The suggestion by our Club President Glen Bartlett that there may be consideration given to changing the words of our Club theme song, "It's a Grand Old Flag" has raised eyebrows and received a mixed reception from club supporters. But what's in a club song? George on The Outer looks at this rather tuneful subject ...

CLUB THEME SONGS AND THEIR ORIGINS by George on The Outer

We all know our own Club theme song, but singing such a thing has not always been done.

Over many, many years those songs have evolved, with the majority borrowed from other sources with the lyrics suitably adjusted.

So where did they come from, and what insights into the team and its own history do they give?

Richmond:

http://youtu.be/LxMHbg3R00g

http://youtu.be/5Cz92GzEt2I

This clip explains a lot about Richmond supporters. Remember this when you next hear it! Especially the sexual overtone ... no, doesnt bear thinking about ...

But the best version of their team song is this one:

http://youtu.be/KBD49n36F9k

Fremantle:

http://youtu.be/pDsuU6v2gYE

Original:

http://youtu.be/E-qz4Icl3_Q

Freo supporters should be serious vodka drinkers ...

Melbourne:

Original:

http://youtu.be/GvdHKS-rskA

Sorry for the American overtones ...

Adelaide:

http://youtu.be/otd-dfhzaEw

Original:

http://youtu.be/itUDOuFcWb4

and even more American overtones ...

Essendon:

http://youtu.be/AL0DRyhUt1c

Original:

http://youtu.be/MCN9KIPfMPE

Visions of the prohibition era ... not much has changed at the Dons!

Brisbane:

http://youtu.be/i2OnZG6VnJk

Original:

http://youtu.be/4K1q9Ntcr5g

There was something wrong with this played at the Grand Final in front of 100,000 Australians

Collingwood:

http://youtu.be/7lGXFVf7xKE

Original:

http://youtu.be/Zsbwba3dA70

Its bad enough listening to the original song they pinched but their supporters havent changed over the history of the club:

http://www.convictcreations.com/football/collingwood.htm

Geelong:

http://youtu.be/akAkWj7kXt0

Surprisingly they tried this version in 1992, when they thought they would parody Pinball Wizard by the Who:

http://youtu.be/oQFwnOIpej4

Original:

http://youtu.be/Dk-g6tsbAhI

you have to wait a bit for the chorus to recognise it ...

Hawthorn:

http://youtu.be/p2pumIAeS0c

Original:

http://youtu.be/StDpLge_ITM

More Americanism, but gotta love Cagney!

Carlton:

http://youtu.be/JPpe2LVfgwo

Original:

http://youtu.be/n4NMnwrKwpk

If you listen to the words it simply wouldnt be written today!

The song was No. 21 on the White Star line orchestra play list when the Titanic went down.

St.Kilda:

http://youtu.be/--f9cjE9h4s

Original:

http://youtu.be/wyLjbMBpGDA

Shortest lyrics of any club song. Satchmo is great regardless!

Sydney:

http://youtu.be/H1oQjBUeqAE

Original:

http://youtu.be/hSd_l508dwA

What does shake down the thunder from the sky mean?

West Coast:

http://youtu.be/yr5vcF66lH8

Original:

http://youtu.be/iVQPsro2p0A

Why do all Mike Brady songs sound the same?...Very 80s

Footscray:

The song is based on an old sea shanty called Sons of the Sea

Its such a catchy little number that no-one has recorded it.

Port Adelaide:

http://youtu.be/D2cUM71RA24

The original was penned local composers Quentin Eyers ( who plays in a Sikh band ) and Les Kaczmarek (the original bass player with Cold Chisel). Like the people who support the club, it is a shocker, and the alternative lyrics are probably more appropriate:

We've got no Power at all

Our ****s are so small

Come on, Port Adelaide are wankers

We are the Bogans from Port

We're always in court

It's true Port Adelaide tradition

We'll never stop, stop, stop

Growin our drug, drug crop

There's history here in the making

Port supporters are sad

No-one knows who's their dad

Paternity tests is ours for the taking

With our drug network so strong

We can't go wrong

We're the Alberton crowd

Port Adelaide proud

And the losers are those

Who've earned the right

To wear the silver - teal

And black and white

And the Port supporters

Oh so small

True Ferals

One and all

Gold Coast:

Original:

http://youtu.be/qGPHbeNUDFg

However I much prefer the Kazakhstan version ( rarely heard):

http://youtu.be/GkVKyXDv81I

GWS:

http://youtu.be/epvc4wDWQCQ

Put together by Harry Angus of The Cat Empire! But could he have recently attended a Jewish wedding when he composed this piece?

http://youtu.be/-BMtlNLnXxI

My suggestion for the new Essendon theme song:-

That's not very nice WJ

You obviously don't agree with Robbo

That's not very nice WJ

You obviously don't agree with Robbo

Why disagree with Robbo? He was one of my favourites and I loved it when the #24 soared above a pack to take a screamer.

What did he say?

Back in the late 60's and 70's when I played suburban footy in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, our theme song was a little less tuneful than most and certainly lacked lyrical imagination. While our footy club belted this out after each and every win, I later learned that the anthem was 'borrowed' by many a sporting club. In a later incarnation it evolved into the catch cry of the Australian cricket team. Brings back fond memories for me, as jingoistic as it may be.

"Two hands, two bands, two dozen cans,

beneath the Southern Cross we stand,

God Bless our Native Land, [insert team name]

Up the old red rooster

And more p155

Eloquent in its simplicity is it not?

Her 'row, row, row' actions in the first clip made me chuckle. Wouldn't mind a seat in that boat!

The Adelaide theme song gives me the creeps, it's the same music they used to play at 1MCE Holsworthy to wake us inmates up in the morning back in 1969 when I was draft resisting.

Can't beat this.

My suggestion for the new Essendon theme song:-

failing that:

Or this one?