Smitten by Britain

One of the annual events in Vancouver that is a delight to attend, is The Last Night of the Proms, with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.  You bring your Union Jack and wave and sing and weep with love for glorious Britain. It's fantastic. The highlights include Jerusalem, God Save The Queen, and of course, Land of Hope and Glory.  Turn it up.

Dear Land of Hope, thy hope is crowned.
God make thee mightier yet!
On Sov'ran brows, beloved, renowned,
Once more thy crown is set.
Thine equal laws, by Freedom gained,
Have ruled thee well and long;
By Freedom gained, by Truth maintained,
Thine Empire shall be strong.

Land of Hope and Glory, Mother of the Free,
How shall we extol thee, who are born of thee?
Wider still and wider shall thy bounds be set;
God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet.

Thy fame is ancient as the days,
As Ocean large and wide:
A pride that dares, and heeds not praise,
A stern and silent pride:
Not that false joy that dreams content
With what our sires have won;
The blood a hero sire hath spent
Still nerves a hero son.