The theme song

[Twodogs]

I love the theme song and watching the players sing it after a win but why do we do it? Is there another sporting body in the world where the first thing the combatants do after getting into their dressing rooms after a win is link arms and sing a song?

And when did it start? Have we always done it? If not who started it? I could kind of understand if one club did it because it happened after a big win and it became a quant tradition at that particular club. But every club? And not just some clubs every club in Australia? Not just amateur clubs, not just professional clubs, but every club.

Do rugby clubs or soccer clubs in Australia (or anywhere) do it?

[SonofScray]

I love the theme song and watching the players sing it after a win but why do we do it? Is there another sporting body in the world where the first thing the combatants do after getting into their dressing rooms after a win is link arms and sing a song?

And when did it start? Have we always done it? If not who started it? I could kind of understand if one club did it because it happened after a big win and it became a quant tradition at that particular club. But every club? And not just some clubs every club in Australia? Not just amateur clubs, not just professional clubs, but every club.
U
Do rugby clubs or soccer clubs in Australia (or anywhere) do it?

Good question. I can only speak to the last part having played all three football codes and can confirm each do hold up the tradition. Slightly different styles for each, soccer and rugby seem to have more of a school carnival chant thing rather than a show tune or folk song repackaged.

[HOSE B ROMERO]

Love the theme songs. I think the clubs adoption of the various tunes may have originated in the '50's. Insofar as the players singing it after a game, Footscray definitely weren't doing it during the '80's. For me the best was the Fable Singers versions from the early 70's. Great tempo. Wasn't a fan of the Mike Brady effort.

For what it's worth, this bloke has rated them:

http://rateyourmusic.com/list/Axver/we_never_weaken_til_the_final_siren_goes__rating_the_afl_tea m_songs/

[hujsh]

Love the theme songs. I think the clubs adoption of the various tunes may have originated in the '50's. Insofar as the players singing it after a game, Footscray definitely weren't doing it during the '80's. For me the best was the Fable Singers versions from the early 70's. Great tempo. Wasn't a fan of the Mike Brady effort.

For what it's worth, this bloke has rated them:

http://rateyourmusic.com/list/Axver/we_never_weaken_til_the_final_siren_goes__rating_the_afl_tea m_songs/

Prefer this http://www.thermocow.com/articles/afl-club-songs-ranked-by-ambition-and-boastfulness/

[LostDoggy]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Australian_Football_League_team_songs

This is an interesting table. Surprised to learn that traditional club theme songs came in over several decades (Collingwood in 1906, Essendon, St Kilda and Geelong as late as the '60s).

[Webby]

Our club song dates back to January 24, 1935 when the club published the music sheet to "Sons of the Sea" in the Footscray Advertiser - asking members of the public to submit their suggested wording for a club song.

The judges were Ralph McKay (brother of Hugh V MacKay - who was owner of the Sunshine Harvester Company, one of the richest men in Australia, virtual King of Sunshine, and, incidentally, owner of Rupertswood in Snbury - which is where the Ashes cricket trophy originated), club secretary C.G Carlton (also of Sunshine) and W Acott were the judges. The closing date for submissions was the 18th March, 1935.

So "Sons of the Scray" was penned during this time. At least the original version, anyway.

The Footscray Historical Society has all of this kind of stuff covered. It's pretty good.

[SonofScray]

My grandma used to sing this:

"We come from Footscray,
that's easy seen,
We won't be beaten by any team,
All through the season,
You'll know the reason,
We carry the Premiership flag"

She always said that was our first Club song. Potentially VFA days?

[bornadog]

History behind every AFL club theme song (http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/adelaide/history-behind-every-afl-club-theme-song/news-story/2704cf5f07f2f33d09d6c03e89d037ac)


IF you’ve ever wondered how your club song came to be or where you’d heard that tune before — this is the place to find out.


Here are the words and history behind every theme song in the AFL, from the 1980s bass riffs to 1870s operas.

