Brief History of “You'll Never Walk Alone”

The Bill Shankly Gates

In football, an anthem is surely believed be able to represent the club spirit and also the supporters’ loyalty to the club. There are so many football clubs in the world that have the anthem of the club, one of them is Liverpool FC. Liverpool FC has an anthem named “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” Its lyrics represent the resurgence from the “dark”. The lyrics also become a spirit of Liverpool FC that has accompanied the club for almost 48 years. Moreover, it inspires many people around the world to get up from the “dark”. In addition, it touches the heart of everyone who is listening to it and also makes them got gooseflesh. Furthermore, the club has some miracles because of YNWA effect. The song was successfully being a part of Liverpool FC that no other clubs have something like Liverpool FC has. It is always sung by The Kop (Kopites), supporters of Liverpool FC, wherever and whenever Liverpool FC plays a game, in home match or even in away match. Thus, You’ll Never Walk Alone is the Liverpool FC anthem that has a great history which is meaningful and inspiring.

In 1945, YNWA was firstly played in a musical stage named “Carousel” in Broadway, New York City, US. YNWA at that time became a show tune that was composed by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II together with two other songs; “If I Loved You” and “June Is Busting Out All Over.” They are the creators of YNWA, Rodgers as the creator of the music and Hammerstein as the creator of the lyrics. Moreover, the singer who firstly sang YNWA was Christine Johnson in Broadway on April 19th, 1945. The lyrics of the song were so meaningful. “You’ll Never Walk Alone means you do not walk alone or it can also mean you are not alone. It means that everyone listening to it and they have problems, they will not walk alone. The lyrics “when you walk through a storm, hold your head up high, and don't be afraid of the dark, at the end of the storm, there’s a golden sky” were so inspiring. These lyrics are beautifully created in order to support anyone to get up from the “dark” at that time. The dark means problems, bad conditions, feeling upset, or even when somebody falls down and he/she has no confidence to get up.

In 1963, YNWA was firstly presented to the manager of Liverpool at that time, Bill Shankly. The man who presented the song was Gerry Marsden, a leader of Gerry and The Pacemakers group band. Gerry was a close friend of Shankly. On October 5th 1963, he and friends recorded the YNWA to be enclosed in their single album. The manager was falling in love with this song because of the meaningful lyrics and beautiful play and arrangement from the band. YNWA of Gerry and The Pacemakers was taking top position in number one song chart in UK for 4 weeks and it was the only one song which could beat the “I Want To Hold Your Hand” of The Beatles. Since then, YNWA became a part of Liverpool and it was sung firstly by The Kop, another name of Liverpool FC supporter, in Anfield, the Liverpool FC home stadium. Moreover, in 1992, when the club celebrated its 100th anniversary, YNWA was enclosed in the Liverpool FC badge and in The Bill Shankly Gates, main gate in Anfield Road Stadium. It showed the pride of being elements in Liverpool FC. YNWA was always sung by the supporters every 5 minutes before the kickoff (of the game), in the middle of first half and second half, and also after the game is over. It becomes a tradition that can be omitted in Anfield and also in other places wherever Liverpool plays a match.

Liverpool FC Supporters (The Kop)

In the beginning of 21st century, there were many miracles happened in Liverpool FC journey because of YNWA spirit effect. First, for example, Luis Garcia’s goal when Liverpool against Chelsea in Semifinal Champions League 2005. At the time, Liverpool won 1-0 and it is held in Anfield, after they are drawn in Stamford Bridge with 0-0. The goal was scored by Luis Garcia. Many people said that the goal was caused by hubbub in Anfield when the supporters were singing the YNWA. Jose Mourinho, Chelsea’s coach at that time called that as a “ghost goal” because he believed that the ball did not pass the line. Regardless of the controversy, the hubbub of the supporters singing YNWA was a power to make Liverpool FC won.

Second, another miracle of YNWA was in the 2005 Champions League Final in Istanbul, Turkey. Liverpool FC met AC Milan in the final. In the first half, AC Milan was leading with 3-0 by Paolo Maldini and Hernan Crespo goals. At the half break, the Liverpool coach at that time Rafael Benitez gave a big support to the players. He was thinking what to say in English, and then he said simple words, "Do not you guys bow your head. We are Liverpool. You play for Liverpool. Do not forget that. You should keep your head to enforce the fans desires. You must do it for them. You do not deserve to be called as Liverpool players if you bow your head. If we create some opportunities, we are likely to rise in this match. Believe that you are able to do so. Give yourself a chance for you to come out as heroes." In the outside, Liverpool supporters were singing YNWA loudly and vigorously. It makes the team spirit increased. It was the 15 minutes which changed the game. The coach made some substitutions. After 9 minutes since the second half was begun, Liverpool Captain’s Steven Gerrard scored an inspiring goal by heading. It is followed by the goal of Vladimir Smicer 2 minutes later and Xabi Alonso’s goal by penalty when the game was running 60’ minutes. Liverpool FC equalized the draw score 3-3 only in 6 minutes. All Travelling Kop got gooseflesh and many of them were crying. It was called in many media as a “six minutes that shook the world.”

Never Give Up

After the normal time was over, the game was continued into extra time. In two extra times both of them could not make any goal and the game was continued into penalty kick. In the penalty kick drama, Liverpool FC was leading 3-2 after the fourth kicker of Liverpool Vladimir Smicer made a goal. The last kicker of AC Milan Andriy Shevchenko was failed to make a goal because Liverpool FC goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek blocked the ball to bring the Liverpool FC got the victory of Champions League. Suddenly, players, supporters, and officials of Liverpool were being excited. Tears and happiness are joined into one thing. The stadium was very loud. They are happy as the club got the fifth titles of the Champions League. It shows that YNWA and Liverpool are two things that cannot be separated.

2005 UEFA Champions League Winner

Steven Gerrard: Captain Fantastic

In brief, YNWA has been a part of Liverpool FC that cannot be omitted for 48 years. It was created by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II in 1945. Eighteen years later, its popularity was risen by Gerry and The Pacemakers, and the manager of Liverpool FC at the time was interested in the song. Since then, YNWA represents the fans loyalty, spirit, inspiration, and fanaticism of fans to the club. Some miracles are also happened in the journey of the club because of YNWA spirit’s effect. Finally, YNWA also became an inspiring song that inspires everyone who listens to it to lead them try to get up from the “dark”.

Download the original You'll Never Walk Alone mp3 here! 

Download the YNWA mp3 (modern version) here!

Official video of YNWA!

You'll Never Walk Alone Lyrics

When you walk

Through a storm

Hold your head up high

 And don't be afraid

of the dark

At the end of the storm

There's a golden sky

And the sweet silver song of a lark

Walk on through the wind

Walk on through the rain

Tough your dreams be tossed and blown

Walk on, walk on

With hope in your heart

And you'll never walk alone

You'll never walk alone

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Read also:
- Sejarah Panas 'North West Derby'
- All Round The Fields of GBK (Memory of 20 July)