The tune has been borrowed by forty other countries at some point. Liechtenstein still uses the exact same melody, as does Norway for their royal anthem. It’s basically the musical equivalent of a standard shipping container.
It also appears in unexpected places. The Beatles used it in "All You Need Is Love" during the iconic opening notes. The Sex Pistols famously sped it up into a punk sneer in "God Save the Queen." That was pure rebellion set to a school anthem.
Ever noticed how the anthem closes every BBC broadcast? Since the 1930s, the national anthem has been a nightly sign-off signal. If you’re up late and hear it, you know the telly is done for the night.
