Much as I'd like to connect it to some event at the Valley, the first time I heard/sang it it was in circumstances entirely unconnected with Charlton. (A very heavy stag night many, many years ago).
The West Ham version of it was that it was a the perfect song for when the horse bolted riderless outside the ground to our left in the away end, 1-3, Jim Melrose 9 second goal game????
The West Ham version of it was that it was a the perfect song for when the horse bolted riderless outside the ground to our left in the away end, 1-3, Jim Melrose 9 second goal game????
The song was adopted soon after release by fans of several popular football clubs in the United Kingdom and is still played before and sung during games, most notably since the 1970s by fans of Nottingham Forest F.C.; the song's lyrics were adapted for the now firmly established crowd favourite 'City Ground'. The adapted lyrics read: "City Ground, Oh mist rolling in from the Trent, my desire, is always to be here, oh City Ground"
Was being sung regularly in the mid 70`s, especially by the mob in the right side Covered End. Used to love going to away games and singing it for ages during games and the confused and angry home fans not having a clue what we were on about. After about 20 minutes of this song the home fans were frothing at the mouth lol
TBH I don't remember singing VFR at Selhurst. The one that always sticks in my mind as being sung with the most passion (though slightly boring) was "We play all our games away"
I can't help thinking that Goodbye Horse has connections to WW1. Sure I heard that somewhere before. Well not that sure actually. </blo
There might be something in the WW1 connection. There is a memorial to the 58th London Division at Chipilly on the Somme which consists of a statue of a soldier kissing his mortally wounded horse goodbye.
Comments
long before my time but i love the song. one of 'ours'.
It's an old song iirc, unrelated to Charlton but from a Charlton viewpoint:
charltonlife.com/discussion/9067/goodbye-horse-origins
The song was adopted soon after release by fans of several popular football clubs in the United Kingdom and is still played before and sung during games, most notably since the 1970s by fans of Nottingham Forest F.C.; the song's lyrics were adapted for the now firmly established crowd favourite 'City Ground'. The adapted lyrics read:
"City Ground, Oh mist rolling in from the Trent, my desire, is always to be here, oh City Ground"