A hymn confirms that the FA Cup final is a matter of life and death
Authors: Richards, B.
Publisher: The Conversation UK
Place of Publication: https://theconversation.com/a-hymn-confirms-that-the-fa-cup-final-is-a-matter-of-life-and-death-26359#comment_378627
Abstract:Why has the singing of a Victorian hymn about death been a part of the pre-match ritual at the FA Cup Final for nearly 90 years? This thinkpiece suggests that its appeal, when sung by or to a mass audience, lies in its power to express the fact of human community. Its words speak of God and faith as the mitigators of death, but its performance on a secular stage points to the role of social membership in 'drawing death's sting'.
Source: Manual
Preferred by: Barry Richards