them off? So what if the teacher did help? How else could a bunch of under 11's be expected to be cohesive enough to do anything like this without some sort of supervision? Come on, people, get a life! You may not like it but it is far from the jingoistic crap some are suggesting.

Nor is it the work of the far right organisation that you suggest I am working for, Jeri. You, as a moderator, should know well that I was one of the main targets of their attack dog and was very active in bringing him to task. I am surprised at you.

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 24 Jun 21 - 02:37 PM

That was uncalled for, Jeri. The song may well be a buttock-clencher in some regards, but far-right it most patently isn't.

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 24 Jun 21 - 03:13 PM

I'm not sure it's in the same buttock clenching league as Clive Dunn's "Grandad" or St Winifred's school choir with "There's no-one quite like Grandma" but thanks anyway, Steve :-D

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 24 Jun 21 - 05:37 PM

It's all good in m'humble, Dave.

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: Allan Conn
Date: 24 Jun 21 - 05:54 PM

I think the problem is there is the original idea about anti-racism in their local area etc. Then there are Tory MP's trying to hijack it into a pro union campaign.

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: Jack Campin
Date: 24 Jun 21 - 06:49 PM

That part of the world has form for starting campaigns that go catastrophically pearshaped. The worldwide anti-blasphemy campaign against Salman Rushdie was originated by the Bradford Council of Mosques to hit back against Thatcher for cutting their social services funding. At the end of the day and after hundreds of deaths, Thatcher got to use Rushdie as a trophy. Good thinking, guys.

Meanwhile with the current stushie:

Guardian update

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 25 Jun 21 - 02:22 AM

The Bradford council of mosques does not represent 'that part of the world' Jack. Thanks for your link to the Guardian article though from which I repeat Kash Singh's remarks - “I think we need to celebrate that and create this spirit of oneness and togetherness, and showcase that we’re all one people of this country regardless of where you’re from.” That is the point of the song, not patriotic jingoism.

And thanks to Alan Conn for pointing out that the politicians who are trying to use the song for their own agenda are nothing to do with the children or the song itself. As Jeri has already referred us to the organisation that must not be named I will point out that nasty Nick himself tried to subvert folk music and dance into right wing jingoism. He did not succeed due to the campaign by some of us to stop him.

The fact that some Tory goon has suggested the song should be sung by all schoolchildren is indeed, as someone said, extremely creepy. But that is not the fault of the children or the song. Whether you like the song or not is irrelevant, its message is sound and rather than slagging it off, maybe you should be railing against those trying to hijack it.

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 25 Jun 21 - 05:05 AM

Yesterday I heard an item about this on RTE radio. From an Irish point of view there were a few comments about :

Our nation survived through many storms and many wars
We've opened our doors, and widened our island's shores
We celebrate our differences with love in our hearts
United forever, never apart

Patronising, ignoring the truth about imperialism, racism etc etc.

So yes, let's blame the song as well for a message that ignores some hard truths.

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: GUEST,PaulS
Date: 25 Jun 21 - 05:12 AM

I suspect that the song is not capable of being parodied; can we put out a general request to all people planning to write jingoistic songs? Please use longer lines to give us free rein to fit something entertaining into our parodies.

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 25 Jun 21 - 05:42 AM

You're quite right, Peter Laban. Currently in Britain, there are moves to instil a new reality into the history of Britain and the Empire. Anyone asking for this is described as 'woke', 'snowflake' rather than facing the facts.
   Whatever the literary quality of the song words, the Bradford kids are to be commended for their efforts, but as for all the ill-informed and reactionary drivel behind it- quoted by Peter Laban- where did that come from?

   There is little doubt that the Union Jackery crowd have taken advantage of the kids' work this so like I said, please leave Scotland out of it- we're all off school today anyway!

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: GUEST,matt milton
Date: 25 Jun 21 - 05:56 AM

But Dave, its message isn't sound. It doesn't matter who wrote it: I do not want my 8-year old son singing 'strong Britain, great nation' - it is way too close to the slogans of Nazi Germany and fascist Italy.

And, as suggested in the post above, the line "our nation survived through many storms and many wars" really rankles, given England's long history of imperial aggression. Ditto "widened our island's shores".

