Sportsong of the Week #37

"Omahallelujah"

Punch Brothers

2016

Congratulations to NFL Super Bowl 50 champions Denver Broncos, MVP Von Miller and quarterback Peyton Manning! So a song about American football was the way to go this week! And I found a jewel. A tribute to Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning sang on the eve of the Super Bowl. It's the little ditty 'Omahallelujah' performed by progressive bluegrass band Punch Brothers!

“Omahallelujah” paid tribute to Denver Broncos quarterback — and University of Tennessee alumnus — Peyton Manning on the eve of Super Bowl 50, which the Broncos went on to win over the Carolina Panthers. In true Lake Wobegon fashion, it combines Manning’s famous line-of-scrimmage, pre-snap battle cry with the bluegrass gospel traditions of Bill Monroe. Filled with nods to Papa John’s (the pizza chain in which Manning is invested), his first Super Bowl win and ensuing MVP trophy and the possibility that Manning may hang it up after this season.

Punch Brothers' lead Chris Thile said in an interview about the song and the win by the Broncos and Manning: “I was so happy,” he said. “Sports can be pretty cruel, but sometimes it feels like God must be a sports fan. With old Peyton, there’s not a lot of gas left in the tank, but the Broncos had the defense, and it was an amazing win. I’ve always pulled for him, and in writing a song about him, I wanted to wish him well and egg him on.”

Omahallelujah!!