I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above,
Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love;
The love that asks no question, the love that stands the test,
That lays upon the altar the dearest and the best;
The love that never falters, the love that pays the price,
The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.
I heard my country calling, away across the sea,
Across the waste of waters she calls and calls to me.
Her sword is girded at her side, her helmet on her head,
And round her feet are lying the dying and the dead.
I hear the noise of battle, the thunder of her guns,
I haste to thee my mother, a son among thy sons.
And there’s another country, I’ve heard of long ago,
Most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know;
We may not count her armies, we may not see her King;
Her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering;
And soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase,
And her ways are ways of gentleness, and all her paths are peace.
Source: Wikipedia (of course).
peter-porcupine says
bluefolkie says
As Mark Twain said, “Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.” I’m personally not a big fan of the no-questions policy implied in the words. But otherwise, I have no problem with the sentiments, as Edwardian as they are in expression. Apparently, however, the Bishop of Hulme in 2004 called for the first verse of the hymn to be removed from Anglican services, citing its promotion of nationalism and militarism above religion. I don’t know what happened to that call, although it released a minor Anglican @#*%storm.
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I will say I find it odd that the hymn appears to be quite popular at weddings-I must be missing something.
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The point of my post was to note the excellent fit of the background music with the image Ogonowski is trying to sell in his commercial, and to wonder whether it was a subtle appeal to the more devout 5th District voters. If it raised a religious association in my mind, I suspect it did in the minds of others.
centralmassdad says
Maybe he just wants to Bring some Jollity to the House. Not am unreasonable sentiment for a Republican running for Congress in Massachusetts in these times.