This one again, This one again, Please stop, I Pray I Pray I Pray - The current state of chanting.

[LCBB72]

Speaking on behalf of the many senior members that were always in "THE PAK" back in the late 1960's
"He's here, he's there, he's every F****** where Billy Best", at that time it then became a chucking out offence so the words were changed to the following:-"He's here, he's there, we're not allowed to swear Billy Best".
Then there was this little gem sung at Swindon Town in the F.A.Cup back in Jan.'69. "Poor Donny Rogers lies dead on the floor kicked in the B******* by Sir Gary Moore".
Finally taken from the song "Except of a Teenage Opera"(aka Grocer Jack) seem to remember it was about John McKinven but I'm buggered if I can remember the actual words, mind you it is at least 56 years ago.
Oh those wonderful memories of a mis-spent youth, certainly were very good while they lasted.

I remember a song about John McKinven , it was to the tune 'Jimmy Mack' by Martha and the Vandelers . It went 'Johnny Mac when are you coming back' .

 

[Pak Power]

One that always seemed to fit for me was the classic:

“With an S and and O and a U and a T, an H and an E and an N and a D.

U, N, I…, T, E, D

Southend United. FC.”

Never was a song so perfectly made to align with the name of a club. And it happens to be our club. Led perfectly into the cries of Sea, Sea, Seasiders.

Unique and memorable.

Bring. It. Back.

not quite unique because I've heard Newcastle and Scunthorpe sing it

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

Memories stirred by reference to many of the songs/chants. I do wonder with the inception of an 'identified' singing section, given the nature of some of the colourful words of these old classics if they were re adopted would the Club face a bit of 'Woke' pressure from some and have to take the 'this is a family club' stance, 'Language please Ladies, Gentlemen & Non Specific Genders'
This also reminded me of a story told to me by one Charlie Benson who regaled how in, if my memory serves me right, the late 60's he was part of a group of supporters summoned to a meeting at Roots Hall with the then Chairman Bill Rubin to discuss the level of bad language and chants from the North Bank. Were any slightly older timers than myself who post on here in attendance at the time also?

Not in the North Bank but in the West circa the hw line .You could certainly hear all the chants from the North there. (Should perhaps add that I played football aginst CB a couple of times).

 

[EastGreenNutter]

Oh I do miss beside the sea side, bring them back.

 

[Shrimp and two veg]

With a packet of sweets and a cheeky smile……

Brilliant.

One for Graham Rix back in the day..

 

[Tommy2holes]

I do hear you and having grown up in the 80s I also miss the older chants. I do like the one that’s in the tune of “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” .. that’s quite unique.
I did like the comeback of “we’re the North bank, we’re the North bank” when we had fans in there for a couple of games.
I rarely join in chants these days so tbh am just happy someone’s creating an atmosphere

We're the north bank was used recently after we're the west stand was sung at them. Went on for a while.

How about ooh too ooh to be ooh to be a..... Shrimper

 

[OldBlueLady]

I seem to remember a song about looking in a dustbin for something to eat, you find a dead cat and you think it's a treat aimed at Northern slums. Not sure that would be allowed these days either.

 

[CanveyCastle]

I seem to remember a song about looking in a dustbin for something to eat, you find a dead cat and you think it's a treat aimed at Northern slums. Not sure that would be allowed these days either.

All too sanitized these days.

Must be from when they encouraged women and kids to start attending.

Where is the fishing emoji ?

 

[South Bank Hank]

not quite unique because I've heard Newcastle and Scunthorpe sing it

Try and make those scan as well as our beloved Southend one does.

 

[Fairport]

All too sanitized these days.

Must be from when they encouraged women and kids to start attending.

Where is the fishing emoji ?

But the game needs to encourage children and women to attend. There are many who would attend matches if it wasn't for constant industrial language. There is also a problem with fans standing in seated areas. At Wembley yesterday although you expect fans behind the goal to stand up (these should be standing only areas) along the sides of the lower tier it looked as if everyone was standing. If you are a young child or elderly you may well have paid a hefty sum for your ticket but can't see anything. At least the majority of stadium have far better facilities these days regarding seating and toilets, apart from Roots Hall of course. If you attend a big rugby match the fans are integrated and stay seated apart from celebrating a try. We certainly don't want to take the atmosphere away from football stadiums but there are still issues out there that stop people attending.

