Why do the English sing ‘It’s coming home’? This is how ‘Three Lions’, the anthem of ‘96, was born

It was supposed to be a song for Euro 1996 but Three Lions has become an anthem for more than a generation of England national team fans, as proven once again at Euro 2024.

The origin of Three Lions and “It’s coming home”

28 years ago, the European Championship was held in England and hopes were high the hosts could win the tournament for the first time ever on home soil.

Alan Shearer and Paul Gascogine were main attacking threats, future Real Madrid star Steve McManaman lined up on the wing, while high-profile pundit Gary Neville and current England manager Gareth Southgate were tasked with keeping things tight at the back.

After a somewhat slow start in a draw against Switzerland, wins over Scotland and the Netherlands sent a wave of belief flowing through the entire country. The chant “It’s Coming Home,” which rung around Wembley Stadium and beyond, was the expression of that belief.

When did England win the FIFA World Cup?

The phrase came directly from the song Three Lions, performed by Liverpool-based band The Lightning Seeds and comedians David Baddiel and Frank Skinner. Doused in satire, the lyrics looked back over “30 years of hurt,” a reference to England’s multiple failures on the international stage after winning their maiden FIFA World Cup in 1966, also as hosts.

After almost 30 more years, they are still searching for their second trophy, which they are just 90 minutes away from. Three Lions has frequently been heard on streets of Berlin ahead of Sunday’s Euro 2024 final against Spain.

References to Euros and World Cup disappointments

The song was a chart hit in the UK, as was a re-released version for the 1998 World Cup in France, which again ended in disappointment for the team. Ever since, it has come back around every two years at subsequent major tournaments, with the volume cranked up as they have progressed from the group stage until their eventual elimination. Could that now be set to change?

Every version of the song, including a 2010 edition featuring Robbie Williams and comedian Russell Brand, is an apparent effort to motivate the current squad through past disappointments. Which, ironically, is exactly how Euro ‘96 ended. After controversially defeating Spain on penalties in the quarterfinals, England were beaten by eventual winners Germany in the same way in the semis.

Nearly 30 years later, England have the chance to finally end what is now almost six decades of hurt against Spain at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. If they do, though, what will English fans sing afterwards?