A Song of Patriotic Prejudice
1964 song by Flanders and Swann / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"A Song of Patriotic Prejudice" (also known as "The English")[1] is a 1963 comedy song by the musical duo Flanders and Swann. It was a staple of their live tour of England in late 1963 and subsequent international tour, and later released on the album At the Drop of Another Hat.[2] The song is a satire of contemporary attitudes towards foreigners in the wake of losing the empire, with consequent uncertainty as to the position of the country on the new world. It is virulent against the other nations within the United Kingdom, referencing the common stereotype of the Welsh (as bad singers), the Scottish (as mean) and the Irish (as always trying to blow up the English). It then moves on to other nations, including the Italians and the Greeks (as garlic eaters). Scholars have debated the degree to which the song is a serious critique, but it has found continued currency into the 21st century as a symbol of English nationalism, particularly in the aftermath of Brexit and other social phenomena.
"A Song of Patriotic Prejudice" | |
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Song by Flanders and Swann | |
from the album At the Drop of Another Hat | |
Released | 1964 |
Recorded | 2 October 1963 |
Venue | Haymarket Theatre |
Genre | |
Length | 2:51 |
Label | Parlophone |
Songwriter(s) | Michael Flanders * Donald Swann |
Producer(s) | George Martin |
Audio sample | |