Sunderland AFC football chants: Lyrics of Sunderland Till I Die, From the Banks of the River Wear and more

The Stadium of Light is renowned for its incredible atmosphere, and much of that comes from the passionate support of Sunderland AFC fans.

From simple calls of encouragement to songs rooted in Wearside identity and the fierce Tyne-Wear derby rivalry, Sunderland supporters have built a songbook that perfectly captures the character of the club and its fans.

FootballGroundGuide looks at the lyrics to some of the most iconic Black Cats football chants, including Sunderland Till I Die, Haway the Lads, From the Banks of the River Wear and more.

Sunderland Till I Die

One of the most recognisable chants in English football, Sunderland Till I Die is a simple declaration of unwavering loyalty to the Black Cats.

Variations of the chant exist at clubs across England, but Sunderland supporters have made it their own, with the song becoming particularly prominent during the club's journey back through the divisions.

“Sunderland till I die,
I'm Sunderland till I die,
I know I am,
I'm sure I am,
I'm Sunderland till I die…”

Haway the Lads

If there is one phrase that captures the identity of Sunderland supporters, it is Haway the Lads.

“Haway” is the Wearside equivalent of “come on”, and the chant is regularly heard around the Stadium of Light as supporters urge the Black Cats forward.

“Haaaaaway the lads,
Haway the lads,
Haway the lads haway,
Haway the lads,
Haway the lads,
Haway the lads haway!”

The distinction is particularly important in the North East, with Sunderland's “haway” differing from the “howay” used by nearby Newcastle supporters.

From the Banks of the River Wear

From the Banks of the River Wear is one of Sunderland's most traditional anthems, combining pride in the city with a rallying cry for the football club.

The River Wear has played a huge role in Sunderland's history and identity, and its inclusion makes this one of the chants that most strongly represents the club's Wearside roots.

“From the banks of the river Wear,
To the shores of sicilly,
We're gonna fight, fight, fight for Sunderland,
To win the football league,
To hell with Man United,
To hell with Liverpool,
We're gonna fight, fight, fight for Sunderland,
To win the football league…”

It is a song that can be heard before kick-off and whenever the Stadium of Light needs a lift, with supporters joining together to back the Black Cats.

If You Hate Newcastle

The Tyne-Wear derby is one of English football's fiercest local rivalries, and Sunderland supporters have plenty of songs aimed at their neighbours from Tyneside.

If You Hate Newcastle is among the simplest and most recognisable, with the entire Stadium of Light often joining in during derby fixtures.

“If you hate Newcastle clap yer hands,
If you hate Newcastle clap yer hands,
If you hate Newcastle,
If you hate Newcastle,
If you hate Newcastle clap yer hands.

Singing aye aye yippi, yippi aye,
Singing aye aye yippi, yippi aye,
Singing aye aye yippi,
Aye aye yippi,
Aye aye yippi, yippi aye…”

The chant captures the intensity of a rivalry between two clubs separated by only a few miles, with the contrasting Wearside and Tyneside identities adding another layer to the occasion.

Enzo Le Fee chant

Sunderland's more modern songbook includes a chant dedicated to Enzo Le Fee, who joined the Black Cats in January 2025.

The chant follows a familiar template that has been adapted by supporters of several English clubs, with Sunderland's version celebrating the French midfielder's creativity and technical ability.

“We've got Le Fee, Enzo Le Fee,
I just don't think you understand,
He's super Regis' man, he's better than Zidane,
We've got super Enzo Le Fee”

The chant was first heard at the Stadium of Light during Sunderland's match against Plymouth Argyle on January 25, 2025.

Similar versions have previously been used for players including former West Ham star Dimitri Payet and Aston Villa captain John McGinn, but Le Fee's version has quickly become part of Sunderland's modern matchday songbook.