Mark Stewart And The Maffia On U Sound Records 1982

St Georges Day in England, Germany, Portugal, Greece, Bulgaria, Georgia, Palestine, Ethiopia, Serbia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Portugal, Malta and Montenegro. 'Jerusalem', the politicians of New Labour and the Conservatives have both laid claim to Blake's anthem. In the process there has been an attempt to create some kind of definition of "England" as a nation. The sort of nationalistic distillation which added weight to the manipulations which brought so many working class kids to the trenches of World War One. Mark Stewart perhaps has more claim to Blake's legacy. It's clear from his texts and the images he uses that he's had visions of "England" that are both beautiful and horrific. The fact that the track is dubbed up to speaker shaking status also provides a kick in the teeth to people who like things nice and tidy, who hark back to the Empire, the stiff upper lip, nicely clipped lawns and the ordered tyranny against everyone not male and upper class that is "our" proud heritage. The track itself continues the theme of a disregard for copyright kicked off by The Pop Group, phasing an un-credited choral version of the song in and out of the mix. Surprisingly, this version has never been aired at the Last Night of the Proms. John Eden George, a Captain in the Roman Army, tore up in defiance an edict of Emperor Diocletian ordering the persecution of Christians. He battled the devil, symbolized by the dragon, and saved the Holy Church, symbolized by the king’s daughter shown in a number of icons. He rides a white horse that indicates God’s grace carrying him to the heroism of martyrdom. Constantine the Great built a great church over his tomb in Lyda of Palestine. The name George means ‘Tiller of the Earth.’ St. George was born in Cappadocia, an ancient Roman Empire province located in modern east central Turkey. St. George’s father was most probably a Syrian who was martyred for his Christian faith. On the death of his Palestinian mother, St. George inherited the large family estate in Palestine. At the age of twenty George became a professional soldier in the Emperor Diocletian’s Army. The young man’s noble birth, loyalty, and unusual intellect brought St. George to the notice of the Emperor. In time St. George became a trusted member of the royal court and was promoted to the level of tribune in the army. He might have become a leading officer had not Diocletian (245 – 313 AD) started a persecution of the Christian community. St. George refused to conduct war on his Christian brothers and would not honour the imperial edicts which outlawed the faith. Instead he quit his exalted positions, left his distinguished military career, and gave a way his massive estates to the poor. When the imperial edicts were officially posted in the eastern capitol of Nicomedia, St. George tore them down and demanded that the Emperor rescind his unjust persecution. For his defence of the true faith, St. George was horrifically tortured and then condemned to death. He was killed on April 23, 303 AD. The tale of St. George and the dragon is more symbolic than historical. The legend that he saved a Libyan princess by killing a dragon arose in the 12th century. ”George and the Dragon” may have arisen from the myth of Perseus who slew a sea monster near the site of George’s supposed martyrdom. The Perseus myth has origins in traditional sixth century North African folktales, the dragon, traditionally, was a symbol of evil passions and paganism. According to the folk tales a fierce dragon (crocodile perhaps?) lived in a marshy lair outside of Selena, Libya. The great beast ravaged the countryside and could only be placated by regular sacrifices. Every day the villagers were forced to offer the dragon two sheep. When the animals no longer satisfied the monster, a human sacrifice was offered. The land’s fairest young maidens were selected by means of a lottery. One day the King’s own daughter was chosen to sate the beast’s hunger. St. George, so the folk tale goes, happened across the princess as she prepared for death. On hearing the maiden’s story, St. George made the Sign of the Cross and went to do battle with the monster. Several powerful blows of George’s broad sword rendered the beast helpless. St. George then led the dragon in chains to the heart of the village. The townspeople marvelled at the saint’s faith and the power of his God. All of the community accepted baptism and converted to the true faith. The grateful King promised half of his lands to the saviour of the town, but St. George declined the offer of earthly rewards. Instead he told the monarch to do honour to the true Saviour by safekeeping God’s churches, honouring the clergy, and having pity on the poor.

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