Chariots

[Bruce Appelbaum]

     I always thought it was about spontaneous human combustion
     
     (Harriet's on Fire)


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Chariots
Author:  LARSSON at VAX1.Mankato.MSUS.EDU at Internet
Date:    5/22/97 8:57 AM


     
John M wonders:
"When Don L. quotes Blake:
     
>       Bring me my Bow of burning gold; 
>       Bring me my Arrows of desire;
>       Bring me my Spear: O clouds unfold! 
>       Bring me my Chariot of fire.
>
Does the last line show the source of the title of that movie (with the insuffer
able theme
song) about the runners?  Or did they get it from the same place Blake did?  Is 
this a
biblical allusion?"
     
     
Yes, the title is from Blake, probably by way of the musical set-piece that 
(strangely, I've always thought) became a kind of British national
anthem, seemingly right behind "God Save the Queen/King" and often sung 
patriotically at Albert Hall and public functions.
     
I hope that our British correspondents will clarify the reason for this
song's incorporation within the Establishment, given the most Un-Establishment 
character of its poetic origin.
     
Don Larsson, Mankato State U (MN)