We’re Green and We’re Gold (The History of the Green Bay Packers)

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