Spirit Of ’58 – (Song) – The Alarm Archive

Spirit of ’58 is a specially rewritten version of Spirit of 76 with lyrics reflecting the only Football World Cup Wales reached in 1958. This was written especially as an additional track to feature on The Red Wall of Cymru EP for the Euro 2020 football tournament held in June 2021. This new set of lyrics were co-written by Mike Peters and Bryn Law during 2020. The song was released on two formats, the official recording on the Red Wall Of Cymru EP released on 28th May 2021. A demonstration version of the song on The Spirit of 58 EP released on Record Store Day 12th June 2021

Rockfield Studios, Wales Official FAW Recording
Running length 3:31
Written by Mike Peters/Eddie Macdonald/Bryn Law

Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica
James Stevenson – Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals
Steve “Smiley” Barnard – Drums, Backing Vocals
George Williams – Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
Jules Jones Peters – Keyboards, Backing Vocals

Recorded at Rockfield Studios, Wales February 2021
Produced by George Williams

Alternative studio recording releases – Demonstration recording

2020 – Mike Peters – Demonstration recording
Running length 3.59
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar

Full details to follow

Single appearances and discography for studio versions

Worldwide Releases

28th May 2021 – CD Single – The Red Wall of Cymru EP
Track listing : The Red Wall of Cymru / Red Dragon Tattoo / Spirit Of ’58
Released by The Twenty First Century Recording Company catalogue number 21C126
Rockfield Studios 2021 recording

28th May 2021 – Digital Download – Spirit Of ’58

12th June 2021 – 7″ Vinyl Single – The Spirit of 58 EP
Track listing : Aside – The Red Wall of Cymru / Red Dragon Tattoo -Spirit Of ’58
Released by The Twenty First Century Recording Company catalogue number 21C124
2020 Demonstration recording

Lyrics – Spirit Of 58 CD version

I’ve got a program from our first World Cup
It’s a little faded and it’s all beat up
From the year before I was born
From these pages many dreams were forged
The team in that program named
Eleven lads who shook the world
John Charles – superstar
We all knew we could go far
We were there, we were there, we were there

We made it to the quarter finals
Brazil against our own Welsh diamonds
For 65′ we stood strong
Until the Welsh guard could not hold on
All Wales was silenced
The day Pele broke our hearts
The spirit of 58, lives on and on
We’ll be back, we’ll be back, we’ll be back,
Together, stronger, we are Wales
We live to fight another day
As Gary Speed looks down from on high
We’ll keep the Welsh flag flying high
Oh oh we are the spirit of 58

Cardiff flood lights shine in the distance
Same as they did for us then
Cardiff flood lights shine in the distance
We’re going to see Wales my friend

In the program that I bought today
Eleven heroes for a brand new Wales
From the spirit of 58
To the red wall that sings their names
We are the Welsh army
In bucket hats and football tops
Wherever Wales have gone
The spirit marches on and on, and on, and on, and on
Together, stronger, we are Wales
We live to fight another day
As Gary Speed looks down from on high
We’ll keep the Welsh flag flying high
Oh oh we are the spirit of 58
Cymru