England's lament.

Advisory: Explicit Content.

It's World Cup time so the world and her partner is trying to cash-in by attempting to write the next 'Football's coming home'. Sadly, so are Baddiel, Skinner and The Lightening seeds - literally the next 'football's coming home'. Their effort is an ever-so-slightly tweaked version of the song they've re-released every tournament since 1996. So no doubt everyone else's efforts to top the charts and get the terraces chanting their tune will be in vain.

Out of this milieu of 'musical'-England-supporting-football-based-desperation rises one song. It won't be a hit, no-one will sing it and i can't even find it anywhere to buy. In fact i'm not even really sure who's done it or what it's called.That in itself is refreshing enough, no self-publicity, just a song.

What i really like about it is the way it contains bits of everything associated with English football fans. There is a strong sense of wit and self-deprecation, combined with hope and passion. But there is also thuggery and xenophobia / racism - which i'm not entirely sure is celebrated or lampooned. I think the video slightly errs towards celebrating it, but the song on its own is self-aware and ironic.

What underpins all this though, and gives the song its worth, is a surprising sense of lament that comes from the guitar, and the sense of almost mourning found in usually aggressive and upbeat chants. Yes, it probably is about lamenting England's footballing performances; the way we always have to hark back to '66; the way we always seem to be undone by injury or petulance on the part of key players; the way we already know we'll go out because we can't score penalties. But i also read it as lament for the things already referred to here; the thuggery, the racism, the violence, the excesses. Or maybe i just desperately hope that that's what's going on. Either way, i find myself strangely moved by it.

Health warning: Language is strong, the chorus revolves around the 'Let's go something mental' chant.