Three Lions (song)

"Three Lions"
Single by Baddiel and Skinner and Lightning Seeds
from the album The Beautiful Game – The Official Album of Euro '96
Released20 May 1996 (1996-05-20)[1]
GenreBritpop
Length3:44
Label
Composer(s)Ian Broudie
Lyricist(s)
Producer(s)
The Lightning Seeds singles chronology
"Ready or Not"
(1995)
"Three Lions"
(1996)
"What If..."
(1996)
Audio sample
Sample of "Three Lions" by Baddiel, Skinner and the Lightning Seeds
Music video
"Three Lions" on YouTube

"Three Lions", commonly referred to as "It's Coming Home" or "Football's Coming Home", is a song by the English comedians David Baddiel and Frank Skinner and the rock band the Lightning Seeds.[2] It was released on 20 May 1996 through Epic Records to mark the England football team's participation in that year's UEFA European Championship, which England was hosting.

The music was written by the Lightning Seeds singer Ian Broudie, while Baddiel and Skinner—presenters of the football comedy show Fantasy Football League—provided the lyrics. All three provided vocals. The title comes from the England team emblem.

Both the original version of "Three Lions" and the updated "Three Lions '98" reached number one on the UK Singles Chart. It regularly reappears in the UK singles chart around major football tournaments involving the England team. Its accompanying music video was directed by Pedro Romhanyi.

The song has been described as the de facto "anthem" of English football since 1996.[3] Its chorus, with the refrain "It's coming home", has become a popular chant for fans at England games.[4]

  1. ^ Ainsley, Helen (20 May 2021). "Record-breaking football anthem Three Lions to get limited edition vinyl release to mark 25th anniversary". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  2. ^ "'It's coming home' - perfect for England fans or is it time for a change?".
  3. ^ "What does "Football's coming home" mean to English fans?". Newsweek. 9 July 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
  4. ^ "World Cup 2018: Why English soccer fans chant 'It's coming home'". Sporting News. 11 July 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2018.