Matthew Marr: The Celtic Song.
Many great songs have echoed around Celtic Park over the years, whether historical epics like Willie Maley or passing serenades to players that soon moved on.
Still, one tune above all defines the Celtic experience for me, and performed by one singer.
‘The Celtic Song’ remains the epitome of Celtic music, especially given its place in welcoming out the first team.
And not by just any singer, instead it has to be the original and best, Glen Daly.
It’s part of my earliest memories of Celtic Park, sitting in the main stand, looking out towards the Jungle and hearing the distinctive opening bars as the players entered the field.
At home I can recall time spent trying to learn the words by heart (in the days before it was easy to listen to the song online or even get it on CD).
A partly torn set of lyrics that my Dad had taken from the Celtic View sometime in the 1960s was my only resource, and so that was pored over for hours until it began to stick.
It’s said to be a sign of getting old that you dislike change. But I can remember feeling this way when I was still a teenager.
For many people – especially on big European nights – Walk On has perhaps began to edge out the sounds of Bartholomew Dick (Daly’s real name).
But for me, the only way to know that’s there’s going to be a show is if The Celtic Song is there.