Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Soccer History of You'll Never Walk Alone

I've seen the Liverpool and Celtic supporters sing "You'll Never Walk Alone" countless times, but I never knew the history behind it or even the words to the song. This post tells a little history of the tune along with some video evidence.

The BBC story behind Liverpool and the song You'll Never Walk Alone

Facts from Songfacts:
-- The Rogers & Hammerstein song was originally written for the 1945 musical Carousel.

--Frank Sinatra was the first artist to take this song into the charts (#9 on the Billboard charts in 1945).

--In the original musical Carousel, the song was sung to inspire a pregnant female character after the death of her husband.

--The Pink Floyd song Fearless ends by fading into a recording of Liverpool Football Club fans singing this song.

--In 1985 a version by The Crowd returned the song to #1. Gerry Marsden of Gerry and the Pacemakers was again the lead vocalist. Zack Starkey, Ringo Starr's son, was on drums, making him and Ringo the first father and son to both have UK #1s.

Liverpool or Celtic: Who Walked Alone First? (Link)

Origins as a Football Anthem:
In the 1960's the DJ at Liverpool's Anfield would play the top ten albums in order, with the number one album of the time being You'll Never Walk Alone playing last, right before game time. The fans took to singing it even after the album dropped from the top ten and the "anthem" has stuck ever since. Celtic, Hibernian, Feyenoord, and FC Twente have also adopted the song.

Lyrics:
When you walk through a storm hold your head up high,
And don't be afraid of the dark.
At the end of a storm is a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of a lark.

Walk on through the wind,
Walk on through the rain,
Tho' your dreams be tossed and blown.
Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone,
You'll never walk alone!



Gerry and the Pacemakers Version


Liverpool Supporters


Celtic and Liverpool Supporters



List of Artists Who've Recorded YNWA:
Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Mario Lanza, Roy Hamilton, Louis Armstrong, Claramae Turner, Perry Como, Adicts, Nina Simone, Malcolm Vaughan, Shirley Bassey, Doris Day, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Ray Charles, Patti Labelle, The Righteous Brothers, Elvis Presley, Tom Jones, Johnny Maestro, Aretha Franklin, Lee Towers, Frankie Vaughan, Olivia Newton-John, Kiri te Kanawa, Smoking Popes, Bryn Terfel, The Three Tenors, Die Toten Hosen, Johnny Cash, Renee Fleming, Alicia Keys, Jordin Sparks

5 comments:

  1. http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Which_soccer_club_was_the_first_to_sing_You'll_Never_Walk_Alone

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  2. and THIS is the most interesting part of a soccer match!

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  3. A stirring sight to experiance indeed! Cheers to Anfield & Liverpool!

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  4. Manchester United fans sang this in the late 50s

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