And Did Those Feet In Ancient Times – Inspirational Hymns

“And did those feet in ancient time” is a short poem by William Blake from the preface to his epic Milton: a Poem (1804). Today it is best known as the hymn “Jerusalem”, with music written by C. Hubert H. Parry in 1916. This poem was written about the Industrial Revolution that took place duing the early 19th century.
The first verse asks did Christ visit Britain. This may be metaphorical or literal. There is an old English legend that Christ came to Britain as a boy.
The poet questions christianity in Britain (2nd verse) and illustrates the point by using the adjective ‘satanic’ when describing the industrial mills. (In the North of Britain at this time many people; men, women and children, worked in the cotton industry.) This clearly gives the impression that the poet thinks the mills are evil places.
In the final two verses he poet summons up his faith and reveals he will not rest until there is justice in society.
This is a beautifully written poem and is sometimes used as a national anthem.

Duration : 0:2:48


25 Responses to “And Did Those Feet In Ancient Times – Inspirational Hymns”

  1. bozzque, on November 27th, 2008 at 5:57 am Said:

    very beautiful hymn …
    very beautiful hymn. i am from slovakia but like england and its music very much

  2. MARKBPHARM, on November 27th, 2008 at 5:57 am Said:

    I was taught at …
    I was taught at school that this Hymn was referring to an ancient story that Jesus visited England with Joseph of Arimathea – the latter having interests in Cornish tin mines. It is a very stirring peice of music and so utterly Anglican

  3. walkswithpresence, on November 27th, 2008 at 5:57 am Said:

    rivers of time lie …
    rivers of time lie silent
    wake not for the bell
    sleep,sleep till rivers end
    though time and space excell
    and angels seen or demons known
    verge not on men sublime
    wait,wait till trumpets sound
    thus given heavens sign

  4. kpadmirer, on November 27th, 2008 at 5:57 am Said:

    That was excellent, …
    That was excellent, the pictures went so well with the music.

  5. ghodium, on November 27th, 2008 at 5:57 am Said:

    is it true that the …
    is it true that the boy jesus flew ryanair to england?

  6. OverExposedNotes, on November 27th, 2008 at 5:57 am Said:

    Brings back great …
    Brings back great memories of singing this in the choir at weddings and on special Sunday mornings. Great stuff.

  7. midlandsmusiclover, on November 27th, 2008 at 5:57 am Said:

    This is the anthem …
    This is the anthem that stirs the hearts of people who love this country. If you don’t love this country, don’t listen. This makes Rule Brittannia and God Save the Queen/King pale into insignificance. The words of this anthem is what England AND Great Britian has been all about since time immemorial.

  8. joetoorivers, on November 27th, 2008 at 5:57 am Said:

    Oh thats a good one
    Oh thats a good one

  9. bnprenaissance, on November 27th, 2008 at 5:57 am Said:

    That was old Labour …
    That was old Labour NOT NU LABOUR..or ZANU LABOUR

  10. davidmayne, on November 27th, 2008 at 5:57 am Said:

    Best fantasy theme, …
    Best fantasy theme, I prefer Star Wars or even Lord of the Rings. This is a bit of a dirge.

  11. cwnyddraig, on November 27th, 2008 at 5:57 am Said:

    lardmonk: I think …
    lardmonk: I think not, but you have missed my point! (your turn, let’s see how long we can keep this going!)

  12. lardmonk, on November 27th, 2008 at 5:57 am Said:

    i think you missed …
    i think you missed the point

  13. clsteele, on November 27th, 2008 at 5:57 am Said:

    labour didnt lead …
    labour didnt lead us into ww1 the liberals did :)

  14. raynarks, on November 27th, 2008 at 5:57 am Said:

    The NHS, pensions, …
    The NHS, pensions, welfare, votes for women & the working class, were all described by Thomas Paine, in the late 1700s; the first party to draw up & present plans for the NHS were the liberals, but labour implemented it, claiming it for them selves. The labour party is a criminal organisation.

  15. cwnyddraig, on November 27th, 2008 at 5:57 am Said:

    BenAliGtor: On the …
    BenAliGtor: On the contrary it is not at all silly that Jesus walked on England’s pastures green, as it was only very short trek from his home in Wales…

  16. mensskintightlowrise, on November 27th, 2008 at 5:57 am Said:

    One of the greatest …
    One of the greatest hymns ever to grace this Earth.

  17. mensskintightlowrise, on November 27th, 2008 at 5:57 am Said:

    Lauren4077th same …
    Lauren4077th same here, and not a bad performance either.

  18. pembo18, on November 27th, 2008 at 5:57 am Said:

    Verve, maaate, …
    Verve, maaate, Verve =)

  19. BenAliGtor, on November 27th, 2008 at 5:57 am Said:

    The idea that Jesus …
    The idea that Jesus, before His public ministry, went backpacking around & about England is pretty silly. And those “satanic mills” helped to establish Britian as a world power.

    Still, I love this hymn. Very beautiful- and quintessentially English.

  20. cracklydubplate, on November 27th, 2008 at 5:57 am Said:

    inspirational hymn, …
    inspirational hymn, no joke.

    think about what this truly means :
    i will not cease from mental fight
    nor shall my sword sleep in my hand
    till we have built Jerusalem
    in England’s green and pleasant land

    reminds me of one of my favorite quotes :

    He truly knows his own insufficiencies and never in his whole life thinks that he has succeeded. He has no thoughts of pride but with self-abasement knows the Way to the end.

  21. Lauren4077th, on November 27th, 2008 at 5:57 am Said:

    This is a very …
    This is a very beautiful hymn. It’s not sung over here America, though, for obvious reasons. I was actually introduced to it through Monty Python. :-)

  22. foxyoxy1, on November 27th, 2008 at 5:57 am Said:

    This made me VERY …
    This made me VERY homesick for England, I did not realise how much I miss the green and pleasant land.

  23. SwineyMuswell, on November 27th, 2008 at 5:57 am Said:

    Well, probably not, …
    Well, probably not, given that the “those feet” in question belonged to Jesus…

  24. acceitunas, on November 27th, 2008 at 5:57 am Said:

    I so love this,my …
    I so love this,my favorite.

  25. oceanmaid, on November 27th, 2008 at 5:57 am Said:

    “Jerusalem” with …
    “Jerusalem” with pipe organ!?!? I have goosebumps, and tears in my eyes. I miss England. 5/5 and favourited

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