The song that was first popularised in the mid-to-late nineties is now the anthem of choice for a new generation of England fans
'It's Coming Home' has becomea slogan and call to armsfor England fans.
The line was born over 20 years ago and has somehow managed to endurethe ravages of numerous failed campaigns to come forth once more and give hope to a new generation of English football supporters.
The song from which it is derived is called 'Three Lions', whichwas resurrected for World Cup 2018before reappearing at Euro 2020, and continues to besung with gusto by England fans across the world.
Goal takes a look at the terrace anthem, who wrote it and what it all means.
On this page
- When was'Three Lions' released?
- Who wrote 'Three Lions'?
- Who are the Lightning Seeds?
- What does 'It's Coming Home' mean?
- It's Coming Home Memes
- How many versions of 'Three Lions'are there?
- What do the 'Three Lions' lyrics mean?
When was'Three Lions' released?
The original 'Three Lions' single was released in May 1996 ahead of that summer's European Championship - Euro 96 -which was being held in England.
It went straight to number one on the UK Singles Chart and enjoyed two weeks at the summit during the course of the tournament.
The single was the lead track on the official Euro '96 album 'The Beautiful Game', which also featured songs from Jamiroquai, Massive Attack and Blur, as well as a remixed version of New Order's classic 'World In Motion', which was the official England song for the 1990 World Cup .
An updated version of the song - which was called 'Three Lions '98' was subsequently released in June 1998 in the run up to the 1998 World Cup.
Like its predecessor, the 1998 version was an instant hit, climbing to the top of the charts, where it remained for three weeks.
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Who wrote 'Three Lions'?
Three Lions was the product of a collaboration between comedy duo Frank Skinner andDavid Baddiel and Ian Broudie's band The Lightning Seeds .
Baddiel and Skinner, who werethe presenters of a television show 'Fantasy Football League' at the time, wrote the lyrics, with Broudie coming up with the melody andaccompanying music.
Following the song's release, Skinner explained its origins in an interview withthe BBC:"Somebody phoned us up and asked us 'how would you like to do the official England single for the European Championships?' And obviously we said yes. We got very excited... and bingo!"
All three collaborators still retain a sense of pride regarding 'Three Lions' and, during the 2018 World Cup, as it made yet another comebackin tandem with the exploits of Southgate's side, they revelled in the connection between their song, the players and the fans.
Ahead of the knockout stage of the tournament, Skinner revealed that, having previously grown weary of the playing of their song at England games, he was becoming more accepting of it at Russia 2018.
"I went quite a while thinking 'oh God, they're playing Three Lions'," he explained on his radio show at the time. "And this year - maybe it's age and the idea of impending doom -I've started to become quite emotional with it."
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Who are Baddiel & Skinner?
As mentioned, Baddiel and Skinner are the comedy double act who wrote the lyrics which have now become the soundtrack for a nation.
At the time of the song's initial release in 1996, they were the known for their role as hosts of BBC Two's Fantasy Football League, which was afootball-themed talk and sketch show that ran for three series from 1994 to 1996 before later being revived in the form ofspecials by ITV for the 1998 World Cup and 2004 European Championship.
The pair each began their careers as stand-up comedians and were separately prominent on a variety of British television shows before workingtogether on joint projects, such as the aforementioned Fantasy Football League. The ITV show 'Baddiel and Skinner Unplanned' was another popular collaboration, which ran for five seasons on ITV in the early 2000s.
In recent times they have pursued separate paths, but both remain in television and radio spheres. As well as writing a number of novels - including a children's novel - Baddiel continues to perform stand-up and produce TV shows, while Skinner presents his own radio show on Absolute Radio as well as the comedy show Room 101.
Though they are not working as closely on projects as before, theyare stillgoodfriends, with the 2018 Three Lions phenomenon - and the Euro 2020 revival which followed -reminding the British public of their earlier work together.
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Who are the Lightning Seeds?
The Lightning Seeds are a British rock band formed by Ian Broudie,popular in the United Kingdom throughout the 1990s.
The band has released six studio albums, but their undoubted success has been Three Lions, with the 1996 and 1998 versions being their only number one hits to date.
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What does 'It's Coming Home' mean?
