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Tottenham facing 'legal pressure' over use of hit Barry Manilow song before matches
Nov 19 2025 12:16 · By Michael Pavitt · 29 Reads
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Tottenham are reportedly facing legal pressure from an Arsenal supporting writer of Barry Manilow ’s hit ‘Can’t Smile Without You’ over the club’s use of the track before matches.
The song was written by David Martin, Christian Arnold and Geoff Morrow in the 1970s, with Martin originally releasing the track in 1975 as a single.
However, Manilow’s version, released three years later, has become the most well-known.
Tottenham fans adopted the song, amid suggestions players had sung it on the team bus on away trips in the later 1970s.
The Premier League club have used the song before matches, with fans joining in and adding ‘Tottenham’ at points in the track.
Morrow, a supporter of Tottenham’s arch rivals Arsenal, has claimed the club has rejected his request for royalties over the use of the song.
One of the writers behind the song ‘Can’t Smile Without You’ has claimed Tottenham have rejected his attempts to secure royalties over their use of the track before matches
Barry Manilow's version of ‘Can’t Smile Without You’ is the best known and was reportedly adopted by Tottenham fans back in the 1970s
‘I hoped that Spurs would be willing to sit down and meet with me to discuss this but they haven’t been interested,’ Morrow told the Sun .
‘When we wrote the song, we never imagined it would become a football anthem.
‘It was written as a love song.
‘What is really frustrating is Spurs won’t accept they are using our song.’
Tottenham reportedly declined to comment, with the Sun stating the club view the songwriter’s claim to have no legal basis under licence rules.
In addition to signing along to the track, Tottenham fans have included ‘Can’t Smile Without You’ on banners.
The club also covered seats during the Covid-19 pandemic with a banner featuring the lyrics, when matches were played behind closed doors.
Morrow's claim comes in the build-up to the North London Derby on Sunday.
Premier League leaders Arsenal will welcome their North London rivals to the Emirates in the headline fixture of the weekend.