‘It’s coming home’ is one of the most familiar chants England fans will hear during international games, but for songwriter Ian Broudie, it’s not about winning at all.
In 1996, The Lightning Seeds – fronted (somewhat reluctantly) by Ian – teamed up with David Baddiel and Frank Skinner to create the ultimate football song.
Three decades later, the track is synonymous with England’s national teams – both the men and women – in their bids to bring home trophies at the Euros and World Cup.
However, Ian, 67, told Metro it’s ‘often misunderstood’ as the song was never really about winning the great game.
‘It’s coming home referred to the competition,’ he recalled. ‘That was the first competition that was going to be on in England since 1966, so it was all referring to going to the competition.’
Ian, who we chatted to ahead of his Somerset House Summer Series gig, laughed and said he ‘loves’ that it’s since taken on its ‘own life’.
The song has slipped into English culture in ways Ian, David, and Frank had never even dreamed, with the trio having ‘no idea’ it would gain this much traction.
Ian shared that when they first released the song, people would ask him what the ‘Three Lions reference’ was in the title, unaware it was the logo staring them in the face.
‘I think it’s a song about dreaming,’ the Life of Riley singer reflected. ‘Whenever that dream is re-evoked, I go back to the song.
‘I’m very proud of it, although there was an element of it overshadowing.’
Ian admitted there were times when the behemoth of a song wasn’t his favourite to sing, wanting his other work to speak for itself, but he assured us he doesn’t feel like that ‘anymore’.
‘I was just unsure how to treat it,’ he explained. ‘I’d done it obviously with the other two guys, so it was slightly separate [to the Lightning Seeds].
‘I think at one point we thought, “well, maybe it’ll just be by them,” and then everyone said no. It was all a bit up in the air.’
Initially, Ian decided that the Lightning Seeds wouldn’t play Three Lions at their shows, having just found separate success with their third album Jollification.
They kicked off their tour, deciding to skip the footie tune on the set list. Only to walk out to a crowd of people – largely dads and their sons – all in their England shirts.
He’s said previously how he wished to be remembered for Pure, his debut single, rather than the football anthem.
The unfinished track was part of a three-song demo that found its way to the radio in 1989, climbing to number 14 on the UK charts.
Despite being unfinished, he said he ‘wouldn’t change Pure now’, appreciating its raw ‘positivity’, somewhat ‘off’ singing, and personal lyrics.
Ian joked he’s the ‘interim singer’ for Lightning Seeds, having planned on bringing someone in to take over the vocals. After 30 years, it’s looking unlikely.
Reflecting on Three Lions, he added: ‘I think a lot of the charm of David and Frank’s vocals … they’re not singers. Frank’s very musical, but I’m not gonna say David’s very musical.
‘They sing the verses, and it’s very narrative. There’s probably an element that you can relate to it.But it’s like lightning strike, and I don’t know that formula, really.’
Ian quipped he would ‘do it again’ if he could before saying he actually isn’t keen to re-record the song, even if it’s ‘tempting’.
Even the ’98 version and other recordings over the years, the Sense singer has been ‘reluctant’ to do and believes David and Frank feel the same.
‘Once a record or a song is out there, it’s not yours anymore, and it means a different thing to all those people,’ he explained. ‘So when you change it, I don’t know, you might be altering it to how you want it, but actually, it already is something for them.’
So, despite Harry Kane’s best efforts, he won’t be immortalised in a Three Lions ’26.
Ian smiled as he said that it ‘seems strange now’ that the song he once fretted over has become such a ‘natural’ part of their sets. He then quipped that they don’t play it in Scotland.
The Lightning Seeds are planning to play Three Lions at their gig at Somerset House on July 19, which just so happens to be hours before the Men’s World Cup final.
Call it fate or some clever planning from organisers, the band have decided, regardless of England playing or not, it will be coming home on July 19, one way or another.
Tickets for The Lightning Seeds at Somerset House on July 19 are on sale now.