The Ambrosian Singers are one of the best-known London choral groups, parti… Read Full Bio ↴The Ambrosian Singers are one of the best-known London choral groups, particularly appreciated for its great variety of recorded repertory.

They were founded after World War II in England. One of their co-founders was Denis Stevens (1922-2004), a British musicologist and viola player who joined the BBC Music Department in 1949 and developed programs of Renaissance and early Baroque music. The other was John McCarthy (1919-2009), a professional tenor soloist.

They organized and created the Ambrosian Singers as a small professional chorus in 1951. Ambrosian Singers has participated in numerous Christmas albums, appeared in albums with such pop and rock artists as Neil Diamond, Grace Jones, Julie Andrews, etc.

They have participated in various film soundtrack scores such as Brainstorm, Krull, Chariots of Fire, and The Secret of NIMH, and in some albums of Italian films: Film Scores of Ennio Morricone and Nino Rota (conducted by Henry Mancini, collections of Miklos Rozsa scores, and original scores from MGM Classic Musicals. They did the intro vocals for the song "Inside" by Stiltskin in 1994.

Jerusalem
The Ambrosian Singers Lyrics

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And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountains green?
And was the holy lamb of god
On England's pleasant pastures seen?
And did the countenance divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among those dark satanic mills?

Bring me my bow of burning gold
Bring me my arrows of desire
Bring me my spear, o clouds unfold
Bring me my chariots of fire
I will not cease from mental fight
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand

Till we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Ambrosian Singers' song, "Jerusalem," speak to the possibility that Jesus Christ may have visited England. The lyrics begin by posing the question of whether Christ's feet walked upon England's green mountains in ancient times and whether the holy lamb of God was seen on England's pleasant pastures. The next verse continues in a similar vein, asking if God's countenance shone forth on England's "clouded hills" and if Jerusalem was built in England among the "dark satanic mills."

The song then transitions into a call for action. The singer asks for their bow of burning gold, arrows of desire, spear, and chariots of fire, indicating that they are ready to engage in battle. They declare that they will not cease the "mental fight" until they have built Jerusalem in England's green and pleasant land. The song is a call to action and a declaration of the singer's willingness to fight for their beliefs and values.

Overall, the lyrics to "Jerusalem" are a powerful and stirring call to action that speaks to the idea of creating a better world. Whether or not one believes in the possibility of Christ's visitation to England, the song's message of fighting for what one believes in and striving to create a better world is one that still resonates today.

JerusalemThe Ambrosian Singers Lyrics

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Jerusalem
The Ambrosian Singers Lyrics