The line about faces 'moving at the same pace' bothers me too because statistically we know damn well that certain colours of face very much do NOT move at the same pace as others...

The idea that this is the unmediated expression of 'Bradford schoolchildren' is itself a little suspect. IS this draft 1 or draft 20? Anyone with primary school age kids or any experience of teaching knows that teachers always guide kids or work with them when producing poems or songs. If it was a group effort then there will have been decisions taken as to whose words were picked, and which ones...

Ultimately though it doesn't matter who wrote it, it's the words themselves that count. It doesn't need to be 'hijacked' by right-wingers, it's already dodgy. I emailed my kid's headteacher and said I hoped they weren't entertaining the idea of any of this.

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 25 Jun 21 - 07:06 AM

So are we OK with kids singing shitty hymns about a non-existent deity? Where's the outrage? Let's talk about the capacity to deprave and corrupt...

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: GUEST,matt milton
Date: 25 Jun 21 - 07:21 AM

At non-religious schools, kids won't be singing hymns. So that's not really applicable.

My own kid goes to a C of E primary - it's the local school - and does sing songs about God and Jesus. I'd prefer it if he didn't. But we talk to him about it, make it clear that it's not something we believe in and that we regard them as just stories and songs. I regard them as much less problematic than language about 'strong Britain' and enduring wars - the religious songs he gets at school is mostly modern stuff that isn't even especially patriarchal and is mostly about being nice to people.

That there are songs sung at school we don't like doesn't mean we should therefore welcome more songs at school we don't like.

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 25 Jun 21 - 07:37 AM

So are we OK with kids singing shitty hymns about a non-existent deity?
What happened to 'scientist' Steve Shaw.
The fact that you don't believe in a supreme being doesn't make his/her existence impossible.

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 25 Jun 21 - 08:11 AM

Because so many do believe in a god Nigel doesn't actually make it true.

Dave H

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 25 Jun 21 - 08:32 AM

Lets have a look at the actual words of the song again before discussing the message, Matt.

We are Britain
And we have one dream
To unite all people
In one great team

I don't see anything wrong here. It is the kids that have written and sung it. Not the politicians. It is their dream to unite everyone. Sounds a good dream to me.

Our nation survived through many storms and many wars
We've opened our doors, and widened our island's shores
We celebrate our differences with love in our hearts
United forever, never apart

I would not have used the first line myself but it is certainly true. The next three are a message of unity from the children. Nowt wrong with that.

So many different races, standing in the same places   
So many different faces, moving at the same pace
We all stand together with pride in our hearts
United forever, never apart

Nothoing wrong at all with the message in that verse.

Strong Britain, Great Nation
Strong Britain, Great Nation
Strong Britain, Great Nation
Strong Britain, Great Na-a-tion.

Yea, OK, we can do without that but taken in context I can forgive them.

I guess we are just looking at different things. If you just look for the negative, you will concentrate on the outro. If you look for the positive, the message of racial harmont and unity is there.

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 25 Jun 21 - 08:35 AM

Whoops, sorry. Duff HTML from me. Rather than ask the mods to change it, here it is formatted properly -

Lets have a look at the actual words of the song again before discussing the message, Matt.

We are Britain
And we have one dream
To unite all people
In one great team

I don't see anything wrong here. It is the kids that have written and sung it. Not the politicians. It is their dream to unite everyone. Sounds a good dream to me.

Our nation survived through many storms and many wars
We've opened our doors, and widened our island's shores
We celebrate our differences with love in our hearts
United forever, never apart

I would not have used the first line myself but it is certainly true. The next three are a message of unity from the children. Nowt wrong with that.

So many different races, standing in the same places   
So many different faces, moving at the same pace
We all stand together with pride in our hearts
United forever, never apart

Nothing wrong at all with the message in that verse.

Strong Britain, Great Nation
Strong Britain, Great Nation
Strong Britain, Great Nation
Strong Britain, Great Na-a-tion.

Yea, OK, we can do without that but taken in context I can forgive them.

I guess we are just looking at different things. If you just look for the negative, you will concentrate on the outro. If you look for the positive, the message of racial harmont and unity is there.

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 25 Jun 21 - 08:48 AM

As I said, one of the Irish comments on RTE was 'widened our shores', sure, they did, for 800 years.