Jump to :

Western Bulldogs

Founded: 1883 as Footscray — 1996 onwards as the Western Bulldogs

Club song: ‘Sons of the West’

Sons of the West,

Red, White and Blue.

We come out snarling

Bulldogs through and through.

Bulldogs bite and Bulldogs roar,

We give our very best.

But you can’t beat the boys of the Bulldogs breed,

We’re the team of the mighty West.

‘Sons of the west’ was born in the 1940s, and is based on an old sea shanty, ‘Sons of the sea’ also known as ‘Bobbing up and down like this’. One change to the song over the years was when the ‘Sons of the ‘Scray’ became ‘Sons of the West’ when the club transformed from Footscray to Western Bulldogs in 1996.

Read others by clicking on headline.

[Daughter of the West]

‘Sons of the west’ was born in the 1940s, and is based on an old sea shanty, ‘Sons of the sea’ also known as ‘Bobbing up and down like this’.

Is the video still around of the theatre full of people "Bobbing up and down like this?". I've tried to find it via Woof before to show someone, but the link didn't appear to work anymore.

[BulldogBelle]

Carlton adopted their theme song 'Lily of Laguna' in about 1929 when the Lyrics were as those that I have listed below. It was from a 'Coon Song', written by Leslie Stuart in 1898, performed mostly by 'Black Face' singers in music halls.

Of course it is highly offensive and highly racist. But its being perpetuated by Carlton anyway. Surely their administration are well aware of the racist origin of their song and should in all common decency ditch it.

In the 1950's the song was rewritten with the offensive lines omitted. But that would be no reason to hang onto it.



It's the same old tale of a palpatating niggar ev'ry time, ev'ry time
It's the same old trouble of a coon dat wants to be married very soon
It's the same old heart dat is longing for it's lady ev'ry time, yes ev'ry time
But not de same girl, not de same girl
She is ma Lily, ma Lily, ma Lily gal
She goes ev'ry sundown, yes ev'ry sundown
Callin' in de cattle up de mountain
I go kase she wants me, yes kase she wants me
Help her do de callin' and de countin'
She plays her music
To call de lone lambs dat roam above
But I'm de black sheep and I'm waitin'
For de signal of ma little lady love

Chorus
She's my ladylove.
She is my dove, my baby love.
She's no girl for sitting down to dream.
She's the only queen Laguna knows.
I know she likes me.
I know she likes me
Because she said so.
She is my Lily of Laguna.
She is my lily and my rose.

[BulldogBelle]

I have forgotten how our song used to go until it was changed recently. If somebody knows please make corrections.

It went like this.

Sons of the Scray,
Red, white and blue,
We'll come out smiling,
Whether we win or lose,
Others build their teams my lads,
They think they know the game,
But you can't beat the boys of the Bulldog breed,
The great old Footscray name.

[bornadog]

I have forgotten how our song used to go until it was changed recently. If somebody knows please make corrections.

It went like this.

Sons of the Scray,
Red, white and blue,
We'll come out smiling,
Whether we win or lose,
Others build their teams my lads,
They think they know the game,
But you can't beat the boys of the Bulldog breed,
The great old Footscray name.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilS4Jo6i_M4

[bornadog]

Is the video still around of the theatre full of people "Bobbing up and down like this?". I've tried to find it via Woof before to show someone, but the link didn't appear to work anymore.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGbdoQk9EIA

[Twodogs]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGbdoQk9EIA


Wow. That song makes so much more sense now.

[Cyberdoggie]

I have forgotten how our song used to go until it was changed recently. If somebody knows please make corrections.

It went like this.

Sons of the Scray,
Red, white and blue,
We will come out smiling,
If we win or lose,
Others build their teams my lads,
And think they know the game,
But you can't beat the boys of the Bulldog breed,
That make ol' Footscray's name.

Close, made some changes above.

Here it is in all it's glory. I'd like to add how much better this version is than the current one.
Not so much talking about the words but the beat and the pacing of the song is so much better.
It's quicker, it's got the catchy drum beat.

