A smash or just a racket? Band writes song for tennis ace Andy

Published on Friday 12 June 2009 22:13

THE grunts of the players and the gasps of the crowd traditionally echo around Wimbledon.

(Hit the green button to play)

But stand by for a different noise coming from SW19. A Scottish band is hoping to give Andy Murray a winning soundtrack with a special song dedicated to him.

Rock, Salt and Nails want to rouse fans with Volley Highway and make the world's most famous tennis tournament reverberate to the sound of its lyrics.

The song will be released for download from musical website iTunes to coincide with Wimbledon, and contains lyrics designed to inspire the player.

Paul Johnston, lead singer and guitar player, described the single as a cross between Runrig and the current Irn-Bru advert.

He said: "We did it because we think he sometimes suffers a bit from being seen as British.

"(Murray's] Scottish and too often Scots go down south and lose their Scottish identity."

Johnston hopes to perform the song on what used to be nicknamed Henman Hill but is now being dubbed Murray's Mount by the Scottish star's fans.

The song has a distinctive Scottish flavour thanks to the band's two fiddle players and the group's Shetland roots.

Johnston said: "It's meant to be fun. We are not claiming it's Rabbie Burns, but in Homecoming year, the boy's doing good and it's easy to knock folk.

"He's quite serious and sometimes comes across as very focused, but you can't be No.3 in the world if you are not focused.

"Everyone in Scotland's wanting him to do well and we are keen to do our bit to support him."

Murray, the British No.1, is through to today's semi-finals of the Aegon Championships at the Queen's Club in London.

Wimbledon starts a week on Monday, and Murray is second favourite with some bookmakers, behind five-times former champion Roger Federer but ahead of reigning champion Rafael Nadal, who is a doubt for the tournament due to injury.

Songs about football frequently feature in the charts – especially when the home nations make the World Cup finals – and even snooker has inspired at least one songwriter.

In contrast tennis, however, has yet to provide the necessary inspiration.

Only Saint Etienne's album track Conchita Martinez, named after the 1994 Wimbledon champion, can claim a link with the sport.

A spokeswoman for Rock, Salt and Nails' record company, Park Records, said they were excited to be launching the record in time for Wimbledon.

She said: "Fred Perry was the last British male to win the singles championship, back in 1936, and we feel the country is ready to get behind Andy.

"In the current economic climate, music and sport provide an opportunity to raise the nation's spirit and really get behind a fantastic tennis player.

"We felt Rock, Salt and Nails were the perfect band to be involved in the project with their Scottish background and fresh and energetic attitude to music."

Dave Macdermid, of Tennis Scotland, said: "The fact Andy is having songs written about him underlines the impact he has had on the sport and Scotland generally.

"Lots of tennis fans in Scotland will buy the record and anything which raises the profile of tennis is a good thing."

FULL LYRICS TO 'VOLLEY HIGHWAY'

First place with an ace he moved around with grace

read a newspaper cutting blowing round in space

and it tells of the tale where Murray without fail

tried for the finals to beat all his rivals

and play the game in his own way

be the champion........He,s someone you can write about

Come on Andy Andy Murray sing Caledonia wild frontier

Come on Andy Andy Murray

One day you can have no fear

he,l be King of the centre court bathed in cheers

Net ball came the call.....Murray stood tall

though the court looked massive his racket so small

as he drove his way through volley highway

with cuts and passes like lightening flashes

where the points were long.... Murray held on

for a big return

He,s someone you can shout about

CHORUS

And now were counting down from Murray mountain

to a date with destiny's champagne fountain

going all the way to make this Summer day

a time of victory....sublime ability

all alone the loser goes home

feels like time to die......but winning

there's something that's so good about

CHORUS