Millwall Song Book

Rugby Songs

Unlike many Rugby Clubs up and down the land, Millwall Rugby Club retains a tradition of singing that goes back to the Club’s foundation as a Club of boozers watching World Cup rugby in the Pub.

Before the introduction of the league structure for adults (in around 1990), pretty much the whole season was taken up with friendly matches, with nothing at stake, win or lose. The session in the Clubhouse after the game wasn’t just “the third half”, but a whole match in itself. In those great days, it was quite possible to lose on the pitch but still “win the day” by an awesome performance in the Clubhouse afterwards.

Jug offences, “awards” for the Man of the Match, boat races, door hanging, thumper and challenges to the other team filled several hours after the game, and guaranteed that only one part of your body ached on Sunday morning.

University teams, and those at the better clubs (including Millwall) are keeping the old traditions going. It gets harder, though, because it seems that the younger members of the club simply don’t know the basics...the Rugby Songs.

The Millwall Rugby Club Youth Songbook has been created to redress that balance. Here are the words that are the key to many a good Minibus trip or aftermatch celebration. We hope you will learn them and, with practice, be able to sing them out of tune and extremely loudly even when you are battered and bruised after a game. The book is not intended to be sung from like a hymn book (though you can use it like that if you need to). Use it to learn in the bath, practise on the way to games and to teach your friends.

This book was developed from an original by Jon Chico, with additional help from John Geromoschos and other friends of the club. It is not complete, and we are always looking for new songs to add to the book. If you, or someone you know, can contribute please send any songs by email to songs@millwallrugby.com

I hope you enjoy this book as much as we did producing it.

Millwall Rugby Club - 2003

Delilah
 
I saw the light on the night that I passed by her window
I saw the flickering shadows of love on her blind
She was my woman
As she deceived me I watched and went out of my mind
 
My, my, my, Delilah
Why, why, why, Delilah
I could see that girl was no good for me
But I was lost like a slave that no man could free
 
At break of day when that man drove away, I was waiting
I cross the street to her house and she opened the door
She stood there laughing
I felt the knife in my hand and she laughed no more
 
My, my, my Delilah
Why, why, why Delilah
So before they come to break down the door
Forgive me Delilah I just couldn't take any more
She stood there laughing
I felt the knife in my hand and she laughed no more

My, my, my, Delilah
Why, why, why, Delilah
So before they come to break down the door
Forgive me Delilah I just couldn't take any more
Forgive me Delilah I just couldn't take any more
 

I've been a wild rover for many a year,
And I've spent all my money on whiskey and beer,
But now I'm returning with gold in great store,
And I never will play the wild rover no more.
Chorus:
And it's no, nay, never
No, nay, never, no more,
Will I play the rover
No never, no more.
I went to an alehouse I used to frequent,
And I told the landlady my money was spent.
I asked her for credit, she answered me nay.
Such a custom like yours I could have any day.
I took from my pocket ten sovereigns bright,
And the landlady's eyes opened wide with delight,
She said, "I have whiskeys and wines of the best,
And the words that you spoke then were only in jest”  I'll go home to my parents, confess what I've done,
And I'll ask them to pardon their prodigal son.
And when they’ve caress’d me, as oft times before,
I never will play the wild rover no more! Top...

Jerusalem
 
And did those feet in ancient times
Walk upon England’s mountains green?  And was the holy lamb of God
On England’s pleasant pastures seen?  And did the countenance divine
Shine forth upon those clouded hills? 
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among those dark satanic mills? 
Bring me my bow of burning gold
Bring me my arrows of desire 
Bring me my spear, O clouds unfold
Bring me my chariots of fire! 
I shall not cease from mental fight
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand 
‘Til we have built Jerusalem On England’s green and pleasant land.  

Top... 

