West Ham’s association with the song ‘I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles’ dates back close to a century. It was adopted by the club shortly after it was published, having been debuted in the 1918 Broadway musical ‘The Passing Show’.
The waltz, the music for which was written by John Kellette and the lyrics attributed to Jaan Kenbrovin, a collective pseudonym for James Kendis, James Brockman and Nat Vincent, became a major hit in the 1920s and was performed by all the major singers and bands of the era.
As such, it made its way into British music halls in the early 20s, including those in London.
It was several years later that West Ham took a hold of the song and made it their own, albeit by a circuitous route involving Billy J. Murray, a player for the local Park School who was nicknamed ‘Bubbles’. He had taken the name due to his resemblance to a figure in Millais’ painting ‘Bubbles’, which was being used in a soap advert at the time, and headmaster Cornelius Beal would take it upon himself to break into the song ‘I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles’ when the team excelled.
The headmaster was a close friend of West Ham manager Charlie Paynter and knew several of the West Ham players through schoolboy football. Simply by the coincidence of this relationship, fans took it upon themselves to begin singing ‘I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles’, and the song has stuck.
Our football song prints
Our hand designed prints celebrate the glory days of football characterised by memorable events and legendary players. This song has been sung by generations of fans and is now captured in this fine quality product.
All our prints are made to order. Hand cut and finished in the UK on 250gsm paper, this award-winning paper delivers a beautiful print which is colour guaranteed and light proof for 80 years so will last for generations to come.
Product details
- A2 (594 x 420mm / 23.4 x 16.5in)
- Printed on 250gsm paper
- Outstanding print quality and rich colour reproduction
- Guaranteed lightproof for 80 years
- Your print comes unframed
Please allow up 10 working days for delivery.