Stevie Palmer is one of Scotland’s most celebrated singer-songwriters – audiences sing along from the very first seconds, and his albums collect glowing reviews from critics. As a child, he dreamed of stepping onto the pitch in a Scotland shirt and scoring that decisive goal at the World Cup. A career as a professional footballer never came together, but the childhood dream never went away – it found its way into music instead. His new single “Here We Go” is a powerful, driving anthem in which the roar of the Hampden Park stands, memories of going to matches with his father, and those unforgettable emotions we share with our own children are all woven together. Music for everyone who keeps believing that their favourite team’s greatest triumph is still ahead. We spoke with Stevie about how to forge a football passion into a musical hit, about family traditions, and about why a great song has the power to unite an entire stadium.

Stevie, hello! We’re glad to meet you and thank you for agreeing to answer our questions. Wikipedia uses many solid words about you: “award-winning,” “outstanding songwriter.” But dry facts don’t convey character. If you had to write an honest and amusing bio for someone who has never heard your music at all, what words would you start it with? 

I began my musical journey as a drummer, and while I was relied upon to keep the groove flowing and the dancers dancing, ultimately I was expected to leave the “serious music making” to the “proper musicians”, most of whom wouldn’t have been able to play in time had their weekly food shopping depended on it!

Not to be discouraged, I started writing songs in secret, recording my first made-up melodies on my Dictaphone well into the wee small hours, before getting up at 7am for work the next day. There would be no going back from there for me (although I’ll always be a drummer at heart).

We know that in your childhood, like many Scottish boys, you faced the dilemma of the century: to become a rock star or a great footballer. At what exact moment did the guitar finally defeat the football boots, and what was your very first step into music?

Before I fell fully into music as my way of life, professional football dreams gave way to those of boxing, then golf, both of which I was quite handy at and one of which I’m still trying, unsuccessfully, to master (the one that doesn’t involve getting punched in the face).

Beyond my early drumming career, the first song I wrote that had some limited success was “Black Is The Sun”, a lament for the soldiers that perished in the horrific, mud-drenched trenches of WWI. This song was picked up by the highly respected Scottish folk music label Greentrax Recordings, which subsequently went on to release two albums of my original songs.

Your childhood passion for football was strengthened by trips with your father to Easter Road and Hampden Park. Back then, it felt like a huge celebration. What do you miss most from that atmosphere in today’s, somewhat “overly commercial,” football? 

What sticks in my mind most from my early memories of watching football with my dad in the 1970s is the sight of George Best playing for Hibs, albeit very briefly, sending a sixty-yard pass to someone’s feet without even looking up; the sea of colour on the terracing at Wembley Stadium in 1977 when Scotland were victorious against England by 2 goals to 1; Archie Gemmill’s wonder goal against the Netherlands at the 1978 World Cup in Argentina; waving my homemade flag at Hampden Park during the 1979 Scottish Cup Final; the smell of hot pies steaming through the cold December rain on a Saturday afternoon at half-time; getting lifted over the turnstile by my dad to get in for free; and walking back to the car after the game eating chips from an old newspaper.

Let’s talk about your new release – the track “Here We Go.” A football anthem that has received many positive reviews. How did the idea come about to fuse stadium chants and family nostalgia into a powerful studio track? 

I was brought up in the shadows of Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh. It is, without doubt, one of the most special places on earth and somewhere my wife and I still go with our wee dog Oreo, although not to the very top these days as she’s getting on in years. Oreo that is, not my wife!

What a save by Palmer — Scotland’s late stand-in goalkeeper!

A football anthem is a tricky genre. On one hand, the song has to be heartfelt; on the other, it needs to be easy to remember. Did you test the chorus on friends before recording the final version?

The idea for “Here We Go” actually came from my youngest son challenging me to write a Scottish football song that he might actually like (he’s a songwriter himself and not a fan of this particular sub-genre). When it came to writing it, everything seemed to roll together naturally: the chants, the memories, the dreams of triumph, and the agony of defeat — especially when it is so often snatched from the jaws of victory rather than the other way around, as the poets might have us believe.

That’s all part of supporting Scotland though.

“Here We Go” is written from a very personal perspective – a subtle connection between your father, you, and your sons, with whom you now go to the stands yourself. How did your sons react when they first heard “Here We Go”?

Our very large furry cat Kevin was the first critical listener to get past in relation to “Here We Go”. He stuck around, fully awake on the kitchen table beside me for two full run-throughs. Possibly a first for him, as attention span is not one of his superpowers.

I knew I was onto something though when football fans from both of my grown-up sons’ friend groups started singing it back without the need for any encouragement. It’s definitely one of those songs that seems to land instantly with people.

I’m very grateful for this one. Like all songwriters, I’ve had a few bumpier attempts along the way.

You dedicated this song to every fan who, against all odds, continues to believe that Scotland’s finest hour is still ahead. Why do you think football has such a magical power to unite people, even when the national team’s results are, let’s say, inconsistent?

Thankfully, my two sons Joe and Lewis both gave it the thumbs up. This does not always happen when running your new creations past your most critical audience.

My dear old dad has long since passed on, but I think he would’ve definitely been chuffed with this one. Actually, when I close my eyes and think of him, he is really chuffed with it.

Many note that your songs have tremendous emotional power. Writing a cheerful track is doable, but making a listener shed a restrained tear – that’s already magic. What’s your secret?

On a slightly negative note, the togetherness that football inspires is a tribal thing for sure.

On a much more positive note, it’s about sharing a passion, seeing beyond differences, and celebrating life in all its glorious technicolour. When it comes right down to it, football encapsulates so much of what it means to be alive on this planet, right here, right now, whenever and wherever that might be. That’s what makes it such a great match for music and song.

As I’m writing this, Messi has just scored his fifth goal of this World Cup so far. There’s football, then there’s Messi! There you go — a Scotsman celebrating an Argentinian. That’s what it’s all about. It doesn’t matter where someone comes from; it’s the skill, beauty, and passion they bring to the world that counts.

That’s football. That’s life.

Edinburgh is a city with an incredible atmosphere, ancient castles, and mysterious streets. They say the local air itself inspires ballads. What is your favorite “secret” place in Edinburgh where you can hide from the bustle and be alone with your thoughts?

The emotional connection between songwriter and listener comes from trying to write songs that move you, the writer, first and foremost, before letting anyone else hear them. Once you’ve accomplished this, there’s every chance that your efforts are going to resonate and connect with others.

We’re all human beings facing similar struggles and trying our best to make it through.

Two excellent albums on Greentrax Recordings are behind you, and now this powerful stadium burst in the form of “Here We Go.” Your discography already looks like a great series where each season is better than the last. But musicians never sit still. Lift the curtain a little, Stevie: is your creative muse resting in a deck chair after a football marathon, or is it already showering you with new ideas? What should we expect next?

It’s important for all of us to take a few moments and enjoy what we’ve already achieved, whatever those achievements might be. Then we move on. That’s essential for me.

I’m definitely always looking for the next idea and trying to harness the next piece of inspiration. I don’t sleep much — four or five hours seems to do — so I just crack on and try to make each day count.

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