Words by Hugh Charles
Music by Ross Parker & Harry Par-Davies, 1939
There’ll always be an England was published in 1939, immediately prior to the outbreak of World War II with which it remains identified. It was rejected by countless sheet music publishers, but the two Englishmen persisted and it was finally accepted by the Gordon V. Thompson music-publishing company in Toronto.
There’ll always be an England,
While there’s a country lane,
Wherever there’s a cottage small
Beside a field of grain.
There’ll always be an England,
While there’s a busy street,
Wherever there’s a turning wheel
A million marching feet.
Red, white and blue,
What does it mean to you?
Surely you’re proud
Shout it aloud.
Britons awake!
The Empire too,
We can depend on you,
Freedom remains
These are the chains
Nothing can break.
There’ll always be an England,
And England shall be free,
If England means as much to you
As England means to me.