‘It's coming home' – the three words that consume the country every time another major international tournament rolls around for England. It has become synonymous with the team, and likely always will be.
But what exactly are the lyrics? Who wrote the song? And finally, what does it mean to England fans?
Who wrote the Three Lions song?
Contents
There isn't just one answer to this question, but rather, the Three Lions song was created and written by three different people, each bringing something unique to the famous tune.
Frank Skinner and David Baddiel
The first two of which are English comedian duo Frank Skinner and David Baddiel. The pair have featured heavily on our televisions over the years and have an excellent rapport both on and off the screen.
They were vital in the creation of the song.
Ian Broudie
However, despite their brilliance, they are not musicians, and a such, needed professional guidance to ensure the song worked. The man they turned to was Ian Broudie, lead singer of popular band of the time, the Lightning Seeds.
What are the lyrics to Three Lions?
Whereas the vast majority of football chants, in fact almost all of them, choose to focus on optimism and triumph, the Three Lions tune instead places focus on the many heartbreaks that have followed the country's 1966 World Cup triumph.
There are multiple versions of the song, but the original lyrics are as follows:
It's coming home,
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.
Everyone seems to know the score,
They've seen it all before,
They just know, they're so sure
That England's gonna throw it away, gonna blow it away
But I know they can play.
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.
I know that was then, but it could be again..
It's coming home,
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.
It's coming home,
It's coming home, it's coming,
Football's coming home.
Three lions on a shirt!
Jules Rimet still gleaming,
Thirty years of hurt
Never stopped me dreaming.
Three lions on a shirt!
Jules Rimet still gleaming,
Thirty years of hurt
Never stopped me dreaming.
Why was ‘It's coming home' written?
Don’t sing it. Don’t sing it. Don’t sing… IT’S COMING HOME! 🏴
The England fans couldn't help themselves! Is it coming home?! 🏆#FIFAWorldCup #TSWorldCup pic.twitter.com/mrWP8AY0q9
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) November 21, 2022
The song was released ahead of England's 1986 Euro campaign in an attempt to galvanise the entire nation and help the country believe it could be successful in a major tournament once more.
As alluded to, there are several references to England's only triumph, the 1966 World Cup, and uses both that success and the endless conveyor belt of proceeding heartbreaks to inspire both the players and the fans.
Many versions have been released since the original tune, such as an edition paying homage to the Women's team that won the Euros in 2022, as well as a Christmas special for the Qatar World Cup. In each rendition, the meaning and underlying themes remain the same – positioning England as the underdogs who dream of success.
Pay attention to the lyrics, because we'll all be singing ‘It's coming home' in England's opening match at Euro 2024 against Serbia, on June 16.