Back Home (England song)
Encyclopedia
Back Home was a popular song written by Bill Martin and Phil Coulter
. It was recorded by the 1970 England World Cup squad
and released on the single Pye
7N 17920. It was produced by Martin and Coulter. The arrangements were made by Phil Coulter. The single, which began the tradition of the England
squad recording World Cup
songs to celebrate their involvement, reached #1 on the UK singles chart
for three weeks in May 1970. England were the reigning world champions at the time, having won the 1966 World Cup
, but were knocked out in the Quarter Finals after a 3-2 defeat to West Germany.
The England team failed to qualify for the next two World Cups
and, although they did release records upon qualification in 1982 and 1986, they did not reach #1 again until 1990 when they topped the charts with the New Order
collaboration World In Motion
.. The song is one of only 4 singles supporting the England team to have topped the charts along with the aforementioned World in Motion
, Three Lions
and Shout for England.
The tune to the song was also used as the theme tune for popular BBC mid-1990s football/comedy TV programme 'Fantasy Football League
'.
The B side of the 7" vinyl single was called Cinnamon Stick, and was also sung by the England football team. The song began "Sweet as sugar, twice as nice, cinnamon stick, cinnamon stick; see that twinkle in her eyes, cinnamon stick, cinnamon stick." After this, the tempo increases as the song goes into declarations of love etc. The song had nothing to do with football.
Phil Coulter
Phil Coulter is an artist with an international reputation as a successful songwriter, pianist, music producer, arranger and director. His success has spanned four decades and he is one of the biggest record sellers in Ireland...
. It was recorded by the 1970 England World Cup squad
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
and released on the single Pye
Pye Records
Pye Records was a British record label. In its first incarnation, perhaps Pye's best known artists were Lonnie Donegan , Petula Clark , The Searchers , The Kinks , Sandie Shaw and Brotherhood of Man...
7N 17920. It was produced by Martin and Coulter. The arrangements were made by Phil Coulter. The single, which began the tradition of the England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
squad recording World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
songs to celebrate their involvement, reached #1 on the UK singles chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
for three weeks in May 1970. England were the reigning world champions at the time, having won the 1966 World Cup
1966 FIFA World Cup
The 1966 FIFA World Cup, the eighth staging of the World Cup, was held in England from 11 July to 30 July. England beat West Germany 4–2 in the final, winning the World Cup for the first time, so becoming the first host to win the tournament since Italy in 1934.-Host selection:England was chosen as...
, but were knocked out in the Quarter Finals after a 3-2 defeat to West Germany.
The England team failed to qualify for the next two World Cups
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
and, although they did release records upon qualification in 1982 and 1986, they did not reach #1 again until 1990 when they topped the charts with the New Order
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
collaboration World In Motion
World in Motion
"World in Motion" is a song by English musical group New Order. It is New Order's only UK number one single. The song was produced for the England football team's 1990 FIFA World Cup campaign, and features several members of the 1990 English team, as well as comedian Keith Allen, who co-wrote the...
.. The song is one of only 4 singles supporting the England team to have topped the charts along with the aforementioned World in Motion
World in Motion
"World in Motion" is a song by English musical group New Order. It is New Order's only UK number one single. The song was produced for the England football team's 1990 FIFA World Cup campaign, and features several members of the 1990 English team, as well as comedian Keith Allen, who co-wrote the...
, Three Lions
Three Lions
"Three Lions" is a song released in 1996, the official anthem of the England football team for that year's European Championships, held in England...
and Shout for England.
The tune to the song was also used as the theme tune for popular BBC mid-1990s football/comedy TV programme 'Fantasy Football League
Fantasy Football League
Fantasy Football League is a British television programme hosted by Frank Skinner and David Baddiel. The Programme began on BBC Radio 5 and was hosted by Dominik Diamond before transferring to BBC 2, with three series being broadcast from January 1994 to May 1996...
'.
The B side of the 7" vinyl single was called Cinnamon Stick, and was also sung by the England football team. The song began "Sweet as sugar, twice as nice, cinnamon stick, cinnamon stick; see that twinkle in her eyes, cinnamon stick, cinnamon stick." After this, the tempo increases as the song goes into declarations of love etc. The song had nothing to do with football.