The echoes of “It’s Coming Home” are already reverberating as Euro 2024 approaches, stirring a familiar cocktail of hope and history for England fans. More than just a song, “Three Lions” has become the unofficial anthem of English football, inextricably linked to major tournaments and the rollercoaster of emotions they bring. But what are the origins of this iconic chant, and why does it continue to resonate with generations of supporters, especially as England sets its sights on Euro 2024 glory?
To understand the phenomenon of “It’s Coming Home,” we need to rewind to Euro 96, hosted in England. While Simply Red’s “We’re In This Together” was the official song, it lacked the spark to ignite fan passion. The Football Association, recognizing this, tasked Rick Blaskey with creating a more resonant anthem. Blaskey, drawing on his experience with previous sporting events, sought a feel-good song that would capture the nation’s imagination, something akin to a footballing “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” but original and contemporary. A Saatchi & Saatchi document promoting the tournament provided the crucial ingredient: three simple words, “Football Comes Home.” This became the core theme for the fan anthem Blaskey envisioned.
The musical talent behind “Goal of the Month” on Match of the Day, Ian Broudie of The Lightning Seeds, was approached. Initially hesitant, Broudie was convinced when he heard that comedians Frank Skinner and David Baddiel would pen the lyrics. Blaskey’s brief was straightforward: create a song around “Football Comes Home.” Broudie crafted the music, complete with its unforgettable double chorus, while Skinner and Baddiel provided the words. The result was far more impactful than a simple tournament song; it became a cultural touchstone in English football history.
Decades later, “Three Lions” remains inescapable during major tournaments. From stadium stands to pubs and social media, the chant erupts, uniting fans young and old. Even those born long after Euro 96 have embraced it, as evidenced by its enthusiastic rendition in Dortmund after England’s dramatic semi-final victory in a hypothetical Euro 2024 scenario. The shortened phrase, “It’s Coming Home,” has transcended the song itself, becoming a ubiquitous meme and hashtag, a modern-day motto for English football fandom. It’s a shared phrase, a shibboleth that binds supporters together in collective hope and expectation.
England fans during the 2018 World Cup in Russia
England fans’ fervent support during the 2018 World Cup in Russia, showcasing the passion behind “It’s Coming Home.”
However, the very ubiquity of “It’s Coming Home” can be grating to those outside the England fanbase. The constant repetition and fervent belief can be perceived as overbearing, much like Christopher Hitchens’ critique of Christmas’s “inescapable” propaganda. The sentiment doesn’t always translate well beyond English borders, often misinterpreted as arrogance rather than earnest hope or even irony.
This perception of arrogance was highlighted when Croatia defeated England in the 2018 World Cup semi-final. Croatian defender Vedran Corluka’s pointed retort, “It’s not coming home,” and Luka Modric’s assertion that English arrogance fueled their victory, underscored how the phrase can be received internationally. Similarly, Kasper Schmeichel’s witty response to the “It’s Coming Home” question before Denmark’s Euro 2020 semi-final against England, “Has it ever been home?”, and Leonardo Bonucci’s triumphant cry of “It’s coming to Rome” after Italy’s Euro 2020 final win, further illustrate the complex relationship other nations have with England’s footballing mantra.
Yet, to interpret “It’s Coming Home” solely as a boastful prediction of victory is to miss its nuanced meaning. The songwriters themselves never intended it as an arrogant claim. David Baddiel explained that the song captures the reality of supporting England: a blend of perennial disappointment and unwavering, almost irrational, hope. It acknowledges England’s history of underachievement while clinging to the “magical thinking” that, against the odds, victory is possible. It’s a song born from vulnerability, not triumphalism, a “vulnerable patriotism,” as Baddiel described it.
Rick Blaskey reinforces this interpretation, stating that “Football Comes Home” was never meant to be a guarantee of winning. Instead, it symbolized the return of a major tournament to England after 30 years, a chance for shared national experience centered around football. Even when England fell short in Euro 96, the collective singing of “Three Lions” at Wembley signified a homecoming of sorts – football, in its communal essence, had returned to its spiritual home.
England fans are used to crushing disappointment
The bittersweet reality for England fans: familiar with both hope and crushing disappointment on the football pitch.
In the modern era, while the Premier League has become a global phenomenon, the England national team still holds a unique place in the nation’s heart. Just as in Euro 96, there’s a yearning for a shared, unifying experience that transcends club rivalries. “It’s Coming Home” embodies this promise, echoing from the packed stands of Wembley in 1996 and Euro 2020, and poised to resonate once more at Euro 2024. The song represents a hope for national unity and collective joy, ignited by moments of brilliance like Ollie Watkins’ hypothetical goal in a Euro 2024 semi-final. As Euro 2024 approaches, “It’s Coming Home” is more than just a song; it’s a symbol of England’s enduring footballing dream, a blend of hope, history, and the ever-present possibility that, this time, football might just come home.
