Why do England fans sing ‘it’s coming home’, what does it mean, what are the lyrics?

ENGLAND fans are truly beginning to believe that football is coming home after their Euro 2024 semi-final win against Holland.

Those three words are constantly sung aloud every time the Three Lions close in on lifting a trophy – but what does it mean and where does the phrase come from? Here’s the lowdown…

The song is favourite of England supporters in stadiums around the worldPA: Press Association

What does ‘Football’s coming home’ mean?

Football’s coming home, or simply it’s coming home, refers to the chorus of iconic England song Three Lions by rock band The Lightning Seeds and comedians David Baddiel and Frank Skinner.

The legendary chorus originally referred to the fact that when the song was released, England was hosting its first major football tournament for thirty years.

However, since then the phrase has evolved to refer to football’s most famous trophy, The World Cup, returning to England, where football was invented.

As tentative hope steadily built for Gareth Southgate’s Young Lions, the phrase football’s coming home has also now become a very popular internet meme.

The song was originally released ahead of England’s 1996 Euro campaign but has recently made a comebackREUTERS

When was Three Lions released by Baddiel and Skinner and The Lightning Seeds?

In 1996 The Football Association commissioned The Lightning Seeds‘ Ian Broudie to write an England song for the upcoming Euro ’96 football tournament.

The singer agreed on the condition that comedians Frank Skinner and David Baddiel, who at the time presented the late-night television show Fantasy Football League, took part.

Three Lions went on to become a legendary football song and hit the No. 1 spot in the UK Singles Chart in May 1996.

Although the song returned to top the iTunes music chart, co-writer David Baddiel ruled out any plans to re-make the resurgent football anthem.

What’s the song about?

The anthem is now seen as representing England fans defiant sense of optimism against the painful reality of the Three Lions’s past failures at major tournaments.

However, as England edge ever closer to glory, the song is also sung to show fans believe that this side can, in fact, win the World Cup.

Although the anthem has been echoing around the country for weeks, some fans have been caught chanting the wrong words.

What are the lyrics?

It’s coming home
It’s coming home
It’s coming
Football’s coming home  (x3)

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 Linekar 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
(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

It’s coming home
It’s coming
Football’s coming home (x3)

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