What Does “It’s Coming Home” Mean?

It’s a mantra that’s gathered steam over the course of the 2018 World Cup, but what does it’s coming home mean? Beginning with Harry Kane’s last-ditch winner against Tunisia, gathering steam in the five-goal first half against Panama, working into a crescendo following the breaking of the dreaded penalty shootout curse against Colombia and reaching a fever pitch following a 2-0 win over world-beaters Sweden, football's now well and truly coming home.

What Does It's Coming Home Mean?

First and foremost, the refrain is taken from “Three Lions,” a song written by English band The Lightning Seeds and comedians David Baddiel and Frank Skinner. The song was released on May 20, 1996, just before England hosted the 1996 UEFA European Football Championship.

Accordingly, the refrain literally references the fact that football was returning to its place of birth (the Laws of the Game were codified in England back in 1863). 

However, the chorus also relates to the fact that after winning the 1966 World Cup, winning a major international tournament had eluded England (hence the “thirty years of hurt,” which now stands at 52). Football, in essence, had belonged to the nations that had won those tournaments, but a victory would see football finally “returned home,” literally embodied in the capture of one of football's biggest prizes.  

England were knocked out of Euro ’96 in the semifinals by Germany via a penalty shootout, but a return to the semis at this summer’s World Cup has given supporters visions, once again, of the grandiose: of football coming home. 

Right I’m all in . It’s coming home

— Peter Crouch (@petercrouch) July 7, 2018

Here are the lyrics in full (taken from Genius.com) 

[Spoken Intro: Alan Hansen]

I think it's bad news for the English game

We're not creative enough, and we're not positive enough

[Refrain]

It's coming home, it's coming home, it's coming

Football's coming home (We'll go on getting bad results)

It's coming home, it's coming home, it's coming

Football's coming home

It's coming home, it's coming home, it's coming

Football's coming home

It's coming home, it's coming home, it's coming

Football's coming home

[Verse 1]

Everyone seems to know the score, they've seen it all before

They just know, they're so sure

That England's gonna throw it away, gonna blow it away

But I know they can play, 'cause I remember

[Chorus]

Three lions on a shirt

Jules Rimet still gleaming

Thirty years of hurt

Never stopped me dreaming

[Verse 2]

So many jokes, so many sneers

But all those "Oh, so nears" wear you down through the years

But I still see that tackle by Moore and when Lineker scored

Bobby belting the ball, and Nobby dancing

[Chorus]

Three lions on a shirt

Jules Rimet still gleaming

Thirty years of hurt

Never stopped me dreaming

[Bridge]

England have done it, in the last minute of extra time!

What a save, Gordon Banks!

Good old England, England that couldn't play football!

England have got it in the bag!

I know that was then, but it could be again

[Refrain]

It's coming home, it's coming

Football's coming home

It's coming home, it's coming home, it's coming

Football's coming home

(England have done it)

It's coming home, it's coming home, it's coming

Football's coming home

It's coming home, it's coming home, it's coming

Football's coming home

 [Chorus]

(It's coming home) Three lions on a shirt

(It's coming home, it's coming) Jules Rimet still gleaming

(Football's coming home

It's coming home) Thirty years of hurt

(It's coming home, it's coming) Never stopped me dreaming

(Football's coming home

It's coming home) Three lions on a shirt

(It's coming home, it's coming) Jules Rimet still gleaming

(Football's coming home

It's coming home) Thirty years of hurt

(It's coming home, it's coming) Never stopped me dreaming

(Football's coming home

It's coming home) Three lions on a shirt

(It's coming home, it's coming) Jules Rimet still gleaming

(Football's coming home

It's coming home) Thirty years of hurt

(It's coming home, it's coming) Never stopped me dreaming

(Football's coming home)

Jordan Pickford is working to bring it home. Photo: Getty Images

In the second verse, “that tackle by Moore” references Bobby Moore’s crunch of Jairzinho in the 1970 World Cup, “when Lineker scored” is Gary Lineker’s fourth goal of Italia ’90 (the one that tied the match against West Germany), “Bobby belting the ball” is Bobby Charlton’s golazo against Mexico in ’66 and “Nobby dancing” is Nobby Stiles doing his step with the Jules Rimet trophy in ’66. 

So you see, it’s actually a funny, well-written tune that’s one of only three songs to top the British charts twice with different lyrics (the song was re-recorded for the ’98 World Cup). In the genre of sports music, it’s right up there alongside “Here We Go” by the Pittsburgh Steelers (we don’t have many choices here).

While “Three Lions” has now been a popular England terrace chant for over 20 years, “It’s coming home” has taken on an entirely new significance given influence of social media. The memes and videos began as a form of ironic hyperbole with regards to optimism, but with the Three Lions now just two wins away from bringing football home, there’s nothing to joke about anymore.

When you can’t get “it’s coming home” theme tune out your head pic.twitter.com/RisR1wPL31

— Kyle Walker (@kylewalker2) July 7, 2018

Can England bring it home? Manager Gareth Southgate has the squad looking extremely difficult to play against in a 3-5-2 formation that’s getting the most out of previously unheralded players like Kieran Trippier, Harry Maguire, John Stones and Jesse Lingard, while the likes of Jordan Pickford and Harry Kane are providing game-changing moments at the back and front.

It’s a recipe for success, and the fact that Croatia is coming off what appeared to be a massively draining victory over Russia has fans believing that “it’s coming home.”