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 25 Jun 21 - 09:00 AM

Well Peter, you can read that as empire building if you like. I read it as opening the door to other people. Maybe I am more on the wavelength of 11 year olds :-) As I said before, if you look for the negative, you will find it.

I guess this thread is no longer about the song though so will probably end up in the basement. I am glad that you, Matt and some other guests have had the opportunity to share your thoughts before that happens.

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: GUEST,matt milton
Date: 25 Jun 21 - 09:07 AM

Well exactly! You don't have to be Irish to have spotted that one.

Given that OBON was formed in 2013, it's safe to say that these Bradford schoolchildren did not come up with the title and theme of their song - One Britain One Nation - entirely independently. (It would be rather terrifying if they had)

I just had a look at the OBON site - its narrative of national pride is a load of tosh and I don't want it clogging up my kid's education.

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 25 Jun 21 - 09:21 AM

Again, Matt, we seem to be seeing different things in the same message. The mission statement on their opening page is

One Britain One Nation brings us together, not to focus on our differences but to celebrate the values we share: tolerance, kindness, pride, respect, and a tremendous desire to help others.

Today’s Britain boasts a wonderful array of cultures. It is our multicultural identity that makes Britain so unique.

Our diverse cultures are inextricably linked by the sole fact that we are British. It is this fact that has prompted OBON to reinforce and revive what collectively unites us.

OBON aims to give a new impetus for the creation of a harmonised society, to make Britain an international model of moral rectitude.

How that is a narrative of national pride is beyond me I'm afraid. It is a message I have always taught my kids and grankids, and maybe spreading it in school could help dispel much of the racism we see. Perhaps, as the son of a Polish immigrant who was welcomed into Britain after the war and forever sang its praises, I am more in tune with the message of diversity and racial harmony than some. It is a pipe dream at the moment but everything has to start somewhere.

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: Howard Jones
Date: 25 Jun 21 - 09:24 AM

OBON was founded by a Sikh who came to this country at the age of 6 and whose parents were factory workers. He apparently wanted to celebrate what he calls "this brilliant country" and the opportunities it gave him. I think we can probably assume he is well aware of racism and imperialism.

The song is dire, but the intention is good. He has said "I think we need to celebrate that and create this spirit of oneness and togetherness, and showcase that we're all one people of this country regardless of where you're from." These are sentiments that those on the left usually agree with. The government's backing has probably done the organisation no favours.

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 25 Jun 21 - 09:48 AM

Thank you, Howard. All good points. I particularly like the last one :-)

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 25 Jun 21 - 11:58 AM

The kids' sentiments are fine- the problem is we aren't 'one nation'- the DUP might want to be, but I think Mark Drakeford and Nicola Sturgeon might have something to say about this wonderful alleged 'unity'.

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 25 Jun 21 - 12:31 PM

I don't think it's owt to do with Scottish, Welsh or Irish nationalism, Jim. To me it's all about accepting people into the community. Britain was probably a poor choice of label for the encompassing nation they describe but I doubt anyone under 11 understands that. Hey, many adults don't know the difference between England, Britain, the UK and the British Isles! Particularly across the pond ;-)

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: Howard Jones
Date: 25 Jun 21 - 01:26 PM

Whilst it may not be technically correct, in ordinary usage "Britain" usually stands for the UK as a whole. "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" is a bit of a mouthful.

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: GUEST,Modette
Date: 25 Jun 21 - 01:38 PM

Tell one of the Derry half of my family that she lives in Britain? Never, and don't be silly, Howard.

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: GUEST,JIM BAINBRIDGE
Date: 25 Jun 21 - 02:50 PM

sorry but Britain (the subject of the song) is not a nation- isn't it a 'union' according to you know who?   England is a nation, as are Wales and Scotland. Britain is an island & a geographic term & this is getting a bit political so I'm off now....

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 25 Jun 21 - 02:57 PM

As I said, Jim, how many kids under 11 know that?

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 25 Jun 21 - 03:44 PM

Well they'll NEVER learn the truth unless someone tells them

Subject: RE: The OBON song (One Britain One Nation)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 25 Jun 21 - 05:02 PM

That's true but politics usually comes at a higher age. And don't try to tell me that dividing up this small island into 3 separate nations is anything but politics! :-)