Back in the early 70's, when fan rivalry included the odd bout of bigotry in the banter, Dee fans sometimes borrowed ideas from the Gers when it came to singing chants on matchday.As well as flaunting Union Jacks at matches (which was copied off Rangers), the Derry used to burst into the "Born Under A Union Jack" chant, a well known Gers song, but obviously, Dundee's version having a tweak to the wording. The original tune, by Lee Marvin is called "Wandering Star". Here below is a wee reminder of that very tune, with sing-a-long lyrics!I wouldn't be surprised if it's outlawed now!!
This chant cropped up around the terraces in 1973. The "Nice One ..." song came about when Totenham Hotspur released a record by Cockerel Chorus called "Nice One Cyril" which got into the pop charts. The single being a tribute to Spurs legend, Cyril Knowles. The tune caught on around the country and would be chanted at matches when a player in your team scored. The crowd would just replace Cyril with the name of the scorer.For my wee Karaoke demonstration below, I have chosen Jocky Scott (sitting), who was Dundee's top scorer in 1973/74 when it was sung at Dens.Incidentally, ex Dee, Alan Gilzean was still playing for Spurs in 1973 when the single charted, although I don't know if he sang on the record. Anybody spot him on Top Of The Pops?The tune also featured in a tv commercial sometime later.
Dundee certainly was buzzin' in the early 60's. DFC Scottish League champs in 62, European Cup nights and The Beatles playing Caird Hall in 63.The 2 Dundee players in the photo with The Beatles are, Hugh Robertson (guitar) and George Ryden. I don't think I need to mention the fab 4 individually!Hugh is no doubt telling Lennon & McCartney of an even better group hitting the pop scene... Hammy and the Hamsters!George Ryden used to live 3 doors along from me in the 60's. We used to play futba in the cul-de-sac, him in the Dundee team and me at primary. He used to do his fancy footwork wearing winkle pickers!!Little did this lot know then, that a few years later, Lennon & McCartney songs would end up as football chants at Dens Park.Below are 2 examples - "Hey Jude" and "Give peace a chance".I'm pretty sure the "Yellow Submarine" tune was sung too but I just can't remember how that chant went.Photo by DC Thomson.Tints by GG
Recorded during Dundee's 3-0 triumph over Dundee Utd in Sept 2000 at Dens, this is The Dees battling it out with The Monkees at half-time.And the winner is...
Argentinian, Fabian Caballero, was a stocky, strong, skillful striker who's first game for Dundee was in July 2000. A favourite with Dee fans, he was affectionately known as "Fab Cab", and was one of the few players to have his own individual chant.He played a total of 117 games and scored 27 goals.However, below is one of Caballero's goals that didn't count. The game against Hibs on 2 Feb 2003 was abandoned due to a blizzard. You can also hear the supporters singing the Caballero chant after he scores.Included in the video is Fabian leaving Dens after a selection of players were sacked when DFC went into administration in November 2003. He did, however, return a short while later for a 2nd stint with the club that lasted up till 2005.Photo by DC Thomson.
This amusing chant sung at Dens and around the rest of the country, began, like so many others , in the early 70's.A chorus of the chant would be triggered when events on the pitch weren't going your teams way and the ref was to blame, for example if one of your players was sent off or the opposition was awarded a penalty.The tune used was "My darling, Clementine", and the wee karaoke below should be enough to get the gist of it.Photo by the Scotsman.
This was another chant that started up in the early '70's. It would be sung when, for example, Dundee were 3-0 up and winning the game very easily. A chorus of "Show them the way to go home..." would ring out to embarrass the opposition. The tune is a really old composition going way back to the 1920's called "Show me the way to go home", and is mostly known as a drinking song.Below is a wee karaoke to get a bit of practise!
This chant was popular at Dens in the very early 70's. It uses the tune from Jesus Christ Superstar which was a rock opera stage show in 1970.The short karaoke below should be good enough for you to sing it out loud!Photo by DC Thomson.Tints by GG.
I can remember 2 or 3 "give us a goal" chants. This is one that was sung at Dens in the late 60's. You could either choose a player or the team in the tune. I've gone for the team option in my wee sing-along karaoke demonstration below.The original song is by The Troggs called "Give it to me" which was a pop hit in 1967.Photo by DC Thomson.Tints by GG.
Here's another chant that originated in the 70's. The tune used was from the chorus of a song by STEAM called "Na na hey hey kiss him goodbye", which was in the charts in Dec 1969 / Jan 1970.The chant is as simple as it gets, with a few variations to the ending. At Dens for example, after the "na na hey hey" part, we used to sing "Dundee FC" at the end of it. Or if a player was having a good game ( or scored ), we'd sing "Gordon Wallace" say, at the end.For this little karaoke demonstration below, I've used Jocky Scott for you to sing along to, using the original pop tune.
The dictionary defines the word "Biff" as - "to hit something very hard", and that's exactly how Dundee fullback, Dave Johnston, got his nickname, because he had one hell of a shot on him. Despite the fact he was a defender, he would often go off on his overlapping runs down the wing and have a crack at goal. Infact, in the 1971/72 season, he thundered in 6 goals, which is pretty good going for a left-back.Biff morphed into his nickname,Biffo, which in turn became the chant "Biffo The Bear", after the well known Beano comic star.His "personalised" chant began when a kids pop record by Jackie Lee called "Rupert the Bear" hit the charts in 1971, and as you will find out on the karaoke video below, the song couldn't be simpler.
This chant was very popular at Dens in the 70's and always good for a laugh. A chorus of "Spot the looney" would be triggered when one of the opposition would do something stupid like miss a penalty, or when one of their supporters was seen being escorted out the ground by police. The song would also be accompanied by everyone pointing to the culprit.The origin of the chant goes back to the 11th January 1973 when the "Spot the looney" comedy sketch was first broadcast on tv in the madcap series Monty Python's Flying Circus.The tune used was a #1 pop hit by Chicory Tip called "Son of my father" which charted in 1972.Here below is a clip of the original Python sketch along with a wee karaoke using the original tune.Photo by The Scotsman.Tints by GG.
This song came about as a consequence of Wallace scoring the goal that won us the Scottish League Cup in 1973. I remember it being sung regularly at Dens and on the bus to away games. The tune is "MacNamara's band". Depending on who the opposition was on the day, the last line of the song would change accordingly. For example, if it was Rangers it would be someone like Derek Johnstone, but for this wee karaoke version below, I've used United's Andy Gray. Feel free to sing along. All together now.1-2-3-4...Photo by DC Thomson.Tints by GG.
Back in the early 70's, when fan rivalry included the odd bout of bigotry in the banter, Dee fans sometimes borrowed ideas from the Gers when it came to singing chants on matchday.