Getty
The term 'It's Coming Home' or 'Football's Coming Home' is a reference to the idea that football glory is returning to the country where football is often said to have been 'invented'.
'Three Lions' and each of its subsequent versions are imbued with a defiant sense of optimismagainst thepainful litany ofEngland's past failings at major tournaments.
The song begins with the gradual crescendo of theline, 'It's coming home', which serves as a sort of mantra, as if toward off and drown out the criticalvoices of pundits decrying the deficiencies of the English team.
The idea of football "coming home" had gained popularity after England won the right to host the European Championship in 1996, with the tournament's tag line being 'Football Comes Home'. This wasa reference to the fact that the game we now know as association footballwas first codified in England.
In another sense, the line has since come to reflect a desire for a second World Cup triumph, with fans willing the team onto bring the trophy home for the first time since 1966.
Why Three Lions?
Thelyric 'three lions on a shirt', which inspired the name of the single, is a reference to the badge that features on England shirts.
The badge, which features three lions guardant passant (walking with head facing the viewer),is a version of the coat of arms of England.
It's Coming Home Memes
A curious outworking of the'It's Coming Home' craze that grippedEngland fans ahead of Russia 2018was the preponderance of memes and viral videos that appeared on social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook.
The opening refrain of the Three Lions song was paired with scenes from a host of famous films and television shows.
Memes and videos reappeared during Euro 2020.
The hashtag #ItsComingHomeon Twitter becamea treasure trove of mash-ups, with everything from The Shawshank Redemption and Shrek to The Simpsons and Only Fools and Horsesgetting the meme treatment.
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How many versions of 'Three Lions' are there?
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Three definitive versions of 'Three Lions' have been recorded over the years.
As well as the aforementioned1996 and updated 1998 version, a new song was recorded ahead of the 2010 World Cup, with Baddiel, Skinner and Broudie forming 'The Squad' with Robbie Williams and Russell Brand.
Interestingly, supporters of Germany - England's long-time rivals -have mockingly appropriated the song for themselves afterJurgen Klinsmann leda chorus of the song on Germany's homecoming following their Euro '96 triumph. One of the song's writers, Baddiel, has addressed the fact in the past.
"People ask how it makes me feel, to hear the Germans sing it," he wrote in the Guardian during the 2014 World Cup."Well, there’s a part of me, to be honest, that’s glad someone is still singing it on the terraces. England fans seem to have stopped."
He'll be even happier now that England fans appear to have reclaimed the era-defining stadium anthem.
The lyrics of the original and 1998 versionof the song can be read in full below.
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Three Lions (Football's Coming Home) Lyrics & Video
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.
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.
'Cause I remember three lions on a 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.
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.
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.
Three lions on a shirt!
Jules Rimet still gleaming,
Thirty years of hurt
Never stopped me dreaming.
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Three Lions '98Lyrics & Video
We still believe, we still believe,
We still believe, we still believe
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.
Tears for heroes dressed in grey,
No plans for final day,
Stay in bed, drift away.
It could have been all songs in the street,
It was nearly complete,
It was nearly so sweet
And now I'm singing three lions on a shirt!
Jules Rimet still gleaming,
No more years of hurt,
No more need for dreaming.
Talk about football coming home
And then one night in Rome
We were strong, we had grown.
Now I see Ince ready for war,
Gazza good as before,
Shearer certain to score
And Psycho screaming.
Three lions on a shirt!
Jules Rimet still gleaming,
No more years of hurt,
No more need for dreaming.
We can dance Nobby's dance,
We can dance it in France...
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.
(Overlapping)
Three lions on a shirt!
Jules Rimet still gleaming,
No more years of hurt,
No more need for dreaming.
Three lions on a shirt!
Jules Rimet still gleaming,
No more years of hurt,
No more need for dreaming.
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What do the 'Three Lions' lyrics mean?
Both songs are littered with references to England's past glories and failures, with certain moments highlighted as a reminder of the team's capabilities and rebuttal to those critics who suggest that England are not good enough to win the World Cup.
"Wethought, OK, let's write a song not like all the other 'we're going to win'songs that had tracked England's failure to win the World Cup for many years," Baddiel said in an interview with BBC Radio 2 .
