Explaining the lyrics to 'Three Lions'
Ellie Featherston
The accompanying film clip to the 1996 song.
England has once again adopted the The Lighting Seeds' ‘Three Lions (Football’s Coming Home)' as the unofficial anthem for their World Cup campaign.
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The song was originally written and performed in 1996 by comedians Frank Skinner and David Baddiel, with accompanying music by Ian Broudie from The Lightning Seeds.
‘Three Lions’ has developed from the theme of the 1996 European Football Championships, into a cult song that is instantly associated with any of England’s success in football.
Anyone in the UK with ears or a computer has been exposed to the three words: “It’s coming home”, over the past month.
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Whether it has been through viewing the flurry of optimistic online memes and videos, or walking in the vicinity of any pub or club while the England games have been on, people have become unassuming participants in this latest internet craze.
With every one of England’s wins the chorus seems to be getting louder and louder.
One dreads to think what will happen if they actually do bring the trophy home this Sunday.
For anyone that has jumped on the bandwagon late, or are under the age of 22 (and haven’t got a clue what any of the song’s references mean), here is a layman's explanation of the lyrics.
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The hook originally referenced the 1996 European Championships being hosted by England, the original ‘home’ of football. It now refers to the World Cup trophy coming home to England. Although there are ancient examples of the game being played, FIFA support the idea that the first official game of soccer was played in England in the 19th Century.
English fans have endured a bounty of losses at major tournaments in recent times. Many have been heartbreaking near-misses, like the penalty shootout loses at the 1990, 1998 and 2006 World Cups.
The opening line of the catchy chorus references the three lions that reside on the National Football team's logo. Jules Rimet was the name for the original trophy handed to the FIFA World Cup champion between 1930 and 1970. At the time the song was released, it had been 30 years since England's sole World Cup victory in 1966 (it's now been 52yrs).
All iconic moments in English football history
Nobby Stiles' dance after their 1966 World Cup victory (video in film clip for song)
John Motson: calling the match winning goal by David Platt in England's round-of-sixteen game in the 1990 World Cup
David Coleman: one of the most memorable goal keeper saves- Gordon Banks saving Pelè's goal in the 1970 World Cup
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[spoken]
Alan Hansen: I think it's bad news for the English game
Trevor Brooking: We're not creative enough, and we're not positive enough
It's coming home
It's coming home
It's coming
Football's coming home
Jimmy Hill: We'll go on getting bad results, getting bad results, getting bad results, getting bad results
It's coming home
It's coming home
It's coming
Football's coming home
(x3)
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Everyone seems to know the score
They've seen it all before
They just know
They're so sure
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That England's gonna
Throw it away
Gonna blow it away
But I know they can play
'Cos I remember
Three lions on the shirt
Jules Rimet still gleaming
Thirty years of hurt
Never stopped me dreaming
So many jokes, so many sneers
But all those oh-so-nears
Wear you down
Through the years
But I still see that
Tackle by Moore
And when Lineker scored
Bobby belting the ball
And Nobby dancing
Three lions on a shirt
Jules Rimet still gleaming
Thirty years of hurt
Never stopped me dreaming
[spoken]
John Motson: England have done it in the last minute of extra time!
David Coleman: What a save! Gordon Banks!
Harry Carpenter: Good old England, England that couldn't play football
England have got it in the bag
I know that was then
But it could be again...
It's coming home
It's coming
Football's coming home
It's coming home
It's coming home
It's coming
Football's coming home
[spoken]
John Motson: England have done it
It's coming home
It's coming home
It's coming
Football's coming home
(x2)
(It's coming home)
Three lions on a shirt (It's coming home)
(It's coming)
Jules Rimet still gleaming (Football's coming home)
(It's coming home)
Thirty years of hurt (It's coming home)
(It's coming)
Never stopped me dreaming (Football's coming home)
(x3)