One Of Those Songs That You Sing Now And Then

Song: Save All Your Trophies For Me

Song: Save All Your Trophies For Me

Thirty three years ago we faced Derby County in another cup semi-final but back then it was the Rams who were the League Champions. Tommy Docherty’s entertaining United side had sprung out of the old second division all guns blazing and were in with a real shout of doing the Double but with Derby the opposition at Hillsborough a first FA Cup final in thirteen years was far from a formality. Their manager Dave Mackay was certainly talking up his sides chances at every opportunity so it was quite apt that United’s songsmiths…Read more …
Song: Down By The Riverside

Song: Down By The Riverside

An all time favourite song in my opinion even though it‘s relatively new when compared to some United classics. When did we first sing it? Not surprisingly it was at ‘The Riverside’ - then Middlesbrough’s spanking new ground in May 1996. One the train up that day and in the Ayresome Park pub outside the station a number of us had been singing this about our prospects that day, and once in the ground about 2pm, at the back of the stand, I started getting the red hordes to join in: We’ll win…Read more …
Song: Eric The King

Song: Eric The King

Some people would argue this is my finest work. [Is there much competition? Ed] Before every home game in the ‘Bishops’ I always lead several renditions of the full song and would probably get ‘kenny lynched’ for not doing so. Didn’t we sing it for the original King? Indeed we did. Once Eric was crowned successor to Denis Law I thought the song was totally appropriate to adapt. The big difference between Eric and Denis was the addition of verses to the regular chorus. Also when Eric the King first appeared ‘French footballer’…Read more …
Song: We Are The Pride Of All Europe

Song: We Are The Pride Of All Europe

What better way to start the New Year than by looking at one of United’s classic songs. There are a few variations but the most common version is the following:We are just one of those teams that you see now and then We often score six but we seldom score tenWe beat ‘em at home and we beat ‘em awayWe kill any bastards that get in our wayWe are the pride of all Europe, the cock of the northWe hate the scousers, the cockneys of course (AND LEEDS!)We are United without any doubtWe…Read more …
Song: Those Were The Days

Song: Those Were The Days

This is a fantastic song that older Reds recall so warmly.  The tune has a real anthem feel to it is no surprise it was so popular. What are the words? Those were the days my friend, We thought they’d never end,We'd sing and dance, forever and a dayWe'd live the life we choose,We'd fight and never lose'Cos we’re the Stret, we are the Stretford End We are the Stretford End,We are the Stretford End,We are the Stret,We are the Stretford End...What’s the original song? Although most people remember it being the debut single by…Read more …
Song: Chelsea FC, they had a reputation

Song: Chelsea FC, they had a reputation

This rarely heard song is a throwback as it was once a real old hoolie anthem. It can most often be heard nowadays in some back street bar on a Euro away, as sung by some of the regular faces such as legendary songster Howard. It was requested by RI reader Rick Baxter who enjoys this particular feature in the mag. Chelsea FC, they had a reputationFor smashing up the stations in the Southern regionActing upon reliable informationWe sent a delegation from the Stretford EndOne Armed Babs, he tried to take us aloneBut…Read more …
Song: With Doctor Martens On Our Feet…

Song: With Doctor Martens On Our Feet…

For years I held back from putting this belter on one of my tapes because the song was only really known by a few and I thought it should be kept that way. But that was a bit selfish so I asked the well known, long-standing Red and fellow songster JT if he would mind it going on a forthcoming CD. He first taught me the tune on a Euro away and seemed to wait until I was suitably pissed before singing it again, knowing full well that I would never recall it…Read more …
Song: The United Calypso

Song: The United Calypso

The United Calypso One of the oldest United songs and significantly different from every other song I’ve covered so far. It is the first song that was actually written as a tribute by an observer/artist about United rather than the usual way whereby well known songs are adapted by terrace songsters. Although I’d usually rather we didn’t adopt official club songs as terrace anthems like Leeds did with Marching On Together, Norwich with On The Ball, City and Arsenal with Good Old Arsenal (which was written by that well known Gooner Jimmy Hill!),…Read more …