By The history of football is rich and multifaceted. You might have heard about football chants, which are a form of music or tune to support their favourite team during football matches.
There is an interesting football history related to chants, which is considered as traditional storytelling and folk songs. According to one of the most famous folk singers, Martin Carthy, football chants are “the one surviving embodiment of an organic living folk tradition”. These chants are considered a folk tradition where a group vocalise their identity and at the same time they are showing rivalry against another group.
Common Types of Chants
Here is a wide variety of chants used:
1. Anthems
The best-known example of football chants we can use is “You’ll Never Walk Alone” sung by Liverpool fans. These songs are commonly sung by fans to express themselves, to support their team, and to show “LOVE” and “RESPECT”.
Other notable anthems like “Blue Moon” (Manchester City), “Cant del Barca” (Barcelona).
2. Engagement with the team
These chants are usually for the expression of pride or loyalty in the club or team.
Example: clap, clap, clap 3 times, clap 4 times and then the name of the team.
These chants may give encouragement to the team and boost their confidence at their best.
3. Expression of hatred
These football chants are used to target the opponent team, for example, “Stand up if you hate (name of the opponent team).
Sometimes the chants are aimed directly at individual players to show them anger and hatred. For example, “Who ate all the pies?” may be used against a player who is a bit fat, or racist chants are also vocalised at black players.
Best Football Chants in the world
1. Manchester City – Blue Moon
It is the anthem of the most successful English club. “Blue Moon” is in Manchester City‘s culture. A popular song that was written in 1934 by Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers. And widely used as one of the football chants in the history of this sport.
The lyrics are:
Blue moon,
You saw me standing alone
Without a dream in my heart
Without a love of my own.
Blue moon
You knew just what I was there for
You heard me saying a prayer for
Someone I really could care for.
And then there suddenly appeared before me
The only one my arms will hold
I heard somebody whisper please adore me.
And when I looked, the moon had turned to gold.
2. Liverpool and Arsenal – Allez, Allez, Allez
Liverpool first popularised these football chants and was also supported by Reds fans.
Arsenal had made their own version of the song. A tune with chanting with a loud drum and say “Allez, Allez, Allez” has become an instant classic in football.
Lyrics:
We’ve conquered all of Europe,
We’re never going to stop,
From Paris down to Turkey,
We’ve won the f***ing lot
Bob Paisley and Bill Shankly,
The fields of Anfield road,
We are loyal supporters,
And we come from Liverpool.
Allez, Allez, Allez
Allez, Allez, Allez
Allez, Allez, Allez
Allez, Allez, Allez
3. I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles – West Ham United
West Ham United adopted this anthem, “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles”, in the 1930s. It is one of the longest anthems or football chants in British football history. If this anthem is sung on a cold night at the London Stadium under the lights, there is something magical about this sound that will actually give you “GOOSEBUMPS” while witnessing this in the stadium.
Lyrics:
I’m forever blowing bubbles,
Pretty bubbles in the air.
They fly so high,
Nearly reaching the sky,
Then, like in my dreams,
They fade and die.
Fortune’s always hiding,
I’ve looked everywhere,
I’m forever blowing bubbles,
Pretty bubbles in the air.