Sloop John B
We came on the sloop John B
My grandfather and me
Around Nassau town we did roam
Drinking all night
Got into a fight
Well I feel so broke up
I want to go home
Chorus:
So hoist up the John B's sail
See how the mainsail sets
Call for the Captain ashore
Let me go home,
Let me go home
I wanna go home, yeah yeah
Well I feel so broke up [Shit]
I wanna go home [to Millwall, to Millwall]
The first mate he got drunk
Broke in the Captain's trunk
The Constable had to come and take him away
Sheriff John Stone
Why don't you leave me alone,
Well I feel so broke up
I wanna go home
 Chorus:
So hoist up the John B's sail [hoist up the John B]
See how the mainsail sets [See how the mainsail]
Call for the Captain ashore
Let me go home, let me go home
I wanna go home, Let me go home
Why don’t you let me go home Well I feel so broke up
I wanna go home [to Millwall, to Millwall]
The poor cook he caught the fits
And threw away all my grits
And then he took and he ate up all of my corn
Let me go home
Why don't they let me go home
This is the worst trip I've ever been on
 
Chorus:
Top...
Flower of Scotland

O Flower of Scotland
When will we see
Your like again,
That fought and died for
Your wee bit Hill and Glen
And stood against him
Proud Edward's Army,
And sent him homeward
Tae think again.

The Hills are bare now
And Autumn leaves lie thick and still
O'er land that is lost now
Which those so dearly held
That stood against him
Proud Edward's Army
And sent him homeward
Tae think again.

Those days are past now
And in the past they must remain
But we can still rise now
And be the nation again
That stood against him
Proud Edward's Army
And sent him homeward,
Tae think again.


0 Flower of Scotland
When will we see
Your like again,
That fought and died for
Your wee bit Hill and Glen
And stood against him
Proud Edward's Army,
And sent him homeward
Tae think again.

[written and composed by Roy MB Williamson I936-l990 ]

Top...

Land of my Fathers
The land of my fathers is dear unto me
The land of the poets, the land of the free
Her patriots and heroes, her warriors so brave
For freedom their life's blood they gave.
Wales! Wales!
Pledged am I to Wales
Whilst seas surround
This land so proud
Oh, long may our old tongue remain.

Top... 
Bread of Heaven
Guide me, O thou great Redeemer,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but thou are mighty,
Hold me with thy powerful hand;
Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven
Feed me till I want no more.

Open now the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
let the fire and cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through:
Strong deliverer, Strong deliverer,
Be thou still my strength and shield.

When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fear subside;
Death of death, and hell's destruction.
Land me safe on Canaan's side:
Songs of praises, Songs of praises
I will ever give to thee.

Top...

Top...
Waltzing Matilda
 Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong,
Under the shade of a coolibah tree,
And he sang as he watched and waited 'til his billy boiled
"Who'll come a-waltzing, Matilda, with me?"
 
Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
Who'll come a-waltzing, Matilda, with me
And he sang as he watched and waited 'til his billy boiled,
"Who'll come a-waltzing, Matilda, with me?”  
Along came a jumbuck to drink at the billabong,
Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him with glee,
And he sang as he stowed that jumbuck in his tucker bag,
"You'll come a-waltzing, Matilda, with me".
 
Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
Who'll come a-waltzing, Matilda, with me
And he sang as he watched and waited 'til his billy boiled,
"Who'll come a-waltzing, Matilda, with me?".

Up rode the squatter, mounted on his thoroughbred,
Down came the troopers, one, two, three,
"Whose is that jumbuck you've got in your tucker bag?"
"You'll come a-waltzing, Matilda, with me"
.
Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
Who'll come a-waltzing, Matilda, with me
And he sang as he watched and waited 'til his billy boiled,
"Who'll come a-waltzing, Matilda, with me?".

Up jumped the swagman, leapt into the billabong,
"You'll never catch me alive," said he,
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by the billabong,
"Who'll come a-waltzing, Matilda, with me".
 
Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
Who'll come a-waltzing, Matilda, with me
And he sang as he watched and waited 'til his billy boiled,
"Who'll come a-waltzing, Matilda, with me?"
 
Top... 

Top... 
BOHEMIAN CURRY
Naan-aa, just killed a man
Poppadom against his head
Had lime pickle, now he's dead.
Naan-aa, dinner just begun
But now I'm going to poo it all away.
Naan-aa, ooh-ooh
Didn't mean to make you cry,
Seen nothin' yet just see the loo tomorrow,
Curry on,
Curry on,
'Cause nothing really madras.

Too late, my dinner's gone
Sends shivers up my spine
Bum is aching all the time.
Goodbye every bhaji, I've got to go
Gotta leave you all behind and use the loo.
Naan-aa, ooh ooh,
This Dopiaza's mild,
I sometimes wish we'd never come here at all...

