‘Three Lions’ song is synonymous with England at major international tournaments, but fans have been singing it incorrectly all this time.
As England kicks off their Euro 2024 campaign this weekend, it’s time to put on your best singing voice and chant along to our famous anthem. For the next month, pubs across the country will be filled with fans belting out the iconic ‘Three Lions’ song, and you can bet the hit anthem will climb the charts once again.
The popular anthem, created in the 90s with the help of the comedy double act David Baddiel and Frank Skinner, is now inseparable from England’s presence at major international tournaments. Thanks to this song, we have the famous ‘It’s Coming Home’ lyric, but how many fans actually know the rest of the words?
Apparently, not many. The most commonly misheard line in the Euro ’96 anthem is ‘jewels remain still gleaming.’ However, the actual lyric is ‘Jules Rimet still gleaming,’ which pays homage to the former FIFA president.
Frenchman Jules Rimet was the man after whom the old World Cup trophy was named between 1946 and 1970. He served as the president of FIFA for 33 years, the longest tenure anyone has held that position. The trophy was retired after Brazil won it for the third time, allowing them to keep it forever. Unfortunately, it was stolen in 1983 and has never been recovered.
Gareth Southgate will be hoping to get his hands on the Euro 2024 trophy this summer. If England is victorious in Germany, fans should make sure to remember the correct lyrics while chanting along.
Despite the clarification, some fans have chosen to embrace the erroneous lyrics. A post went viral on X (formerly Twitter), featuring a controversial multi-colored England flag with ‘jewels remain still gleaming’ emblazoned on it.
England fans need something to smile about, and surely it’s time for the song to remind us of good memories, rather than penalty shootout defeats to Germany in Euro ’96 or Italy three years ago.
