Champion*

*Yorkshire term for great, wonderful.

It's a long time since I supported my home team, so I've no idea of they're any good nowadays and have no interest in football whatsoever. The only match I've ever been to was in my teens, and was Liverpool vs Leeds at Anfield. I was one of only two spectators wearing a Leeds United scarf, and soon discovered why: the other was forcibly removed from the wearer after strangling exerting a little pressure around his neck, and was then ceremonially burned in front of the goal near the Kop. I quickly hid mine and remember nothing of the rest of the match as (a) I was terrified, and (b) I was too short to see over the heads in front - it was standing only back then. I'd like to think the Leeds team are champions, hence today's song. It's also meant to be a bit of an incentive to me to "keep on fighting" etc instead of descending into wimpdom.

The pass belongs to #2 daughter, currently reading criminology with psychology at Leeds uni. She has got a steward's job at weekends at the football ground, but left the tag behind on her last visit - I posted it back to her today.


I've paid my dues
Time after time
I've done my sentence
But committed no crime
And bad mistakes
I've made a few
I've had my share of sand kicked in my face
But I've come through

We are the champions, my friends
And we'll keep on fighting - till the end
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
Cause we are the champions - of the world

I've taken my bows
And my curtain calls
You brought me fame and fortune and everything that goes with it
I thank you all

But it's been no bed of roses
No pleasure cruise -
I consider it a challenge before the whole human race
And I aint gonna lose -

We are the champions - my friends
And we'll keep on fighting - till the end
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
Cause we are the champions - of the world