AFL club songs speak truths

Roar Guru

By Pippinu, 27 Jul 2009 Pippinu is a Roar Guru

Tagged:: AFL, Carlton Blues, St Kilda Saints

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It’s interesting how the various club songs say a fair bit about the clubs themselves. Carlton’s confidently announces itself to the world with the self-assuredness that only the nouveau-riche can possess.

Collingwood’s song harks back to a bygone era, long ago, a time when the premiership was indeed a cakewalk and the shoe factory workers had something to cheer about.

Essendon’s is full of the eternal optimism to be found amongst the manicured lawns and rose beds of Methodist Moonee Ponds.

Geelong’s carries the usual operatic theme of independence and autonomy.

Melbourne’s is straight out of the parade ground where vice-regals and the landed gentry stand alongside the officer class.

Hawthorn’s smacks of the sort of contentment and satisfaction that comes from being a well-paid professional living in the Eastern suburbs.

North’s comes straight to us from the picket lines of the old abattoirs, where workers once stood united demanding better working conditions.

Footscray’s carries a similar theme, more of the painters and dockers persuasion; the original words loudly proclaimed the fact that they were just as likely to lose as they were to win.

But the Sainters have the best fit of all.

Their jazzy blues-gospel number fits St Kilda like a glove, as if it’s come walking straight off the pier into one of the side alleys, home to vagabonds, penniless artistes, writers, philosophers, hopeless romantics and assorted castaways and fringe dwellers of modern society.

Is is a song of hope, of one day being delivered the ultimate prize.

Alas, this is St Kilda, one premiership since the founding of the Victorian colony; but around 25 wooden spoons to go with it, far too many for anyone to know with any accuracy.

A bit like one of those junior footy games where one team completely outclasses the opposition to such an extent that the goal umpires have trouble keeping an accurate tally.

But there is one thing I do know for sure, just as we are reminded by that gospel tune – it may pray for them, dream about them, but in reality St Kilda does not win premierships.

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The Crowd Says (111) | Page 1 of Comments

Redb said | July 27th 2009 @ 9:07am | Report comment

Good article. Although I disagree all clubs songs ties them to a certain fate.

Geelong generally do play the game “as it should be played”.

Essendon has always celebrated the high mark from Coleman to Van De Haar to Ryder – “See the Bombers fly up”, “To win the premiership flag” (in 2011).

However, St Kilda are clearly going to make a make a mockery of their vagabond drifter heritage this year. They have proven themselves post the Geelong game, easily beating both Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs. There is perhaps one small test left against Hawthorn in a couple of weeks, will they stand up to a Hawthorn at its unsociable best?

The Saints new song should be a revisited version of an old Oil’s hit – “The Power and the Pressure”.

Redb

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Tom said | July 27th 2009 @ 9:15am | Report comment

I always used to wince a little at the line in the Fitzroy club song: ‘in defeat, we always try’.

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Eamonn said | July 27th 2009 @ 9:34am | Report comment

We will this year, we-re a shoe-in!

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Pippinu said | July 27th 2009 @ 9:38am | Report comment

Thanks for the comments Redb and Tom.

Can we overcome our fate and destiny.

Will St KIlda possess the qualities to overcome its own history and culture on that last day in September?

That’s the true test – I think they will be found wanting.

Watching them record an easy win against the bullies – I noticed blokes like Ray, Schneider, Milne, Gram, McEvoy, Clarke and Dempster. Blokes who are fine when the rest of the team is humming along (as it is now), but blokes who will succomb in the heat of a grand final when things may not go your way.

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Pippinu said | July 27th 2009 @ 9:42am | Report comment

Eamonn
you might enjoy this one – it’s entitled “Northhampton supporters showing St Kilda how it’s done!”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYg6nMnNk1I

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Eamonn said | July 27th 2009 @ 9:47am | Report comment

Who the hell sings like that at a game Pippinu?
No that is self-sanitised beyond belief. Bring me passion.

A Celtic crowd singing When the Celts go marching in…now that’s atmosphere!

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Redb said | July 27th 2009 @ 9:52am | Report comment

Pip,

St Kilda re untested at the MCG big crowd, big atmosphere big game – however they do play hard defence first football – that it is finals football. I dont think the’ll be phased.

Geelong were great on Saturday, Bartel, Selwood and Ablett again the heroes, however their bookends are crumbling and at this stage wont be able to kick enough goals to win against the Saints.

Redb

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Pippinu said | July 27th 2009 @ 9:53am | Report comment

Eamonn
I’m not going to argue with you! (we don’t sing at AFL games full stop!)

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LeftArmSpinner said | July 27th 2009 @ 10:01am | Report comment

I find the songs anachronistic in the extreme. They make me cringe but I know that they are part of the AFL “thing”, like those banners they run through before the game…….

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The Link said | July 27th 2009 @ 10:07am | Report comment

Do they have a dressingroom version? I’ve hardly heard a footy club song that doesn’t have drinking beer etc… in it somewhere.

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