When people sing “You’ll Never Walk Alone” in unison with joy and passion there is no need for musical accompaniment. They are the choir; the song is their gospel.
In the Covid 19-era over the past year, millions worldwide clung on to the words, “You’ll Never Walk Alone”, to stay strong in the face of adversity.
The feeling of togetherness and family is multiplied a thousand-fold when one listens to the song and feels uplifted by the message: “Walk on, walk on/With hope in your heart/And you’ll never walk alone.”
In life, we have to keep pressing on when dealing with struggles, knowing we are always going to have friends and family for the bumpy ride.
On Sunday, the global hymn returned to public notice following the death of Gerry Marsden, lead singer of the British band, Gerry and The Pacemakers, whose version of the tune became the lustily sung anthem for Liverpool Football Club.
A few phrases that stand out in this song are:
- “Don’t be afraid of the dark”
People tend to be afraid of the unknown and the song unites and insists that if we walk together, darkness is something not to be afraid of.
- “Though your dreams are tossed and blown, walk on, walk on”
It’s about resilience. When you feel you have been trampled on and lose the will to carry on, move onward.
“You’ll Never Walk Alone” is one of those songs that speaks straight to the soul and when done right, sends chills up the spine. Liverpool fans do it best.
The poignant lyrics have found a permanent home at Anfield, fixed in wrought iron above the gates of the stadium as a reminder to fans that football is more than just a sport, it’s family.
The melancholy tone and stirring words suggest a moral compass and offer motivation and hope.
The song’s evolution is as follows:
- It started life in 1945, as a Broadway tear-jerker in Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein’s musical Carousel.
- In Carousel, it was sung to inspire a pregnant character after the death of her husband.
- It was adapted by some of the biggest names in music, including Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Johnny Cash and Frank Sinatra but the song really took off in Liverpool.
- Merseybeat band Gerry and The Pacemakers brought the song to the doorstep of Liverpool FC in 1963.
- Last year, it became an anthem sung in support for medical staff during the coronavirus pandemic.
- Hundreds of radio stations across Europe joined forces to simultaneously play the song in a show of solidarity against coronavirus
How ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ became the Liverpool FC anthem
Anfield was one of the first football stadiums to have a public address system, and the Top Ten in the charts would be played over the speakers before the match as a form of early pre-match entertainment.
At a time when Merseybeat artistes like The Beatles, Gerry And The Pacemakers and singer Cilla Black dominated the charts, the song became an instant hit with the fans.
“Gerry’s voice accompanied our biggest nights. His anthem bonded players, staff and fans around the world, helping create something truly special,” the club tweeted after Marsden’s death.
In the final of the 2005 UEFA Champions League in Istanbul, Liverpool was losing 3-0 to AC Milan. Legend has it that the motivating effect of the fans singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone” gave the players hope when all seemed lost.
A galvanised Liverpool pulled back and won the match on penalties to become European champions.
When Carlo Ancelotti, then coach of AC Milan was asked which club had the best fans, he said: “Liverpool fans. When they sing a song, they…I don’t know in English, but your skin is…(flutters his fingers up and down his arm to explain). Goosebumps.
Did you know?
Pink Floyd used a recording of the Liverpool Kop choir singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone” for their song “Fearless” while Queen was inspired to record “We Are the Champions” and “We Will Rock You” after hearing fans spontaneously sing the tune at a concert.
Sit back and listen to both the versions by Gerry and The Pacemakers and the Liverpool ‘choir’ who sing it better than the other clubs in Europe, including Germany’s Borussia Dortmund, that have adopted the song as their anthem as well.
Caution: You might just switch to supporting Liverpool after watching the video.