“It Only Takes One Lion,” a self-deprecating tune by Belle and Sebastian, was partly inspired by the Scottish national team’s current anthem, “Yes Sir, I Can Boogie.” The lyrics reportedly came to Stuart Murdoch, the band’s frontman, in the hazy period following Scotland’s dramatic qualification for the World Cup. Murdoch, a lifelong fan of the team, watched their playoff victory against Denmark with apprehension before deciding to compose his own tribute to the team he has supported for over five decades.
Murdoch noted, “Most people recognised instantly the next day that they’d witnessed the most important Scottish game ever. That was our magic moment.”