{"id":450574,"date":"2019-06-05T14:44:53","date_gmt":"2019-06-05T18:44:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonfootball.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=450574"},"modified":"2021-03-17T19:12:05","modified_gmt":"2021-03-17T23:12:05","slug":"song-in-football-youll-never-walk-alone-came-be","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2019\/06\/05\/song-in-football-youll-never-walk-alone-came-be\/","title":{"rendered":"Song in Football: How You’ll Never Walk Alone and Others Came to Be"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the clock ticked down on a warm night in Madrid, and the referee put mouth to whistle, cries from the red side of the stadium arose. Liverpool <\/a>had won their sixth Champions League title.<\/p>\n

The Merseyside faithful joined together in song; You\u2019ll Never Walk Alone they bellowed. But just how did this song become the anthem of Anfield? And which other tunes have such an influence in football nowadays?<\/p>\n

Song in Football: How You’ll Never Walk Alone and Others Came to Be<\/h1>\n

You\u2019ll Never Walk Alone<\/h2>\n

Despite reaching its football fame via the Liverpudlian band Gerry and the Pacemakers, the song originally appeared in the 1945 musical, \u2018Carousel\u2019. It is sung to cheer up the protagonist, Julie, after her husband, Billy\u2019s unfortunate death. Billy returns in ghost form to sing it and motivate his unhappy daughter, Louise, at her graduation in the final scene. The song\u2019s ties with Liverpool, however, came 19 years later.<\/p>\n

Its most successful cover came in 1963, when Gerry and the Pacemakers released their version, becoming the UK number one for four consecutive weeks. After the success of the Liverpool-born Beatles, \u2018Merseybeat\u2019 was in full swing. The Pacemakers followed suit, and soon Anfield faithful began singing it before every match.<\/p>\n

It even subsequently featured on their club badge. Lead-singer Gerry Marsden was said to have presented the song to then-manager Bill Shankly in 1963 pre-season. Shankly told him \u2018Gerry my son, I have given you a football team and you have given us a song’. Shankly chose the song on his desert island disks ahead of the 1965 FA Cup final, cementing it in Liverpool folklore.<\/p>\n

More Recent Significance<\/h2>\n

YNWA garnered more interest following the Hillsborough<\/a> disaster in 1989. The lyrics were recited, and then sung in the memorial service for the victims of the disaster, and have since become a sign of solidarity.<\/p>\n

Other clubs across Europe have also picked up the song, with Celtic<\/a> singing it before their European ties. This is due to their meeting with Liverpool in the Cup-Winner\u2019s Cup semi-final in 1966. The song\u2019s influence has even stretched to the Netherlands, with FC Twente singing it at their home games. This is because George Sephton, the former stadium-speaker at Anfield, officially gave it to them at the last match at their Diekman stadium.<\/p>\n

Liverpool went on to meet Borussia\u00a0<\/a>Dortmund<\/a> in the final of the 1966 Cup-Winner\u2019s Cup, in none other than Glasgow. However, it was a growing relationship and numerous meetings with Celtic that caused the song\u2019s popularity in Germany. In 2016, supporters of Dortmund and Mainz sang the song commemorating a fan who died of cardiac arrest in the stands during the game.<\/p>\n

It was in their 2016 Europa League semi-final with the Reds that all four sides of the Westfalenstadion united in song. Finally, the two sides sang the tune together. It has since become arguably the most popular song in World football.<\/p>\n

Forever Blowing Bubbles<\/h2>\n

West Ham United<\/a> fans are treated to a bubble show along with their team\u2019s anthem, not an experience every football fan can boast about. The story behind this song is just as unique as its lyrics. The song originated in America in 1918, in the Broadway musical The Passing Show of 1918. <\/em><\/p>\n

Billy Murray, former Hammers player, who played for his local Park School, had an uncanny resemblance to a character in Millais\u2019 painting in a 19th<\/sup> century Peers Soap advert. So, whenever Murray and Park School played well, their headmaster would sing the song. He knew former West Ham manager Charlie\u00a0Paynter well and presumably sung it to him at Murray\u2019s trial with the club.<\/p>\n

Paynter took the song with him and now it has grown into much more. As such, the tune has a story very unique to West Ham and doesn\u2019t tend to feature at any other ground. Though, other sides have sung the song in celebration thanking the London side; Blackburn Rovers players sang it in the dressing room after the Hammers\u2019 help them to their 1995 Premier League<\/a> title.<\/p>\n

In 2006, Arsenal <\/a>fans had their own rendition when West Ham\u2019s victory over Tottenham Hotspur<\/a> secured their Champion\u2019s League place. The hope remains that West Ham will \u2018fly so high\u2019 like the bubbles in their tune.<\/p>\n

Three Lions on the Shirt<\/h2>\n

You couldn\u2019t talk about English football songs without mentioning the legendary Three Lions by Baddiel, Skinner and the Lightning Seeds. Written in 1996 to commemorate England<\/a> hosting the European Championship, it opens not optimistically, but pessimistically about the team\u2019s hopes.<\/p>\n

The opening features criticisms from pundits Alan Hansen, Jimmy Hill and Trevor Brooking. Still, the song expresses optimism for the future, \u2018Thirty years of hurt\/ never stopped me dreaming\u2019.<\/p>\n

The song references many iconic scenes from England\u2019s successes in previous World Cups; \u2018Nobby dancing\u2019 refers to Nobby Stiles\u2019 victory jig after winning the 1966 World Cup. \u2018Bobby belting the ball\u2019 evokes the memory of Charlton\u2019s long-range strike against Mexico en route to the 1966 final.<\/p>\n

Funnily enough, that particular line was excluded from the original version. Instead, \u2018Butcher ready for war\u2019, was meant to feature, as an ode to Terry Butcher’s combative performances. However, the FA requested this be removed, to prevent encouragement of hooliganism.<\/p>\n

The World Cup last year demonstrated this song\u2019s importance to English football culture. The refrain \u2018It\u2019s coming home\u2019 was heard on the streets of every city during the tournament. That very phrase became every England fan\u2019s mantra. It was even the UK number one following England\u2019s run to the semi-finals.<\/p>\n

It was the Britpop phenomenon and the Lightning Seeds (stars of the movement) that drove the song\u2019s success in 1996. But, now the song has become such a crucial part of football culture that it resurfaces every two years.<\/p>\n

These are just a few of the tunes that unite fans from all corners of the United Kingdom, and even beyond. Song has and always will remain a demonstration of solidarity that makes the game evermore beautiful.<\/p>\n

Main Photo
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>