 

[Supernaut]

Was good to hear the Saudis, sorry the Geordies giving an airing to long forgotten classic “sing your heart out for the lads” at Wembley today.

My favourite Newcastle chant was the 'Any any any O'Brien' song when they had both Andy O'Brien and Liam O'Brien playing for them

 

[Rob Noxious]

My favourite Newcastle chant was the 'Any any any O'Brien' song when they had both Andy O'Brien and Liam O'Brien playing for them

This reminds me of England v Morocco in the '86 World Cup and the chant "Two Gary Stevens/Stephens ... we've got two Gary Stevens/Stephens ... "

 

[Suffolk Blue]

Speaking on behalf of the many senior members that were always in "THE PAK" back in the late 1960's
"He's here, he's there, he's every F****** where Billy Best", at that time it then became a chucking out offence so the words were changed to the following:-"He's here, he's there, we're not allowed to swear Billy Best".
Then there was this little gem sung at Swindon Town in the F.A.Cup back in Jan.'69. "Poor Donny Rogers lies dead on the floor kicked in the B******* by Sir Gary Moore".
Finally taken from the song "Except of a Teenage Opera"(aka Grocer Jack) seem to remember it was about John McKinven but I'm buggered if I can remember the actual words, mind you it is at least 56 years ago.
Oh those wonderful memories of a mis-spent youth, certainly were very good while they lasted.

More on t swearing clamp down...

We used to chant "F, U, F U C, F U C ?, Fuc? Off". When people started getting ejected for swearing we started to tease the Old Bill with "F, U, F U C, F U C me walking down the street and I start to cry each time we meet, Walk on By!"

There was also the weird singing of the Sally and Jake theme for a while.

And a personal favourite "Chim chiminey, chim chiminey, chim chim cher-oo, we hate those b&st&rds in Claret and Blue"

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

I’d love to know what was unacceptable in the late 60’s

"Harry Roberts is our friend,Is our friend.He kills coppers" didn't go down too well with quite a few Old Bill.

 

[BEERMONSTER]

I loved this one :-
Bertie Mee said to Bill Shankly
Have you heard of the North Bank Highbury
Shanks says no, I don’t think so
But I’ve heard of the North Bank, Southend!
As a youngster I would always sing this to my Gooner mad relatives from Islington.

 

[Essex Exile]

Another one I have a recollection of in the 60s was “ From the banks of the River Thames to the shores of Sicily, we will fight fight fight for United till we’re in Division 3. To hell with Luton Town to hell with Brad City we will fight fight fight for United till we’re in Division 3”
Back in the days of the fourth Division

 

[Rob1920]

Watching Big Match Revisited I love hearing without fail, when the away team score, “You’re going to get your ****ing heads kicked in”. I remember that at Roots Hall along with “You’re going home in a Southend Ambulance “. Simpler times.

I also remember standing in the north bank singing those songs, usually at no one in particular as the south bank was generally empty and away fans in the 70’s were a rare breed. And to be fair if it had kicked off I’d have been the first one legging it in the opposite direction..

 

[Bolton Shrimper]

"We've got Terry Terry Terry Johnson on the wing, on the wing ..."

Not forgetting Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny Baber before that.

 

[Rob Noxious]

Not forgetting Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny Baber before that.

An almost seamless transition, perchance.

 

[sammy666]

The 2 most effective ones are both 1960s songs. Twist and shout and I’m into something good. Even I was young then. Up the football league is a good one. Walking in a ….. wonderland. Worst one and quite pathetic was the sideways backwards chant.
My sister always sings me a chant she remembers from her youth when she’s over from Canada. It’s something like we don’t give a widdle and we don’t give a ****, we are the Southend North Bank. I’m sure some will know the full version.
The call and response Blue army is a good one but rarely heard now. That can get different parts of the crowd going.

I'm a bow legg-ed chicken. I'm a knock-kneed hen. |I ain't had a fight sine I don't know when. I don't give a wiggle and I don't give a w*nk. We are the Southend North Bank