"Let's write a song about the real experience of being a fan of the England football team' - which is, we're probably not going to win, or at least lots of people are saying we're not and we're not very good. But somewhere within us there is a kind of irrational, magical hope that we might anyway.
"And that's the real condition, it felt to us, of being an England fan and that's what we tried to embody in the lyrics. I think that spirit of defiance against against experience of punching through 'we know we can play' - that spoke to England fans. We didn't know it spoke to England fans when we wrote it, but it did."
Below is a selection of the lyrics from both songs, with an explanation.
Three Lions (Football's Coming Home)
- Jules Rimet Still Gleaming - A reference to the old World Cup trophy, which was presented to the England team whowonthe 1966 tournament.
- But I still see that tackle by Moore - Referring to a decisive intervention made by England captain Bobby Moore on Brazil's Jairzinho at the 1970 World Cup.
- And when Lineker scored - Gary Lineker's equalising goal against West Germany in the semi-final of the 1990 World Cup.
- Bobby belting the ball - Bobby Charlton's powerfully struck long-range goal against Mexico en route to 1966 World Cup glory.
- And Nobby dancing - The memorable victory dance performed by Nobby Stiles while holding the Jules Rimet trophy in 1966.
Three Lions '98
- Tears for heroes dressed in grey - England wore a grey strip in their Euro '96 semi-final against Germany, which they lost on penalties.
- No plans for final day - The final was contested by Germany and the Czech Republic, with the Germans winning.
- And then one night in Rome - England had lost at home to Italy in the qualification phase of the 1998 World Cup, but secured a 0-0 draw in the away game, which ensured they qualified as group winners.
- Now I see Ince ready for war - Paul Ince had forged a reputation as a tough-tackling midfielder,famously finishinga game with a bandage and blood-stained shirt.
- Gazza good as before - Paul Gascoigne - a veteran of the 1990 disappointment - was 30, but figured prominently in qualifying. However, he was actually cut from Glenn Hoddle's final tournament squad.
- Shearer certain to score - Alan Shearer scored five goals in qualifying and was the undisputed best striker in the Premier League, securing the Golden Boot for three consecutive seasons.
- And Psycho screaming - Stuart Pearce was known as 'Psycho' for his exuberant and combative playing style. He was approaching the end of his playing days and, like Gascoigne, did not make the final squad.
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FAQs
What is the meaning of The Three Lions on the England? ›
What Do the 3 Lions on the England Badge Stand For? The three lions represent the three main realms that were ruled by the Plantagenets in the late 12th century – a royal house in France that held the English throne from 1154 to 1485.
Why does England say football's coming home? ›This actually originally referred to the fact that when the song came out, England was hosting its first major tournament since the 1966 World Cup, but now it is a reference of hope to England winning and bringing home the trophy.
Why are there 3 lions and 10 roses? ›Since then, the three lions have been a feature of every royal Coat of Arms. When the FA was formed, they wanted to come up with a crest that reflected the nation and its heritage. They opted for the lions and ten red roses, which are believed to be a nod to the War of the Roses between Lancashire and Yorkshire.
Why are there three lions on the England shirt? ›Royal Arms of England
When he married his second wife, Adeliza of Louvain, in 1121, he added a second lion in honour of her father, who also had a lion on his shield. Two lions then became three in 1154 when his grandson, Henry II, married Eleanor of Aquitaine in 1152; her family crest was also a lion.
It traditionally symbolises courage, nobility, royalty, strength, stateliness and valour, because historically the lion has been regarded as the "king of beasts".
Why does England have a lion and a unicorn? ›The lion stands for England and the unicorn for Scotland. The combination therefore dates back to the 1603 accession of James I of England who was already James VI of Scotland.
Why did Britain stop saying soccer? ›Most British people stopped saying "soccer" because of its American connotations, however, UK broadcaster Sky Sports still used it to brand wildly-popular TV shows "Soccer Saturday" and "Soccer A.M." So, no, it's not wrong to call it "soccer" if you're American.
Which country invented football? ›What is the origin of football? Modern football originated in Britain in the 19th century. Though “folk football” had been played since medieval times with varying rules, the game began to be standardized when it was taken up as a winter game at public schools.
