Jersey Number 12

🎵 Lyrics[Intro] Five in the morning, I turn on the TV A flash of green turf fills my eyes The greens of Mexico, the gold of South Africa Ah, this season's come again[Verse 1] I was just a boy who dreamed of Captain Tsubasa Manga stacked on my bookshelf, head full of goals Morning practice on the school ground, soccer club, sixth grade Couldn't dribble to save my life — but I ran anywayEveryone around me had been playing for years Tactics, formations — I didn't understand a thing But I loved it, I loved chasing that ball Something in my chest was burning, wouldn't go out[Pre-Chorus] Lungs on fire, legs giving out Never knew what was holding me back The vice-captain's voice cut through the air: "You can do better" — but my name was the bad example[Chorus] Jersey number 12, a bench-warmer's summer Never made the starting lineup But not once — not even once — Did I ever stop loving this gameYou don't have to be good, you don't have to know everything Just scream when the ball hits the back of the net Nothing's changed now that I'm in my 40s That same heart that fell for Tsubasa — it's still right here[Verse 2] I found out I was anemic From a blood test I took for a cold Two months of treatment — then I ran out on that field And the kid who used to lap last found himself leading the packThe stamina came back, but the time never did Three years of middle school, never once in the main lineup And that's okay — it really was okay Those days on the bench built the man I am today[Pre-Chorus] Living room sofa, the whole family lined up My kids look up and ask: "Dad, when's the next match?" That one line — that's all I need[Chorus] Jersey number 12, a bench-warmer's summer Never made the starting lineup But not once — not even once — Did I ever stop loving this gameYou don't have to be good, you don't have to know everything Just scream when the ball hits the back of the net Nothing's changed now that I'm in my 40s That same heart that fell for Tsubasa — it's still right here[Bridge] Ronaldo, Messi, Yamal, Haaland My kids flip through their soccer cards "How old is he?" "How tall?" Eyes shining, comparing every statI'm not gonna force it, they don't have to love it Just laugh with their friends on a big match day That's enough — that's more than enough And Dad will be right there, quietly cheering from the sideEvery game on DAZN, gathered round the Fire TV No more worrying about recordings, no more dragging myself up at 3 AM Not anymore — watch what you want, when you want it This summer's happiness — it's right here[Final Chorus] Jersey number 12 — hey, kid, this one's for you It was good to be a sub, good to keep running This love for the game — Forty years on, it hasn't changed one bitYou don't have to be good, you don't have to know everything Just scream when the ball hits the back of the net Side by side with family, right in front of the TV That alone — that's the festival of a lifetime[Outro] Five in the morning, I turn on the TV A flash of green turf fills my eyes Ah, soccer is something else Sports are something elseThat kid in jersey number 12 Is still out there today, chasing the ball——Always. Always. Never changing.🎵 Full lyrics & more at: hatchy99.substack.com📝 note.com/hatchy99𝕏 x.com/hatchy_notes🧵 threads.com/@hatchy_notes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.