I HAD occasion to look up the words of the Slovenian national anthem the other day.
You see, I’d drawn Slovenia in the office World Cup sweepstake and was trying to find out more about my adopted nation.
The words turn out to be admirable if bland platitudes about peace and brotherhood among countries.
I couldn’t help wondering whether a national anthem shouldn’t do more to set out that country’s stall for people who were learning about it. Shouldn’t we be told about Slovenia’s mountains, or lakes, or whatever its best selling points might be?
Our own national anthem could do the same. Yes, the Queen is an important part of our tourist industry, but couldn’t we take the opportunity to attract visitors to Britain?
I need a bit of help finding some rhymes and a tune, but how’s this for a first draft?
“Britain, parts of it are really pretty.
And the people are friendly enough once you get to know them.
You should get up to Edinburgh if you get the chance And the Lake District too.
When in London, be sure to ride the giant wheel by the Thames.
Madame Tussauds is really popular.
But I haven’t been for years because it’s quite expensive.”
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