Talking Tottenham - Spurs in Rhyme

Long, long ago I included in a Talking Tottenham a short poem and at that time suggested I would dig out some more. Its taken a while for this small collection to be assembled.

Here for your pleasure, and as my calendar informs me that this should be World Poetry Day, are a couple more.
Starting with probably the most famous in the annuls of the club. We go back to the turn of the last century.

---

Good Old Spurs
What care I of things South African,
Or whether the Boars will fight
Or that France has ceased to know the way
Between what is wrong and right
I care not for things political
Or which party’s out or in
The only thing I trouble about
Is – will Tottenham Hotspur win

I read not about the doings of Courts
Or those of high estate
For I only care to read all’s well
With Crawley, McNaught and Tait
If Erentz is right, and Morris is fit
And the rest sound for a spin
If this I read – well I simply feel
This a Tottenham Hotspurs win.

This appeared in the Weekly Herald in 1900 when Spurs clinched the Southern League title. It appeared under the byline of the 'The Lunatic'. At the time England was involved in the Boer War in South Africa.

The tune 'McNamara’s band' See - http://www.indiaspurs.com/blog/hotspur-towers-24).
has had endless different lyrics sung to it, these changing as we today adapt old chants to new players.  I personally don’t think you can beat the 'lalala' that was sung as the teams emerged at the start of the game when I was a lad. These days it is played at the start of the second half. This version comes from the 1950's.

‘We are Spurs supporters and we love to watch them play
We go to all the home games we go to those away
Us supporters following them we know they must do right
We loudly cheer when they appear the lads in blue and white.'

The last one comes from Sarah Waddle who wrote several for the club at the start of the century when she was the poet in residence at the club. . This one is called Jol's Goals.
I did attempt to contact her about those days but have been unsuccessful till this point.

I look forward to your feedback. There are some more pieces that could be included in future Talking Tottenham's if you so desire.

---

All weekend long I’m seeing colours, hearing songs,
‘I’m Tottenham till I die’, ‘The Spurs go marching on’,
‘Same old Arsenal’ to the tune of Big Ben,
and now ‘It’s raining goals’ in a world of men.
In a week they’ve netted nine goals for Jol,
jousting opposition as the stands kick them on
and board flashes, Beauty Kanoute, Go Defoe,
publishing each score like a Gallup poll.
A week’s a long time in the Premiership.
Spurs are rearing, chafing at the bit.
‘It’s raining goals at White Hart Lane’,
repeats the action replay and refrain.

COYS
Keith Harrison.
t- Keith 16024542
f - https://www.facebook.com/keith.harrison.9659
My profile / archive is @ -  View Full Bio

Previous "Talking's" are @
http://www.indiaspurs.com/blog/talking-tottenham-past-conversations