Just in time for the first Packers-Bears game of the season, the history of the Green Packers put to song.
The verses are narrative, that is, spoken, but the chorus is sung. Sort of like "One Piece At A Time" by Johnny Cash.
We’re Green and We’re Gold (The History of the Green Bay Packers)
It was 1919, pretty long ago
When George Calhoun and ol’ Curly Lambeau
Said what we need is to start up a football team
The more they thought , the idea seemed sweet
And with the help of a company that packed canned meat
A legend was born and we’re still living their dream
Well, the crew they got together was lean and mean
Whuppin’ up on the likes of Beloit and Racine
And things seemed to be goin’ pretty well
But if they wanted to start themselves a tradition
Curly figured they needed better competition
So he hustled some money, and the Pack joined the NFL
CHORUS
Now we’re green and we’re gold
As the story’s often told
A small town team they tried to push around
Yeah, we’re green and we’re gold
Down the tundra we do roll
Nobody’s gonna keep our Packers down
The Packers had more talent than a person could hope
Like Johnny Blood and the ‘Bama Antelope
Don Hutson was his name and he had hands like glue
With a sprinter’s stride and all lanky and tall
Arnie Herber had no trouble gettin’ him the ball
And once he caught it, it was off to the end zone, toodle-loo!
They were champs 6 times under Lambeau’s reign
And they played in the mud and the snow and the rain
With leather helmets, metal cleats and no face masks
It was blood and guts, we’re all in this together
And when the temps hit zero, it was Packer weather
Not counting the chill factor, in case anybody asks
CHORUS
Now we’re green and we’re gold
As the story’s often told
A small town team they tried to push around
Yeah, we’re green and we’re gold
As the autumn months unfold
Nobody’s gonna keep our Packers down
In the 1950’s things got kinda lean
There was Ronzani, Blackbourn and Scooter McLean
And the mighty Packers seemed destined for a fall
Just when it seemed we were at Death’s door
The bosses put in a call to New York
And Vince Lombardi came in to save us all
They had Hornung and Nitschke and Taylor and Starr
Taking on all comers from near and far
And won the NFL championship three years in a row
They pounded their rivals to a bloody hell
‘Til they said “Go pick on the AFL”
So Vince mustered the troops and won the first two Super Bowls
CHORUS
Now we’re green and we’re gold
As the story’s often told
A small town team they tried to push around
Yeah, we’re green and we’re gold
In a place that gets damned cold
Nobody’s gonna keep our Packers down
The 70s and 80s were times best to forget
The Packers were losing and Lombardi was dead
And it looked like the Pack was sinking further into the mire
But the 90s got us Wolf, Holmgren and Favre
It was like manna to a Packer Nation half-starved
And it wasn’t too long before the Pack regained its fire
There was a Super Bowl trophy and the wins were many
And Packer Nation became the Land O’ Plenty
Then they lost to the Broncos, but we don’t talk about that
Now they got Rodgers and Driver connecting on passes
And Matthews and Raji to sack their asses
Plus one more trophy to put where the other twelve are at
CHORUS
Now we’re green and we’re gold
As the story’s often told
A small town team they could not push around
Yeah, we’re green and we’re gold
With all the brandy we can hold
Nobody’s gonna keep our Packers down
Yeah nobody’s gonna keep our Packers down
And that’s why they call Green Bay “Titletown”
©2012 Bill Klein