Football Poets

Vive La France

¶ 1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 Vive La France, sing La Marseillaise
swing with the flag, along the Champs Elysees
ooh la la, lets go to Saint-Denis
in the Stade de France, for the world to see

¶ 2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 From the club sides of Scotland, from the blue and the green
under one flag, behind the same team
from the Highlands and Lowlands, from the Borders they came
even the Tartan Navy was moored on the Seine

¶ 3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 Bonchance Ecosse were the calls from the avenue
from French and from African, from Moslem and Jew
from Chatelet to Concorde, from sister and brother
and the whole of Paris, was like one sea of colour

¶ 4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 At the Metro Saint-Paul, the Auld Alliance stood firm
Ewan McGregor and Richard Wilson, were doing a turn
Super Ally and Ulrika Jonsson, got the greatest reception
but Stan Collymore arrived, and needed attention

¶ 5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 La Gendarmerie in bataillons, with barriers errected
the paparazzi were here, from every nation elected
reporters and cameras, rising like a tide
so many languages, transmitting worldwide

¶ 6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 Mesdemoiselles danse, in tartan and yellow
Le Moulin de la Galette, from Glasgow and Rio
if Monet or Renoir, could have captured these girls
their canvas would hang in the hearts of the world

¶ 7 Leave a comment on verse 7 0 In the Pigalle, along the Rue de Clichy
St.Michel-Notre Dame, and the Rue St.Denis
exploring the boulevards, from Sacre-Cour to Bastille
thousands without tickets, at the Hotel-De-Ville

¶ 8 Leave a comment on verse 8 0 Here come the champions, once again we meet
West Germany 74, the samba drums beat
in Seville and Torino, in the sun and the rain
and at France 98, it’s a carnival again

¶ 9 Leave a comment on verse 9 0 From the club sides of Brasil, from Corinthians to Flamengo
from the Maracana to the Morumba, and the beaches of Rio
from the shanty’s of Sao Paulo, to the clays of the Blue Lagoon
an explosion of colour, in rhythm and costume

¶ 10 Leave a comment on verse 10 0 The worlds greatest fans, we dance in the sun
Brasil take the points, but we have the fun
all through the night, the party goes on
and Parisiennes can hear, that their tournoi has begun

¶ 11 Leave a comment on verse 11 0 Heroes and legends, with glories to tell
McCloud and McCleish, Alex Salmond as well
Gordon McQueen, Rod Stewart, Sean Connery, no lie
and I’m sure that I saw Mel Gibson pass by

¶ 12 Leave a comment on verse 12 0 Reveillez-vous France, vive le football
au revoir gay Paris, cheerio to you all
at the Gare Montparnasse, and by plane car and train
the whole Tartan Army, is going to Aquitaine

¶ 13 Leave a comment on verse 13 0 Bonjour to Bordeaux, comment allez vous?
come to our party, before it comes to you
there was singing and dancing, along the Rue Saint Catherine
from Place de la Victoire, to Maison du Vin

¶ 14 Leave a comment on verse 14 0 The foam on the Atlantique, was rolling to shore
for sun, wine, and surfing, and sea air so pure
at Lacanau Ocean, to chill out and bask
and with Scotland in Bordeaux, what more can you ask

¶ 15 Leave a comment on verse 15 0 Songs round the campfire, the pine trees so high
Lion Rampants and Saltires, hoisted to the sky
from Burgundy to Cognac, from Champagne to chateau’s blessed
an Army of Tartan, that’s simply the best

¶ 16 Leave a comment on verse 16 0 At the Porte d’Aquitaine, there was great jubilation
students and teenagers, in weekend celebration
Karine and Julie, angels of France
Violaine and Jean luc, and the Connemara dance

¶ 17 Leave a comment on verse 17 0 On the banks of La Garonne, we stayed for a week
La Fontaine du monument des Girondins magnifique
imposing architecture, in the vineyards of time
and within two hours, we were connoisseurs of wine

¶ 18 Leave a comment on verse 18 0 The Cathedrale St-Andre, stands sacred and proud
Bordeaux was a haven, of sky without cloud
for two thousand years, it’s been a centre of trade
since the Empire of Rome, it’s culture was made

¶ 19 Leave a comment on verse 19 0 The Place des Quinconces, there was great atmosphere
red wine of vintage, Bordeaux and blonde beer
there were pipe bands and samba, all marching in time
and five thousand French, who followed in line

¶ 20 Leave a comment on verse 20 0 Upon the big stage, on the day of the game
Spike and 911, were winning French fame
the Wee’est Pipe Band, were marching and drumming
Scotch Mist had settled, with “Scotland Is Coming”

¶ 21 Leave a comment on verse 21 0 From the club sides of Norway, from Oslo to Stavangar
the Vikings they came, with red and white banner
from Lapland to Telemark, and from fjords far west
they really believed, that Norway was best

