Swing Low Sweet Chariot

[Mampara]

I have never understood why a *** Spiritual would be
the inspiration for the English rugby team.

I am even more confused that some of the crowd would start
up the chant in a World Cup Final from which they were
humiliatingly eliminated.

[Mampara]

The word which was censored starts with N

[Baldric]

Good, given how offensive it is!

[ichkeria]

It dates from the days of Chris Oti
It's a bit of a dirge in my opinion but if you must sing it is then sing it in defeat as well as victory. Nothing wrong with that
I was bemused to hear it being sung in Cardiff at NZ v Georgia tho

[Mampara]

I take your point but to inflict it upon a (mainly) NZ & Aus audience
is very disrespectful & uncalled for.

[douglas9401]

http://www.negrospirituals.com/index.html

Offensive?

[ichkeria]

I think balders was referring to whatever word was bleeped by AB although in context I don't think it is really
Sorry I hadn't realised it was also being sung at the final too.
I guess it's the only song some people know and I'm sure it's not meant jingoistically - although given they hand out the words to the national anthems to the teams maybe there is no exuse :-)

[ichkeria]

'Of the teams'

[Mampara]

Thanks ichkeria.

You always provide a very balanced opinion.

[jno]

they're said to have started singing it when Chris Oti was playing for England. I believe this is disputed, though.

[jourdain2]

Ditto.

[jourdain2]

The 'Ditto' was a response to the original post.

[Mick-the-Miller]

You're all talking rubbish and obviously have never played Rugby - it's a Rugby Club song performed with actions that make it funny, particularly when you've won at home and had a few pints!

It's got nothing to do with colour or ethnicity, people who are saying that are reading too much into it - or trying to see something that isn't there - grow up

[DTCwordfan]

I agree, Mick...'Christ' is my reaction.....

[Buenchico]

We've got you on film, Mick ;-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyELYqZNh1c

[Mick-the-Miller]

I'd be the fat geezer in the middle - that is a particularly tuneless version, couldn't you find something better than that?

[Brinjal]

You have chosen a total appropriate Nom de plume for yourself.

[ichkeria]

I think the point, Mick, was how come the song is sung by England supporters. There are plenty of rugby songs available but why that one :-)
As jno says, the specific Chris Oti connection is disputed, but it seems pretty well documented that it started on the occasion of the 1988 England v Ireland match when England partly thanks to Oti's try-scoring exploits, scored an unexpectedly emphatic win, having themselves been trounced by Ireland the previous year

[Mampara]

It's a pity that the Answerbank censorship filters distorted my
original question and changed the context of it.
I was asking why this particular song was 'sung' at England
International matches & why, more pointedly, at games not involving
England - particularly a World Cup Final!

[jno]

the answer to your second question may be "because it's the only song they know". It sounds pretty feeble - not to mention off-topic - when you compare it with Bread of Heaven ringing out in the Millennium stadium.

[ToraToraTora]

I urge you to avoid rugby entirely, clearly you have the personality ideally suited to soccer.