Tribute to a grand Tiger of Oldrichmondfc.com.au
By Tony Greenburg | Thu 24 September, 2009
RICHMOND is mourning the passing of Jack Malcomson, writer of the club’s famous theme song, “We’re From Tigerland”.
Malcomson, 86, died last Tuesday (September 22).
Back in 1962, Jack, a regular entertainer at Punt Road “smoke nights, pleasant Sunday mornings”, and other club functions, wrote the theme song, at the request of then Tiger committeeman, Alf Barnett.
The Tigers were frustrated and embarrassed with the lack of a decent song to call their own, and thought Jack was just the person to come up with an anthem that would strike a chord with the Yellow and Black faithful.
How right they were! Nearly half a century on, “We’re From Tigerland” is widely regarded as the best club theme song in the AFL football.
Jack started working on the song during a trip to Tasmania and found the bouncy tune of “Row, Row, Row” (not to be confused with “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”) fitted perfectly.
Next, came the lyrics, which came together quite smoothly, except for at the end of the song, where Jack felt something was missing.
But, then, in a creative masterstroke, Jack came up with the three little words that transformed the song into the smash hit it is today – “Yellow and Black!”
He first performed the song at the club, in front on the players, before they ran out onto the ground for a game against Melbourne. Not only did Richmond’s coach of the time, Des Rowe, give his blessing for Jack to sing the new theme song pre-match, he helped him hold up a big sheet of paper with the words written on it.
All these years later, Jack’s theme song is one of the true icons of the club, revered by Richmond supporters, and sung with great gusto after a Tiger win.
In 2001, Jack was awarded Life Membership of his beloved Richmond Football Club for his superb song-writing feat.
Then, in the club’s 2008 AFL/VFL Centenary year, Jack was nominated as one of the Tiger Treasures of the Century, in the Defining Moments category.
Jack Malcomson leaves a legacy at Tigerland that will last as long as there is a Richmond Football Club.
The club extends its deepest sympathy to Jack’s wife, Aileen, children Dawn, Raymond, Paul and Gail and the rest of his family.
http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/6301/newsid/85245/default.aspx
