Sir William Blakes poem was written in 1804 and can be said to have protested environmental pollution and the oppression of working people. Very timely. In 1916 the poem was set to music. The rights to the song were owned for many years by the suffragette movement and it was sung at labour movement rallies. As the song became more famous, its interpretation did however move further and further from the beliefs and hopes of Blake, who was actually a revolutionary and lived most of his life in poverty and obscurity. Blake raged against repression and recognised the self-censoring mind-forged manacles that inhibit resistance and protest. In a stirring image of revolt, he called for mental and physical resistance to create a new Jerusalem (meaning a better world). No wonder Gough Whitlam wanted it sung at his memorial service!!
Posted on: Fri, 07 Nov 2014 22:15:53 +0000
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