Why do English football fans sing When the saints go marching in? ›Liverpool fans used it as a football chant to honour their player Ian St John in the 1960s, a song that was also adopted by other clubs. Southampton Football Club, for example, use it as a football chant due to the fact that their nickname is The Saints, other football clubs use different variations of the song.
What does the lion symbolize *? ›Its most common traits are: majesty, strength, courage, justice, and military might. It can be both solar and lunar. Commonly reffered to as "the KING of the beasts," it is a symbol of Kingly power and might, but as the lioness it is commonly related to the Great Mother and protection.
What was the biggest lion pride? ›
The Mapogo lion coalition was a band of male South African lions that controlled the Sabi Sand region in Kruger National Park. The coalition became infamous for their sheer power and strength in taking over and dominating an area of approximately 70,000 ha (170,000 acres).
What is the symbol of The Three Lions? ›'The Three Lions' comes from the England team's iconic crest that features three lions. The crest serves as the official emblem of the English Football Association, founded in 1863. It has been the team's official badge since their first match in 1872 played against Scotland.
How many times has 3 Lions been number 1? ›In doing so, it became the first song in history to have four separate stints at number one in the UK.
Why does England have 3 lions when there are no lions in England? ›Henry I had a lion on his standard in 1100 before he combined this with his wife's father's shield which also included a lion. In 1154, a third lion would be added to the standard as Henry II married a woman who also had a lion on her family crest.
Why does England not have a star on their jersey? ›Even some national sides have stars on their shirt, with England having one, Germany having four and Brazil a staggering five. Football Associations in their respective countries abide mostly by different rules, with the Premier League not adopting a system to allow clubs to wear stars on their shirt.
What country does the lion represent in the Bible? ›The Lion of Judah (Hebrew: אריה יהודה, Aryeh Yehudah) is a Jewish national and cultural symbol, traditionally regarded as the symbol of the tribe of Judah.
What do lion statues mean in front of a house? ›In China, lions act as guardians, defending homes against accidents and theft. For Buddhists, lion statues are said to bring peace and prosperity. In Italy, they symbolize power and prestige, while in Quebec, homeowners place one or two lions in front of the house once they have paid off their mortgage.
What does a lion with a crown mean? ›What Does A Lion With A Crown Symbolize? A lion tattoo with a crown on top is one of the most popular tattoo combinations ever. Where a lion represents courage and bravery, the crown represents leadership, power and dominance.
Why do they put unicorns on coat of arms? ›The unicorn is the national animal of Scotland
Legend has it that only a king could overpower and command a unicorn. If you look closely at royal coats of arms, you will see that the unicorn wears chains around its body and a crown around its neck, which means it has been brought under the command of the monarch.
Description. The Lion and the Unicorn are forever fighting over the crown of the White King, which, given that the Unicorn is on the White side as well, makes his part of the rivalry all the more absurd.
Do unicorns exist? ›
No one has proven the existence of a unicorns. Scientists would say that unicorns are not real and that they are part of mythology. "Cultures all around the world do have stories of unicorns from China, to India, to Africa, the Middle East and now the United States," Adam Gidwitz says.
What do Americans call rugby? ›In America, other sports began to emerge, one of which adopted the name football (from rugby football) and was the more popular sport in the country.
Why do British people like soccer so much? ›It is popular thanks to the simplicity of the game. The fact you don't need much more than a ball to play means it is as popular amongst school children as it is amongst office workers. It is also a great way to know people, both on and off the pitch due to the obligatory after-game drink in the pub!
Why do Americans call it soccer? ›The word 'soccer' actually comes from Britain
“Rugger” (rugby football) was the name for rugby football and “Assoccer” (association football) was later shortened to “soccer,” according to History.
Sheffield F.C. in England, is the world's oldest surviving independent open football club: that is, the oldest club not associated with an institution such as a school, hospital or university; and which was open to all to play. It was founded in 1857. Sheffield F.C.
Who is the football king in the world? ›Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé, was the undisputed king of the beautiful game and the only player to have won three World Cups, in 1958, 1962 and 1970.
