With the pending release of a third version of this all time soccer classic, we thought we’d dive into its history. What exactly is it? Why is it so loved around the globe? What on earth is the third version going to be about?
What is Three Lions (Footballs Coming Home)? Three Lions (Footballs Coming Home) is the official name of the globally loved football anthem. You will probably know it by the main refrain “it’s coming home, it’s coming, Football’s coming home”. Written and recorded by comedian duo Frank Skinner and David Badiel in collaboration with Ian Broadie of the Lightning Seeds. The anthem originally served as the unofficial soundtrack to England’s Euro ‘96 Campaign that ended in an agonizing, and poetic, Semi-Final penalties defeat to Germany.
Initially created as a song for the England National team it has taken on a life of its own, with supporters around the globe claiming it’s chorus for themselves. What originally referred to a certain – the tournament is being played in the home of football England – and a hopeful – England may well bring the trophy home! – has become a song sung mostly in anticipation of major tournament victory, no matter what your nationality.
When was Three Lions (Football’s Coming Home) released?
Released on 20 May 1996, Three Lions (Football’s Coming Home) would soon gain major traction both in England during the 1996 European Championships and around the globe as a rousing chorus of footballing passion.
The music was written by pop group, the Lightning Seeds, singer Ian Broudie with David Baddiel and Frank Skinner, at the time presenters of the comedy football based show “Fantasy Football League” providing the lyrics that seem to be so personal to an English Football fan. The vocals came from all 3 men, with Badiel and Skinner taking the lion share of the verses.
The song was named for the England national team’s nickname, The Three Lions, so called because of the emblem worn on their kit since 1872.
(side note, the 3 lions actually have names, Rollo, Mayne and Aquitaine – each having a specific historical meaning)
Both the original version of “Three Lions” and the updated “Three Lions ’98” peaked at number one in the UK Singles Chart.
Was Three Lions (Football’s Coming Home) the official song of Euro ‘96?
The song Three Lions (Football’s Coming Home) was commissioned by the FA from Lightning Seeds singer Ian Brodie. It was not the official tournament song, but instead supposed to be the official song of the England National Team. Similar to the successful Italia ‘90 song World in Motion by New Order. However this time Brodie declined the offer to get the players themselves into the studio, opting instead for famous and beloved football fans Skinner and Baddiel. This proved to be a brilliant move, as the detachment from the millionaire players and close association with the fans, not only gave the song its lyrical heart, but also an air of authenticity that was soon accepted in stadiums around the country. It is still sung in football stadiums around the world almost 3 decades later.
The official UEFA sanction song of Euro 1996: England was “We’re in this together” by Simply Red. It is not sung on football terraces around the world 3 decades later.
What is 3 Lions ‘98?
Three Lions ‘98 is the emotional follow up to 1996’s Three Lions (Football’s Coming Home). After the ‘96 team played better and came closer (Gazzas studs anyone?) to winning a major tournament, the updated lyrics packed a hard emotional punch to those desperate to believe England could finally do it. Should Hoddle have taken the good as before Gazza? Definitely.
Once again written and performed by Skinner, Badiel and Broadie, 3 Lions 98 was released on the 8th June 1998. The music video was directed by Pedro Romhanyi and features some all time England vs Germany Football Banter.
Have England really not won a major football tournament since 1966?
This is incorrect. Despite the men’s team coming up slightly short in both 2018 and and 2021, the women’s team were triumphant in Euro 2022 bringing home the trophy and ending 56 years of hurt.
Is there a new version of Three Lions (Football’s Coming Home)?
Frank Skinner recently announced that a third version of Three Lions (Football’s Coming Home) is going to be released ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The new song was again written by Frank and Ian Broudie from the Lightning Seeds and is expected to feature David Badiel.
ICYMI @FrankOnTheRadio was joined by Ian Broudie to announce a brand new version of Three Lions is on the way for the #WorldCup 🏴🦁 Catch up on the podcast 📱😎 pic.twitter.com/fciSXKJKsb
— Absolute Radio (@absoluteradio) October 1, 2022
Expect that notorious refrain, some updated lyrics and some EPIC sound inserts from commentary from both the Lionesses triumph and the Lion’s heroic recent defeats.
Is the new Three Lions (Football’s Coming Home) about Women’s football?
As soon as the Lionesses lifted the trophy for winning the European Championships, England’s first major trophy for 56 years, with Football’s Coming home echoing round a packed Wembley, questions were already asked of Frank Skinner, David Badiel and Ian Broadie. Would their be a follow up? Would it pay tribute to the Lionesses? Answers were not forthcoming, but in the months that have followed as the men’s world cup in Qatar approaches, it has been revealed that yes, there would be a follow up and yes it would pay tribute to the Lionesses success. But no, the new song will not be solely about Women’s football.
What are the lyrics to the new Footballs Coming Home 2022?
So far the only lyrics revealed for the new 2022 version of Three Lions (Football’s Coming Home) are what co writer and singer Frank Skinner has let slip on the radio. The opening lyric is “Loving that Lionesses win”. This refers to the monumental effort of England breaking their 56 year wait for a major trophy when the England Women’s team won Euro 2022 at Wembley this summer. With the wait for a title since the men’s win of 1966 being such an integral part of the original songs, it is only fitting that Frank, David and Ian honor the drought being broken by the Lionesses.
He went on to say that the song would also deal with the failure, as well as the success. Most likely referring to the men’s team’s recent heartbreaking losses in the Semi Final of the 2018 World Cup and in the Final of Euro 2020(21). We’ll be sure to update the lyrics when we can.
The video for the upcoming song was filmed on Thursday 6th October 2022.
What are the lyrics to Three Lions (Football’s Coming Home)?
Intro
It’s coming home, It’s coming home, It’s coming, Football’s coming home
(we’ll go getting bad results)
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
Verse 1
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
Chorus
Three Lions on a shirt
Jules Rimet still gleaming
Thirty years of hurt
Never stopped me dreaming
Verse 2
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 Linekar scored
Bobby belting the ball
And Nobby Dancing
Chorus
Three Lions on a shirt
Jules Rimet still gleaming
Thirty years of hurt
Never stopped me dreaming
Bridge
(What a save, Gordon Banks!
(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
Climax
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 (England has done it)
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 (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)
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)
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)
Three Lions on a shirt
What are the lyrics to 3 Lions ‘98?
Intro
We still believe
We still believe
We still believe
It’s coming home
It’s coming home
It’s coming
Football’s coming home
Verse 1
Tears for heroes dressed in gray
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
Chorus
Three lions on a shirt
Jules Rimet still gleaming
No more years of hurt
No more need for dreaming
Verse 2
Talk about football coming home
And then one night in Rome
We were strong
We had grown
And now I see
Ince ready for war
Gazza good as before
Shearer certain to score
And Psycho screaming
Chorus
Three lions on a shirt
Jules Rimet still gleaming
No more years of hurt
No more need for dreaming
Climax
We can dance Nobby’s dance
We could dance it in France
It’s coming home
It’s coming home
Football’s coming home…
What is Three Lions 2010?
Three Lions 2010 is a dumpster fire. Much like Bruno, we don’t talk about it.
Will England Win the 2022 World Cup?
Yes. The England men’s team will win the 2022 Qatar World Cup, making it two major trophies in 1 year for the nation. It is likely that the women will also win the upcoming world cup in 2023. Signifying that football really has finally come home.