Footscray Theme Song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyQ1U4kS8jA)

I also love these classics!

Mike Brady's Sons of the Scray
Sons of the scray Mike Brady (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZNmSuIZk9w)

E.J.
It all sounds like football to me (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUAF9sokWX4)

Doug Hawkins
Our Dougie Hawkins (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0u8mQPYtVw)

That should get your excited.

[Grantysghost]

https://twitter.com/PaulieStewart/status/1636447571580424192?t=hoXGBmskY7q6olApH3YqRQ&s=19

How good is this?

Apparently Ameet had something to do with their relationship with the Dogs.

[SquirrelGrip]

https://twitter.com/PaulieStewart/status/1636447571580424192?t=hoXGBmskY7q6olApH3YqRQ&s=19

How good is this?

Apparently Ameet had something to do with their relationship with the Dogs.

Is that a picture of Bont on the wall too?

[The Underdog]

https://twitter.com/PaulieStewart/status/1636447571580424192?t=hoXGBmskY7q6olApH3YqRQ&s=19

How good is this?

Apparently Ameet had something to do with their relationship with the Dogs.

If this Venn diagram of the Dogs and the Painters & Dockers doesn’t bring Twodogs out of hiding, I’m not sure what will.

[Bulldog4life]

Love it. Thanks Gg.

[josie]

That’s brilliant. Such sweet singing & delightful smiles. Thanks GG.

[Grantysghost]

Is that a picture of Bont on the wall too?

Legendary

[Bulldog4life]

History behind every AFL club theme song (http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/adelaide/history-behind-every-afl-club-theme-song/news-story/2704cf5f07f2f33d09d6c03e89d037ac)


IF you’ve ever wondered how your club song came to be or where you’d heard that tune before — this is the place to find out.


Here are the words and history behind every theme song in the AFL, from the 1980s bass riffs to 1870s operas.

Jump to :

Western Bulldogs

Founded: 1883 as Footscray — 1996 onwards as the Western Bulldogs

Club song: ‘Sons of the West’

Sons of the West,

Red, White and Blue.

We come out snarling

Bulldogs through and through.

Bulldogs bite and Bulldogs roar,

We give our very best.

But you can’t beat the boys of the Bulldogs breed,

We’re the team of the mighty West.

‘Sons of the west’ was born in the 1940s, and is based on an old sea shanty, ‘Sons of the sea’ also known as ‘Bobbing up and down like this’. One change to the song over the years was when the ‘Sons of the ‘Scray’ became ‘Sons of the West’ when the club transformed from Footscray to Western Bulldogs in 1996.

Read others by clicking on headline.
Wasn't the original We will come out smiling whether we win or lose. Then they changed it to snarling which is far better.

[mjp]

Wasn't the original We will come out smiling whether we win or lose. Then they changed it to snarling which is far better.

Disagree. You only sing it after a win so it is a nice little reminder about balance in life.

And yes, I know it is played when the team runs out but it shouldn’t be...we should have another song for that. Going out west (Ash grunwald version) gets my vote.

[Stevo]

https://twitter.com/PaulieStewart/status/1636447571580424192?t=hoXGBmskY7q6olApH3YqRQ&s=19

How good is this?

Apparently Ameet had something to do with their relationship with the Dogs.

Loving this granty.

[Stevo]

Disagree. You only sing it after a win so it is a nice little reminder about balance in life.

And yes, I know it is played when the team runs out but it shouldn’t be...we should have another song for that. Going out west (Ash grunwald version) gets my vote.

And there I was thinking I was the only one who believes we should be coming out at the start of the game to another song.

[BornInDroopSt'54]

Disagree. You only sing it after a win so it is a nice little reminder about balance in life.

And yes, I know it is played when the team runs out but it shouldn’t be...we should have another song for that. Going out west (Ash grunwald version) gets my vote.

My fav club song is the dreaded Carlton full of old world charm like Noel Coward unlike the bombastic Tigers song.
I like Footscray smiling wheter we win or lose as a charming lyric.