What's a soccer franchise without fans singing (screaming) its songs? Being an Oakland Roots supporter, you find yourself in the unique position of building traditions commonly affiliated with the Beautiful Game.
The Roots already have a growing amount of chants in the Mosaic and Deep Roots sections, and as La Brigada Del Pueblo's founder put it, we're here at the start: "Oakland fan culture is being built week by week, game by game, in the stands, on the streets and in the dang parking lot."
Now, we're no songwriters, so we'll do our best to translate songs we receive into lyrics and provide an updating list of Oakland Roots chants.
Scroll down for all the latest updates:
"Let's Go Oakland"
Ah, the chant which is distinctly Oakland A's; it's also become the default song for the Roots. It's taken me a bit to warm up to this one due to its lazy execution compared to the majority of EU football songs, in addition to being a historic baseball chant. However, if/when the A's pack their bags for a new home, "Let's Go Oakland" will belong to just one organization residing in the Town.
With that, it's without a doubt the Roots' most common song.
"Ohhhhh-O-O-O-Oakland"
If you're a fan of Premier League, college sports, even the NFL, you're likely aware of this White Stripes number chanted at countless sporting events. It doesn't take much description; Oakland sang to the melody of
Seven Nation Army.
"You're Not Gonna Make It"
The Radicals are the originators of this one, although I heard Sacramento singing their own tune out of its grandmotherly-aged supporter's section. Although this one is fun, it can leave you looking like an idiot. On the road trip in Phoenix (Chandler), the Rising scored its goal with us chanting our hearts out.
The shame.
Lyrics: "You're not gonna make it! No! You ain't gonna make it! You're not gonna make it, anymore!"
I've also heard one supporter switch the finishing line from, "Anymore!," to; "In the goal!" But that's for the support to solve.
"Roots Go Marching In"
This one is an example of some miscommunication. Another adopted by the Radicals, they've put a spin on the popular football chant by replacing "Oh how I want to be in the number," to a variation of: "Oh we will never surrender."
It's a punk remix fitting of Radicals' reputation, but it's a bit confusing for much of everyone else--evident by my audible and shameless laugh in the video. I think this would go smoother with the original lyrics; that hype is enough.
A recent development towards the end of the regular season was switching the closing line to: "Oh how I want to be at Laney."
This one needs to be worked out.
"Dale, Dale, Dale, Oakland Roots!"
La Brigada Del Pueblo helped bring this one to Roots SC.
Lyrics: "Dale, dale, dale, Oakland Roots! Dale, dale, dale, Oakland Roots! Daleeeeeeeee, Oak-land Roooooooots!"
"[Jose Hernandez] Ole, Ole Ole"
Obvious, right? This chant was heard in the 2-1 win over San Diego Loyal at Las Positas on Wednesday, September 22. The tune universal world football anthem, "Ole, Ole, Ole."
Lyrics: "Jose, Jose, Jose, Jose, Joseeeee, Joseeeeeee"
"Get Up! Stand Up! We Don't Got All Night!"
Another we currently don't have a video of, but it's one more clever tune developed by the Radicals, sung at opposing players who are suspected of faking an injury or wasting time.
This one is a favorite of mine. You're bound to get some trash-talking out of the Deep Roots section, and this song is the epitome of that. You risk being in bad taste to scold actual injured players, like me in a June 26 draw against Austin Bold, but part of Oakland-sports lore is being a relentless, rowdy, and audaciously loud misfit.
With that, we don't got time for that, GET UP! STAND UP!
Lyrics: "Get up! Stand up! We don't got all night!"
"Just A Friend" Roots' rendition
This one got started near the end of October 6's win over Sacramento Republic. It's clever, wholesome, and a rather original ode to the recently passed Biz Markie--I'm all for it. It underwent a revamp over the road trip to Phoenix, where the Oakland 68 and The Function's organizer
@Moestylz81, made some notable changes.
Lyrics: "Oh, Oakland Roots! You got what I need! And we'll be here 'til the end! (x2)"
"The Roots Are On Fire"
This one is near and dear to me, originating with yours truly and a few friends while attending the Roots' second game at Laney back in 2019. There's video somewhere in the team's video database of us screaming throughout Mad Oak--it's sloshed up hilarity.
Every time I hear this one started, you can spot me laughing on the sidelines given my friends convinced new people in the Deep Roots section to shamelessly scream "Mother Fucker" at the top of their lungs.
That's football!
An obvious ode to the 1984 classic "The Roof Is On Fire" by Rock Master Scott & The Dynamic Three:
Lyrics: "The Roots! The Roots! The Roots are on fire! We don’t need no water, let the mother fucker burn! Burn mother fucker! Burn!"
"The Roots Are Made For Scoring"
Lyrics: "These Roots are made for scoring, that's just what they do! One of these days these Roots are gonna score all over you!"
"Take A Little Trip To Laney"
This chant had me laughing on the sidelines. I applaud La Brigada Del Pueblo and the Oakland 68s for their collaboration on this one. This could be another experimental jam, but it was also heard vs. Tacoma and San Diego--does three make it official?
Here you witness a chant's evolution until its final form. They begin with
War's 1975 classic, Low Rider, with its original lyrics: "Take a little trip (x3) and see. Take a little trip (x) with me," before progressing into a bridge of, "the Oak-Land, Roots, got that fire. The Oak-Land, Roots, got de-sire," but now finalizes with "Take a little trip (x3) to Laney."
Lyrics: "The Oak-Land, Roots, got that fire. The Oak-Land, Roots, got de-sire. Take a little trip (x3) to Laney. Take a little trip (x3) to Laney..."
"He's here! He's there! He's every-fuckin-where!" Kai Greene
Excuse Homegrown Hooligans' shwasted work of the camera, at least it leaves no doubt of the lyrics: "He's here! He's there! He's every-fuckin-where! Kai Greene (x2)!"
"O-A-K! Ohhhhhh! Oak-Land-Roots"
The Oakland 68s have got this one going on numerous occasions. It is a slow build of "O-A-K" around nine or 10 times leading into a pronounced "Ohhh!" Closing, "Oak-Land Roots!" Simple, right?
Lyrics: "O-A-K! (x10) Ohhhhhh! Oak - Land - Roots!"
Let us know in the comments if you have something to add.
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