Translating Soccer Songs

Often when I’m watching soccer and my family is in the room, they’ll ask me, what are they singing?  My answer is always the same, “no idea.”  For me, neither raised in soccer culture nor fully indoctrinated, the singing I hear when I watch soccer or at the matches I’ve attended is not so much about the lyrics.  I know they’re significant but what seems more important is how they’re being sung. “Rabid” basketball fans don’t belt out “DE-FENSE”, much less entire songs as loud as soccer teams’ supporters sing these songs.

But, really, what are they singing?  Here are a few of the classics with a synopsis:

Liverpool F.C. - You’ll Never Walk Alone 

When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don't be afraid of the dark

At the end of the storm
Is a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of the lark

Walk on through the wind
Walk on through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown

Walk on walk on with hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone
You'll never walk alone

When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don't be afraid of the dark

At the end of the storm
Is a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of the lark

Walk on through the wind
Walk on through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown

Walk on walk on with hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone
You'll never walk

You'll never walk
You'll never walk alone.

Translation: No song is as widely famous and as closely identified with one club as this song. Plenty of inspiration and support.  A little sappy, no?

West Ham United – I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles

I'm forever blowing bubbles,
Pretty bubbles in the air,
They fly so high, nearly reach the sky,
Then like my dreams they fade and die.
Fortune's always hiding,
I've looked everywhere,
I'm forever blowing bubbles,
Pretty bubbles in the air.

I'm dreaming dreams, I'm scheming schemes,
I'm building castles high.
They're born anew, their days are few,
Just like a sweet butterfly.
And as the daylight is dawning,
They come again in the morning!

CHORUS

When shadows creep, when I'm asleep,
To lands of hope I stray!
Then at daybreak, when I awake,
My bluebird flutters away.
"Happiness, you seem so near me,
Happiness, come forth and cheer me!"

CHORUS

Translation: Like I said, it’s not so much important what they’re singing. It’s more important how it’s sung and that it’s their song.  Maybe this song has deeper lyrical significance I’m not aware of.

Sevilla F.C. – Himno del Centenario

Cuentan las lenguas antiguas

Que un 14 de octubre nació una ilusión

Su madre fue Sevilla y le prestó su nombre

Y para defenderlo le dio a una afición

Ejemplo de Sevilla mía

Familia roja y blanca del Sánchez Pizjuan

Un corazón que late gritando Sevilla

Llevándolo en volandas por siempre a ganar

Y es por eso que hoy vengo a verte

sevillista seré hasta la muerte

La giralda presume orgullosa

De ver al Sevilla en el Sánchez Pizjuan

Mi Sevilla Sevilla Sevilla

Aquí estamos contigo Sevilla

Compartiendo la gloria en tu escudo

Orgullo del fútbol de nuestra ciudad

Dicen que nunca se rinde

Y el arte de su fútbol no tiene rival

Hace 100 años lleva mi equipo luchando

Y abanderando el nombre de nuestra ciudad

Ejemplo de Sevilla mía

Familia roja y blanca del Sánchez Pizjuan

Un corazón que late gritando Sevilla

Llevándolo en volandas por siempre a ganar

y es por eso que hoy vengo a verte

sevillista seré hasta la muerte

La giralda presume orgullosa

De ver al Sevilla en el Sánchez Pizjuan

Mi Sevilla Sevilla Sevilla

Aquí estamos contigo Sevilla

Compartiendo la gloria en tu escudo

Orgullo del fútbol de nuestra ciudad

y es por eso que hoy vengo a verte

sevillista seré hasta la muerte

La giralda presume orgullosa

De ver al Sevilla en el Sánchez Pizjuan

Mi Sevilla Sevilla Sevilla

Aquí estamos contigo Sevilla

Compartiendo la gloria en tu escudo

Orgullo del fútbol de nuestra ciudad

OoOoOoOoOo… 

Translation: Sevilla FC is the best.  I’ll support Sevilla until I die.  History, beauty, loyalty, and pretty catchy too.