Songs From the Barmy Army

Book excerpt: Everywhere England go to play Test cricket, the Barmy Army follows, giving them unstinting support and always searching for the best songs, chants and banter to help their team overcome the opposition. This hilarious book collects the best and funniest songs and chants from almost 20 years of enthusiastic backing. The book not only reveals how the chants were created, but also how the players responded to hearing their names being sung and how much it meant to them. There are also revealing interviews with some of the Barmy Army's leading songwriters, who provide a fascinating insight into what makes for a truly great chant. Sometimes, of course, the Barmy Army targeted the opposition, and 'The Mitchell Johnson Song' helped England on their way to a famous Ashes triumph in 2010-11. From the classic 'Ball and Chain' to the more recent 'Swann Will Tear You Apart', this book is an ideal way to get into the true Barmy spirit.