The Greasy Chip Butty Song

"The Greasy Chip Butty Song" is a football chant originally sung by the supporters of Sheffield United football club to the tune of "Annie's Song", glorifying the dubious delights of life in Sheffield, in chief the eponymous Chip butty but also nightlife, beer and tobacco products. The song with its good-natured humour has been adopted and adapted by fans of a number of other Association Football teams, other football codes teams, and by other sports teams, both in the UK and internationally.

Origin

The provenance of the song is unknown but its origin is often claimed by Rotherham United and Sheffield United supporters. It has been claimed it was first sung during Sheffield United's first match of the 1985-86 season in Division 2. This was a Blades 3-1 away win at Stoke City's Victoria Ground on 17th August 1985.

Words and music

The song is to the tune of "Annie's Song" by John Denver:cquote|You fill up my senses
Like a gallon of Magnet
Like packet of Woodbines
Like a good pinch of snuff
Like night out in Sheffield
Like a greasy chip butty
Like Sheffield United
Come thrill me again....
Na Na Na Naa Naa Naaaaa, ooo!"

Meaning

To a native of Sheffield the words are probably self explanatory; the words celebrate the many pleasures that can be had in Sheffield, culminating in the target of the fan's adoration, Sheffield United.
*"Magnet" refers to John Smith's "Magnet", a beer once widely available in Sheffield. Some people claim that the second line is really "Like a gallon of maggots". Maggots are obtained from fishing tackle outlets in denominations of imperial pints and hence this version would not be unreasonable, as fishing is popular in the region and hence a gallon of maggots would mean a good day out fishing.
* "Woodbines" refers nostalgically to a once popular brand of strong cigarette.
*"Snuff" is ground tobacco for sniffing up the nose.
* A "Greasy chip butty" can be purchased in any of the many local fish and chip shops. "Butty" is a slang word for a sandwich, and a "chip butty" is simply a sandwich where the filling is chips, ideally greasy and sprinkled with salt and vinegar. Generally, a white sandwich bap will be used for the bread. In Sheffield, these are simply known as "Breadcakes".

Original incidence

The song itself is a plaintive rally-cry by the fans of Sheffield United. It is usually heard on commencement of the home games played at 'beautiful' downtown Bramall Lane, the home of the club, and sporadically throughout away matches.

Sheffield United's most bitter rivals Sheffield Wednesday usually respond with the chantfor obvious reasons.

Other domestic versions

Burton Albion FC

Burton Albion are another team who use the chant, with slightly different lyrics:Fact|date=October 2007
* Peddi refers to the local beer brewed in Burton-on-Trent, Marston's Pedigree. When it was first used is unknown (at least 01/02 season), however it is highly unlikely it is the original source.

Radcliffe CC

Fans of Radcliffe Cricket Club have their own version of "The Greasy Chip Butty Song"
* The Racecourse ground is the home ground of Radcliffe Cricket Club.

t Helens RLFC

St Helens Rugby League Football Club have also adapted the song:

The Greasy Chip Butty Song internationally

Canada

Toronto FC have also adapted the song, and they sell chip butties at matches at BMO Field.
* For reference purposes...a Tim's double-double refers to two creams and two sugars in a Tim Horton's coffee from the Tim Horton's doughnut chain, and the walnut crunch is a doughnut they sell at Tim Horton's.

Norway

Fans of the Norwegian Association Football team Strømsgodset IF translated the song into Norwegian and it soon became a terrace favourite.Fact|date=October 2007

Chengdu Blades and The Greasy Egg Noodle Song

In January 2007, in tribute to Sheffield United's visiting Chinese sister team, the Chengdu Blades, the Sheffield Star penned the following version - the Greasy Egg Noodle song:Fact|date=February 2007

External links

* [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5976023886800253874&q=chip+butty&pl=true "Google Video": The Greasy Chip Butty Song]