Beasts of England

"Beasts of England" is a fictional song in George Orwell's Animal Farm. With the events on Animal Farm mirroring those in the Soviet Union, the song is a parody of the communist song "The Internationale".

Three nights before his death, Old Major told his dream of an animal controlled society. In this dream, a song came to him, to which he knew the tune as a piglet. After a few minutes of singing, the pigs memorized the song and the other animals at least picked up the tune.

It was frequently sung, sometimes several times over, especially after meetings. However, as Napoleon grew more powerful, he ordered that the singing of "Beasts of England" be outlawed, and replaced the song with an anthem praising himself.

Comparison

Although structurally, the songs are different, the content of "Beasts of England" mirrors that of "The Internationale".

The first line, "Beasts of England, beasts of Ireland", shows the international nature of animalism, compare viz "The Internationale unites the human race". It speaks of a future utopia, free from human control, and a time of plenty. In "The Internationale" this is only briefly mentioned; "And give to all a happier lot", instead "The Internationale" is more militant. More similar are the talk of shackles and chains compare "Our own right hand the chains must shiver//Chains of hatred, greed and fear" in "The Internationale" with "Rings shall vanish from our noses//And the harness from our back//Bit and spur shall rust forever//Cruel whips no more shall crack" the chains in "The Internationale" are metaphorical, and those in the farm are real, but metaphorical because the whole book is a metaphor. The remaining comparison is "Tyrant Man" against "No faith have we in prince or peer".

Lyrics

Note: Lyrics are public domain, under 50-year death expiration. See copyrights.

Beasts of England, beasts of Ireland,

Beasts of every land and clime,

Hearken to my joyful tidings

Of the golden future time.

Soon or late the day is coming,

Tyrant Man shall be o'erthrown,

And the fruitful fields of England

Shall be trod by beasts alone.

Rings shall vanish from our noses,

And the harness from our back,

Bit and spur shall rust forever,

Cruel whips no more shall crack.

Riches more than mind can picture,

Wheat and barley, oats and hay,

Clover, beans, and mangel-wurzels

Shall be ours upon that day.

Bright will shine the fields of England,

Purer shall its waters be,

Sweeter yet shall blow its breezes

On the day that sets us free.

For that day we all must labour,

Though we die before it break;

Cows and horses, geese and turkeys,

All must toil for freedom's sake.

Beasts of England, beasts of Ireland,

Beasts of every land and clime,

Hearken well and spread my tidings

Of the golden future time.