¶ 22 Leave a comment on verse 22 0 The women and children, were chanting our song
from windows and apartments, the French waved us on
The Parc le scure Stade, was a bowl without shade
Norway outnumbered, outsung, and outplayed

¶ 23 Leave a comment on verse 23 0 No beer in Bordeaux, le garcon explained
Tartan Army so thirsty, it’s like it’s been drained
we’ve called up Toulouse, to send fresh supply
but if you make the quarter finals, all France will be dry

¶ 24 Leave a comment on verse 24 0 At the Gare Saint-Jean, the sun burst the sky
in the hotels and cafes, their profits were high
for more than ten days, the party went on
and no sleep was had, by the habitants of La Garonne

¶ 25 Leave a comment on verse 25 0 Some said au revoir, departing to Paris and Lyon
some stayed forever, and their legend lives on
the French Riviera, for rest and relaxation
or St.Remy de Provence, for team spirit and inspiration

¶ 26 Leave a comment on verse 26 0 On the TGV, from the Gare de Lyon
the bar on the train, was singing along
through rolling green fields, of French countryside
Scots and Moroccons, side by side

¶ 27 Leave a comment on verse 27 0 From the boulevards of Rabat, Cassablanca and Tangier
from the medinas of Morocco, from Fez to Agadir
from the moutains and valleys, from the Sahara to the Kasbahs
salam alaikum to Saint Etienne, singing bulla bulla

¶ 28 Leave a comment on verse 28 0 On the Moroccon big stage, there were drums in the sun
thousands so friendly, in a language of fun
a desert sirocco, that blows without rain
from both sides of the Med, their fanatics they came

¶ 29 Leave a comment on verse 29 0 The party in Saint Etienne, was an afternoon of gold
at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, we saw destiny unfold
Lions of Caledonia, so proud and strong
imagine the scenes, if Scotland had won

¶ 30 Leave a comment on verse 30 0 There were grown men in tears, there were some in a daze
some standing in chiltroms, singing great songs of praise
another nation goes home, but one things for sure
Bonnie Scotland, Bonnie Scotland, we’ll support you evermore

¶ 31 Leave a comment on verse 31 0 Everyone must sing, these were fresh orders
there was a rugby crowd in, from Galashiels in the Borders
we were far from the ocean, but we easily could drown
and the ceilidh continued, over Saint Etienne town

¶ 32 Leave a comment on verse 32 0 The Auld Mill Inn, raised our spirits that date
adieu Saint Etienne, and France 98
we came for the party, and we know the score
but it never gets easy, we’ve been here before

¶ 33 Leave a comment on verse 33 0 Memories gone by, came flooding at will
like the leaving of Malaga, and Brasil in Seville
expeditions and odysseys, to World Cups galore
epitaphs and inquisitions, but never a cure

¶ 34 Leave a comment on verse 34 0 Tartan Army reminiscing, of the great life they live
of campaigns across borders, from Mexico to Tel Aviv
old friends so young, and new friends of old
on far foreign soil, as stories are told

¶ 35 Leave a comment on verse 35 0 The poppy fields flourish, where liberte has grown
all of those boys, who did’nt come home
this friendly invasion, at least we’ll return
you paid for this freedom, your spirits we yearn

¶ 36 Leave a comment on verse 36 0 It’s a wonderful life, when your far far away
all the days of your life, those memories will stay
surrounded by friends, who share the same dream
in the colours of Scotland, your part of the team

¶ 37 Leave a comment on verse 37 0 Back in Paris, our last night in France
Scott Kelly did’nt warn us, he’d do a snake dance
merci to Garfield, our host who was sound
and Henri hiss big snake, who did’nt buy a round

¶ 38 Leave a comment on verse 38 0 Spasiba to Larisa, in London from Latvia
Helene with her surfboard, who came from Australia
Julie Parisot, Saint Etienne sanctuary
Rimma and Ronnie, good friends on the journey

¶ 39 Leave a comment on verse 39 0 When history looks back, across a broad winescape
Paris, Saint Etienne, and the Big Juicy Grape
Per Ludos Fraternitas, the Tartan Army won
the greatest supporters, under the sun

¶ 40 Leave a comment on verse 40 0 Friendship is love, and this we have found
your hospitality, has no abound
Paris, Bordeaux, and Saint Etienne
when will we see, your like again

¶ 41 Leave a comment on verse 41 0 We lived with you, for what seemed forever
we sang your songs, and we danced together
we ate your food, and we drank your wine
your memories will be, forever enshrined

¶ 42 Leave a comment on verse 42 0 Vive la France, sing La Marseillaise
swing with the flag, along the Champs Elysees
ooh la la, lets go to Saint-Denis
in the Stade de France, for the world to see