Queen Victoria
The UK’s history is as bright and colourful as any nation’s and a huge part of it involves the British Empire.
Between 1815 – 1914, the Empire covered an amazing 14 million square miles and included an estimated 450 million people worldwide. Of course, for a large part of this time, Queen Victoria was head of the throne and it is one of the most fascinating periods of the country’s history.
If ever a song summed up both Queen Victoria and the Empire, then this little ditty by The Kinks is it. The quintessential ‘English’ band, we here at English Matters advise you check out this song (and some of their others).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2GHlcwlT1Y
LYRICS:
Long ago life was clean
Sex was bad and obscene
And the rich were so mean
Stately homes for the Lords
Croquet lawns, village greens
Victoria was my queen
Victoria, Victoria, Victoria, ‚toria
I was born, lucky me
In a land that I love
Though I am poor, I am free
When I grow I shall fight
For this land I shall die
Let her sun never set
Victoria, Victoria, Victoria, ‚toria
Victoria, Victoria, Victoria, toria
Land of hope and gloria
Land of my Victoria
Land of hope and gloria
Land of my Victoria
Victoria, ‚toria
Victoria, Victoria, Victoria, ‚toria
Canada to India
Australia to Cornwall
Singapore to Hong Kong
From the West to the East
From the rich to the poor
Victoria loved them all
Victoria, Victoria, Victoria, ‚toria
Victoria, Victoria, Victoria