Vive La France Vive La France, sing La Marseillaise swing with the flag, along the Champs Elysees ooh la la, lets go to Saint-Denis in the Stade de France, for the world to see From the club sides of Scotland, from the blue and the green under one flag, behind the same team from the Highlands and Lowlands, from the Borders they came even the Tartan Navy was moored on the Seine Bonchance Ecosse were the calls from the avenue from French and from African, from Moslem and Jew from Chatelet to Concorde, from sister and brother and the whole of Paris, was like one sea of colour At the Metro Saint-Paul, the Auld Alliance stood firm Ewan McGregor and Richard Wilson, were doing a turn Super Ally and Ulrika Jonsson, got the greatest reception but Stan Collymore arrived, and needed attention La Gendarmerie in bataillons, with barriers errected the paparazzi were here, from every nation elected reporters and cameras, rising like a tide so many languages, transmitting worldwide Mesdemoiselles danse, in tartan and yellow Le Moulin de la Galette, from Glasgow and Rio if Monet or Renoir, could have captured these girls their canvas would hang in the hearts of the world In the Pigalle, along the Rue de Clichy St.Michel-Notre Dame, and the Rue St.Denis exploring the boulevards, from Sacre-Cour to Bastille thousands without tickets, at the Hotel-De-Ville Here come the champions, once again we meet West Germany 74, the samba drums beat in Seville and Torino, in the sun and the rain and at France 98, it's a carnival again From the club sides of Brasil, from Corinthians to Flamengo from the Maracana to the Morumba, and the beaches of Rio from the shanty's of Sao Paulo, to the clays of the Blue Lagoon an explosion of colour, in rhythm and costume The worlds greatest fans, we dance in the sun Brasil take the points, but we have the fun all through the night, the party goes on and Parisiennes can hear, that their tournoi has begun Heroes and legends, with glories to tell McCloud and McCleish, Alex Salmond as well Gordon McQueen, Rod Stewart, Sean Connery, no lie and I'm sure that I saw Mel Gibson pass by Reveillez-vous France, vive le football au revoir gay Paris, cheerio to you all at the Gare Montparnasse, and by plane car and train the whole Tartan Army, is going to Aquitaine Bonjour to Bordeaux, comment allez vous? come to our party, before it comes to you there was singing and dancing, along the Rue Saint Catherine from Place de la Victoire, to Maison du Vin The foam on the Atlantique, was rolling to shore for sun, wine, and surfing, and sea air so pure at Lacanau Ocean, to chill out and bask and with Scotland in Bordeaux, what more can you ask Songs round the campfire, the pine trees so high Lion Rampants and Saltires, hoisted to the sky from Burgundy to Cognac, from Champagne to chateau's blessed an Army of Tartan, that's simply the best At the Porte d'Aquitaine, there was great commendation students and teenagers, in weekend celebration Karine and Julie, angels of France Violaine and Jean luc, and the Connemara dance On the banks of La Garonne, we stayed for a week La Fontaine du monument des Girondins magnifique imposing architecture, in the vineyards of time and within two hours, we were connoisseurs of wine The Cathedrale St-Andre, stands sacred and proud Bordeaux was a haven, of sky without cloud for two thousand years, it's been a centre of trade since the Empire of Rome, it's culture was made The Place des Quinconces, there was great atmosphere red wine of vintage, Bordeaux and blonde beer there were pipe bands and samba, all marching in time and five thousand French, who followed in line Upon the big stage, on the day of the game Spike and 911, were winning French fame the Wee'est Pipe Band, were marching and drumming Scotch Mist had settled, with "Scotland Is Coming" From the club sides of Norway, from Oslo to Stavangar the Vikings they came, with red and white banner from Lapland to Telemark, and from fjords far west they really believed, that Norway was best The women and children, were chanting our song from windows and apartments, the French waved us on The Parc le scure Stade, was a bowl without shade Norway outnumbered, outsung, and outplayed No beer in Bordeaux, le garcon explained Tartan Army so thirsty, it's like it's been drained we've called up Toulouse, to send fresh supply but if you make the quarter finals, all France will be dry At the Gare Saint-Jean, the sun burst the sky in the hotels and cafes, their profits were high for more than ten days, the party went on and no sleep was had, by the habitants of La Garonne Some said au revoir, departing to Paris and Lyon some stayed forever, and their legend lives on the French Riviera, for rest and relaxation or St.Remy de Provence, for team spirit and inspiration On the TGV, from the Gare de Lyon the bar on the train, was singing along through rolling green fields, of French countryside Scots and Moroccons, side by side From the boulevards of Rabat, Cassablanca and Tangier from the medinas of Morocco, from Fez to Agadir from the moutains and valleys, from the Sahara to the Kasbahs salam alaikum to Saint Etienne, singing bulla bulla On the Moroccon big stage, there were drums in the sun thousands so friendly, in a language of fun a desert sirocco, that blows without rain from both sides of the Med, their fanatics they came The party in Saint Etienne, was an afternoon of gold at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, we saw destiny unfold Lions of Caledonia, so proud and strong imagine the scenes, if Scotland had won There were grown men in tears, there were some in a daze some standing in chiltroms, singing great songs of praise another nation goes home, but one things for sure Bonnie Scotland, Bonnie Scotland, we'll support you evermore Everyone must sing, these were fresh orders there was a rugby crowd in, from Galashiels in the Borders we were far from the ocean, but we easily could drown and the ceilidh continued, over Saint Etienne town The Auld Mill Inn, raised our spirits that date adieu Saint Etienne, and France 98 we came for the party, and we know the score but it never gets easy, we've been here before Memories gone by, came flooding at will like the leaving of Malaga, and Brasil in Seville expeditions and odysseys, to World Cups galore epitaphs and inquisitions, but never a cure Tartan Army reminiscing, of the great life they live of campaigns across borders, from Mexico to Tel Aviv old friends so young, and new friends of old on far foreign soil, as stories are told The poppy fields flourish, where liberte has grown all of those boys, who did'nt come home this friendly invasion, at least we'll return you paid for this freedom, your spirits we yearn It's a wonderful life, when your far far away all the days of your life, those memories will stay surrounded by friends, who share the same dream in the colours of Scotland, your part of the team Back in Paris, our last night in France Scott Kelly did'nt warn us, he'd do a snake dance merci to Garfield, our host who was sound and Henri hiss big snake, who did'nt buy a round Spasiba to Larisa, in London from Latvia Helene with her surfboard, who came from Australia Julie Parisot, Saint Etienne sanctuary Rimma and Ronnie, good friends on the journey When history looks back, across a broad winescape Paris, Saint Etienne, and the Big Juicy Grape Per Ludos Fraternitas, the Tartan Army won the greatest supporters, under the sun Friendship is love, and this we have found your hospitality, has no abound Paris, Bordeaux, and Saint Etienne when will we see, your like again We lived with you, for what seemed forever we sang your songs, and we danced together we ate your food, and we drank your wine your memories will be, forever enshrined Vive la France, sing La Marseillaise swing with the flag, along the Champs Elysees ooh la la, lets go to Saint-Denis in the Stade de France, for the world to see Copyright: Stuart Logan 1998
Reason for writing:
Words written in lyrical form as a tribute to the friendly football supporters of the
world who converged on France during the Summer of 1998.
Capturing some of the sights, sounds, experiences and observations witnessed during
this amazing event.
A special tribute to the Scottish supporters, and the magnifique reception and
hospitality of our French hosts.
We shall return.
Birth sign: Sagittarius
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