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The Fair Play Trophy (again) (2002)

from The Lost Tape by MJ Hibbett

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about

Four years after the first version of this song was released I decided to re-record it in time for the 2002 World Cup, this time as an Internet single as it'd be cheaper. It all ended up being rather rushed, especially the mixing. We were trying to get it finished in time to send in to the Simon Mayo show, where there was a competition for World Cup Sings. What with one thing and another it ended up being mixed the day before the deadline with me about to head of to Tunisia in the morning, and discovered that twits at the studio had never passed the booking on to Kev, so he ended up doing it in about thirty minutes flat whilst another band waited on the sofa, trying not to be annoyed.

It didn't win or even get mentioned - i guess it must have got lost in the post.

lyrics

England are a team of virtuous Saints
They exercise super-human restraint
Their gentlemanly conduct leaves the opposition feeling moved
They'll never swear and they'll never frown
They'll never ever claim that they were wrongly taken down
And maybe you might say that's the reason they always lose.

But we'll get the Fair Play Trophy once again.
Because it's the team that's the nicest that's the one that actually wins
We want the Fair Play Trophy once again And we'll face the final in the pub with a pint and a cheesy grin.

Losing in the last sixteen's all right with me But I'd be perturbed if we came third behind the Swedes If we get as far as Niggata you won't see me cry
If we're beaten by the Belgians or the Argentine Decide to make us look like regulars in Sunday five-a-side As long as we keep that stiff upper lip flying high

We'll get the Fair Play Trophy once again.
Because it's the team that's the nicest that's the one that actually wins
We want the Fair Play Trophy once again And we'll face the final in the pub with a pint and a cheesy grin.

If we get to the final and win
No matter what terrible drunken state we're in
We will take back the Jules Rimet (or whatever it's called these days)
And as a Nation we will say:

Give us the Fair Play Trophy once again
Because it's the team that's the nicest that's the one that actually wins
We want the Fair Play Trophy once again, and we'll face the final in the pub with a pint and a cheesy grin

So don't you worry about Beckham's foot
Our boys are gonna play it by the book
It doesn't matter who's in bed with Sven
We're gonna get the Fair Play Trophy again

Fair Play Trophy once again
Because it's the team that's the nicest that's the one that actually wins
We want the Fair Play Trophy once again
And we'll face the final in the pub with a pint and a cheesy grin

credits

from The Lost Tape, released June 7, 2004

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MJ Hibbett & The Validators London, UK

MJ Hibbett & The Validators have performed live on Radio One, had a Record Of The Year in Rolling Stone, an Album Of The Day on 6Music, released one of the first ever viral videos, toured the UK and Europe, featured in an Edinburgh Fringe Festival show, and recorded a science fiction rock opera, all while maintaining their complete independence from outside record labels. ... more

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