Do England football players get paid to play? ›England players enjoy both a standard match fee as well as a competition winning bonus system that triggers new payments depending on how deep in the tournament they go. The FA paid £2,500 for every match a player started at the 2014 World Cup, with the rest of the unused squad pocketing £1,500.
Why do football players kneel before a game in England? ›It has since been adopted by sports players in countries around the world, including association football in the United Kingdom, in solidarity with Kaepernick's protest against racism, and has been seen worldwide in non-sporting contexts such as the Black Lives Matter protests.
What do Saints fans yell? ›Recently, the phrase "who dat?" has become a chant of team support. It is most widely used by fans of the New Orleans Saints, an American football team. The entire chant is: "Who dat? Who dat?
Which football club has best anthem? ›Liverpool FC (You'll Never Walk Alone)
Liverpool's You'll Never Walk Alone is the best football hymn of all time. Originally a Gerry and the Pacemakers song, it was adopted by the supporters when it was blasted at Anfield one lovely day in the 1940s.
Why are England playing in front of children? ›
The crowd, made up of children and their guardians, caused controversy as they booed England players when they took the knee. The country's FA took advantage of a loophole in UEFA regulations, which allowed 30,000 children in to watch the match for free accompanied by 3,000 adults.
Did England invent football? ›Football's modern origins began in England more than 100 years ago, in 1863. Rugby football and association football, once the same thing, went their separate ways and the Football Association, the first official governing body for the sport, was established.
What does football mean in British English? ›One of the best-known differences between British and American English is the fact that the sport known as football in Great Britain is usually called soccer in the United States.
Why can you not say mine in football? ›Football's laws dictate that players are not allowed to shout anything that “verbally distracts an opponent during play or at a restart” and leads to an advantage being gained. Shouting “Mine!” or “Leave it!” isn't explicitly against the rules, but it is all down to the context.
Why do footballers have kids in front of them? ›There are various reasons why players walk in with children. These include promoting children rights campaigns, bringing the element of innocence to the game, fulfilling children dreams or making profit of it, and reminding players that children are looking up to them.
Why do soccer players have kids in front of them? ›The "Saying Yes For Children" campaign gave kids a prime role on the World Cup stage by accompanying each player onto the field. Symbolically, the children on the field were "reminding football enthusiasts that they have a major role to play in building a world fit for children," the 2002 release stated.
Can a foreigner play for England? ›Players born in countries other than England may qualify for the England team through English parents or grandparents, or through residency in England and subsequent naturalisation as British citizens.
Who are the oldest football club in the world? ›Sheffield F.C. in England, is the world's oldest surviving independent open football club: that is, the oldest club not associated with an institution such as a school, hospital or university; and which was open to all to play. It was founded in 1857. Sheffield F.C.
Who is the best football player in the world? ›1. Lionel Messi (PSG)
What does Pee Wee mean in football? ›Pee wee footballs fit the hands of children ages 6 to 9. These small footballs allow children to grip the ball correctly and enjoy the success of learning to throw it accurately. This ball size also doesn't overload the child's arm with excess weight that could cause injury.
What do British people call a soccer ball? ›
A football (also known as football ball, soccer ball, or association football ball specifically in the United Kingdom) is the ball used in the sport of association football. The name of the ball varies according to whether the sport is called "football", "soccer", or "association football".
Which is older soccer or football? ›The first known examples of a team game involving a ball, which was made out of a rock, occurred in old Mesoamerican cultures for over 3,000 years ago. It was by the Aztecs called Tchatali. American football was invented in the late 1800s with the first game in 1869, making Soccer much older.
What if an NFL player has to pee during a game? ›But there are no rules against bathroom breaks in Roger Goodell's NFL. And so it is that players celebrating too much after a touchdown can often expect a hefty fine, while coaches and players are free to do the pee-pee dance on the AstroTurf.
What is the weirdest rule in football? ›They can't leapfrog during the game.
This rule is definitely a weird one, but it's in place with player safety in mind.
Under the section “Additional Instructions for Referees and Assistant Referees”, the Laws of the Game clearly state that “removing one's shirt after scoring is unnecessary and players should avoid such excessive displays of joy.” It is considered bad behaviour and bad sportsmanship.