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"Beasts of England" is a song in George Orwell's novel Animal Farm. With the events on Animal Farm mirroring those in the Soviet Union, the song is a parody of the famous communist anthem "The Internationale".
In the book, Old Major explained his dream of an animal-controlled society three nights before his death. 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. This mirrors the history of The Internationale in the Soviet Union: it was the country's national anthem until Stalin replaced it with the Hymn of the Soviet Union in 1944.
Comparison between Beasts of England and The Internationale
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 is 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" in "Beasts of England". Chains in "The Internationale" are metaphorical, and those in "Beasts of England" are real. The final similarity is between "Tyrant Man" and "No faith have we in prince or peer".
Lyrics
To be sung to a tune "between 'Clementine' and 'La Cucaracha'".
Note: Lyrics are contended to be fair use under United States copyright laws. In some countries, the text is public domain.
- 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.
Another version has been written for the Animal Farm film (called Beasts of the World), which resembles the style of "the Internationale" more closely:
- Beasts of the World we shall unite
- Rise up and ready for the fight
- soon or late the day will be
- when man's defeated and we are free
- (...)
- I smell the victory
- Our limbs be tired and worn
- Our dreams shall not be broken
- And our hearts shall not be torn
- (The rest of the song was never fully explained)
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