The World Cup has captured the attention of billions of people all over the globe this year and, as this is Wales’ first time qualifying in 64 years, it feels like a very special time to be Welsh. 

It’s a doubly exciting time for us as the proceeds from the unofficial Wales World Cup song, The Grass is Greener (Don’t Take Me Home), are being donated to Tŷ Hafan! 

Matt Hagerty, Jon Maguire and Chris Bennet, who are schoolfriends from Blackwood, have put their heads together to reinvent this already well-known song to celebrate Wales being in the 2022 World Cup. 

The Wales football team celebrating

Photo credit: Football Association of Wales

Not only are the proceeds from the song being donated to Tŷ Hafan, but the men have also donated £1000 from their own pockets! 

Jon, a music producer – together with Chris and Matt – wrote, recorded and produced the refreshed song themselves, and Tom Hollister of Cardinal Black did the vocals. 

We were delighted to show Jon and Chris around the hospice recently to show them where the money they’ve raised is going.  

The lyrics of the song are inspired by players and managers from the past and present – here’s how it goes: 

 

Sixty years, sixty years of waiting 

We’ve still been singing and we’ve been patient  

But now we’re here and we’re here to stay  

What a time to be alive  

So drink it up and keep it going  

Cause thanks to Speed and Page and Coleman  

That other place across the bridge looking over here tonight  

Because the grass is greener on the other side  

And if we win or if we lose tonight 

We’ll be singing  

Don’t take me home please don’t take me home  

I just don’t wanna go to work  

I wanna stay here and drink all your beer  

So please don’t, please don’t take me home  

Let out the dragon and set him free yeah  

Let the world hear Yma o Hyd  

Sing it loud make history  

Let’s raise the roof tonight 

Cause the grass is greener on the other side 

And if we win or if we lose tonight  

We’ll be singing  

Don’t take me home please don’t take me home 

I just don’t wanna go to work 

I wanna stay here and drink all your beer  

So please don’t, please don’t take me home 

The red wall’s living brighter days 

So God bless Mr Gareth Bale  

Cause we’re Cymru and we’re here to stay 

We are Wales until we die  

We’ll be singing Don’t take me home please don’t take me home 

I just don’t wanna go to work  

I wanna stay here and drink all your beer  

So please don’t, please don’t take me home 

 

You can listen to The Grass is Greener (Don’t Take Me Home) on Spotify or Youtube. 

Thank you Matt, Jon and Chris and good luck, Wales!