I usually pride myself in being able to select an appropriate song for certain events but alas, for the death of Queen Elisabeth, I can only copy the most popular rock song that is being played on BBC radio 2.

It feels strange realising that the Elizabethan era of 70 years is at an end. Tonight for the first time in St Paul’s Cathedral the version of the British National Anthem, which has not been heard in my lifetime, rang out: “God save our gracious king ..” It is incredible to think that for the rest of my life I will never again hear God save the Queen. Likewise, it is highly likely that my new great nephew, who was born yesterday, the day the Queen died, (the circle of life right there) is also highly unlikely to ever hear in his lifetime “God save the Queen” because we know the next three monarchs will be kings as Prince William’s oldest child (George) is a male.

Like all things in this very broken and divided world, even the death of a woman who tirelessly served the UK up until 48 hours before her death still draws harsh criticism from some hardline republican quarters. To one particular comment about the Queen costing the writer money through her taxes I wrote the following:

Just to add a comment to stimulate thought, it is still possible to critique the concept of a monarchy without conflating that with the person of Elizabeth herself. A lot of the Queen’s so called wealth, really belongs to the state. Did she enjoy wealthy surroundings? Yes of course. Was her life anymore materially opulent than the many very wealthy multi-millionaires that inhabit this planet? I doubt it.

So here’s the critical question. If we are not complete egalitarians, and we also assume that those who contribute most to our society should receive a higher reward, can it not be argued that her contribution of over 70 years of unceasing service makes her a rightful candidate for generous financial compensation?

But someone will counter what did she contribute? The simple answer is herself. She gave relationally all her life to people and made them feel something positive in her presence. And she did this for more people than probably anyone else alive.

But surely that’s not much is it? She never started a business, was a top surgeon, scientist or politician? Yet haven’t we just left out actors, comedians, writers and musicians? Does Paul McCartney deserve his wealth? Many would say yes because of his giant contribution to rock music. But what is the utility of his work? The answer is simply it brings joy into people’s ordinary lives just as the Queen’s countless hours of meeting people from all walks of life brought joy and meaning into theirs.

I am not a strong royalist but by any measure the overall balance sheet of what the Queen gave to Britain and the world through her service far exceeds what she took from it. Most people cannot honestly say that about their own lives which therefore makes Elizabeth, the person, an exceptional woman and worthy of a nation’s grief.

RIP Queen Elizabeth II. Thanks for your 70 years of service. I am confident Jesus will welcome you with those blessed words: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:23)

Also from the Beatles

Therefore there is now only 2 full week’s left until the 21^st of June so we are into the final 14 songs. So I could not possibly finish Covid Island Discs without another song from Karen Carpenter. She truly had such an incredibly beautiful voice and whenever I hear one of her songs I always feel a little melancholic because of her own tragic battle with anorexia nervosa which sadly she lost many years ago now.

When all the stars are falling down
Into the sea and on the ground
And angry voices carry on the wind
A beam of light will fill your head
And you’ll remember what’s been said
By all the good men this world’s ever known

The illusion that is created throughout the song is a constant musical descent which matches the emotional content of the song about a man who is suffer from a feeling of “pensive sadness”: melancholy. The illusion of constant musical descent reminds me very much of the Supertramp classic Crime of the Century (Covid Island Discs Day 229) which also creates the illusion of the music constantly descending from high to low notes.

I guess my learning experience from my wedding day is just how fast 21 years goes; seemingly in the blink of an eyelid. Anyway, thank you my dear Helen for looking after me and putting up with my shenanigans for 21 years. It has been an interesting, sometimes fun, sometimes sad and sometimes scary journey with you as we have both experienced the things God has ordained for us during our married years.

I think I’m so educated
And I’m so civilized
‘Cause I’m a strict vegetarian
And with the over population
And inflation and starvation
And the crazy politicians
I don’t feel safe in this world no more
I don’t want to die in a nuclear war
I want to sail away to a distant shore
And make like an apeman

Well we’ve made it to week 52 of Covid Island discs and coming up to the anniversary of when the UK first went into lockdown. I have decided that the songs of the final seven days of Covid Island Discs will consist of the same bands as the first week of Covid Island Discs working back in reverse order from day 7 to day 1. So on Day 7 of Covid Island Discs which was on the 27^th of March 2020 the song cited was Blow Away by George Harrison. This was cited as part of childhood memory I had in relation to convalescing in a UK hospital after being hit by a car (covered in Covid Island Discs Day 6). However, probably George’s most famous song was “My Sweet Lord”. I particularly like the acoustic and lead guitars in the song. I guess the Hare Krishan chant also finds its musicality in this Harrison classic.