I see a little chicken tikka on the side,
Rogan Josh, Rogan Josh
Pass the chutney made of mango.
Vindaloo does nicely
Very very spicey ME!
Biryani (Biryani)
Biryani (Biryani)

Biryani and a naan, (A vindaloo loo looo...)
I've eaten balti, somebody help me
He's eaten balti, get him to a lavatory
All stand well back
'Cause this loo is quarantined.
Here it comes,
There it goes,
Technicolour yawn.
I chunder
No!
It's coming up again (There He goes)
I chunder
It's coming up again (There He goes)
It's coming up again, (Up again)
Coming up again (up again)
Here it comes again (No no no no no non o no no No).
On my knees,
I'm on my knees,
I'm on my knees
Oh there He goes
This vindaloo is about to wreck my guts
Poor me... Poor me... Poor me!

(Guitar solo)

So you think you can chunder and still it's alright?
So you want to eat curry and drink beer all night?
Ohh maybe, now you'll puke like a baby,
Just had to come out,
Just had to come right out in here....

(Guitar solo)

Korma, saag or bhuna, Balti, naan, bhaji.
Nothing makes a difference
Nothing makes a difference to me
(Anyway, my wind blows.)
 Top...

Haka
 
Here are the words and a translation of the haka performed by the New Zealand All Blacks before matches, as well as a short blurb on what its all about.

 Ka mate Ka mate
It is death It is death

 Ka ora Ka ora
It is life It is life

Ka mate Ka mate
It is death It is death

Ka ora Ka ora
t is life It is life

Tenei Te Tangata Puhuruhuru
This is the hairy man

Nana i tiki mai whakawhiti te ra
Who caused the sun to shine again for me

Upane Upane
Up the ladder Up the ladder

Upane Kaupane
Up to the top

Whiti te ra
The sun shines!

The haka is a war dance. The words are chanted loudly (shouted) in a menacing way accompanied by arm actions and foot stamping. A haka was traditionally performed before charging into battle.
The Maori pronunciation is basically one vowel per syllable, with the vowels having the European rather than English sound. The `wh' is spoken almost like an `f' (f is good enough for most people).
As for what it all means, about 140 years ago, a particularly notorious warlike chief named Te Rauparaha of the Ngati Toa tribe (based just North of present day Wellington in New Zealand), was being chased by his enemies. He hid in a kumara pit (the local sweet potato, only much better) and waited in the dark for his pursuers to find him. He heard sounds above and thought he was done for when the top of the pit was opened up and sunshine flooded in. He was blinded and struggled to see those about to slay him, when his sight cleared and he instead saw the hairy legs of the local chief (reputed to have been exceptionally hairy) who had hid him. Te Rauparaha is said to have jumped from the pit and performed this haka on the spot, so happy was he to have escaped.

I looked over Jordan,
And what did I see,
Comin' for to carry me home?
A band of angels, comin' after me,
Comin' for to carry me home

Swing low, sweet chariot
Comin' for to carry me home

If you get there before I do
Comin' for to carry me home,
Tell all my friends I'm comin' too
Comin' for to carry me home

Swing low, sweet chariot
Comin' for to carry me home;
Sometimes I'm up,
Sometimes I'm down,
Comin' for to carry me home;

Yet still my soul feels heavn'ly bound,
Comin' for to carry me home
Swing low, sweet chariot
Comin' for to carry me home

Top...
Cockles and Mussels

In Dublin's fair city,
where the girls are so pretty
I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone
As she wheel'd her wheel barrow
Thro' streets broad and narrow

(Chorus)
Crying "Cockles and Mussels alive, alive O!"
Alive, alive O! Alive, alive O
Crying Cockles and Mussels Alive, alive O!

She was a fishmonger,
And sure 'twas no wonder,
For so were her father and mother before,
And they wheel'd their wheel barrows
Thro' streets broad and narrow,

(Repeat Chorus)

She died of a fever
And no one could save her,
And that was the end of sweet Molly Malone;
But now her ghost wheels her barrow
Thro' streets broad and narrow

(Repeat Chorus)

[Written and composed by James Yorkston]

ZULU WARRIOR
Drink it down, you Zulu Warrior
Drink it down, you Zulu chief
Drink it down, you Zulu Warrior
Drink it down, you Zulu chief, chief, chief
 
Ah zimba zimba zimba ze (ad nauseum)

Show me
 
Show me the way to go home
I’m tired and I wanna go to bed I had a little drink
About an hour ago
An’ its gone right to my head  
Wherever I may roam
Over land or sea or foam
You will always hear me singing this song
“Show me the way to go home”

Top...