sports songs - Wordsmith.org

Same game as as link and aging, only sports this time (and, no, sex is not a sport!

) Starting it off with this Steve Goodman classic for all my fine long-suffering Cub fan friends in the Midwest:

A DYING CUB FAN'S LAST REQUEST

by Steve Goodman

By the shore's of old Lake Michigan
Where the "hawk wind" blows so cold
An old Cub fan lay dying
In his midnight hour that tolled
Round his bed, his friends had all gathered
They knew his time was short
And on his head they put this bright blue cap
From his all-time favorite sport
He told them, "its late and its getting dark in here"
And I know its time to go
But before I leave the line-up
Boys, there's just one thing I'd like to know

Do they still play the blues in Chicago
When baseball season rolls around
When the snow melts away,
Do the Cubbies still play
In their ivy covered burial ground
When I was a boy they were my pride and joy
But now they only bring fatigue
To the home of the brave
The land of the free
And the doormat of the National League

Told his friends "You know the law of averages says:
Anything will happen that can."
That's what it says.
"But the last time the Cubs won a National League pennant
Was the year we dropped the bomb on Japan"
The Cubs made me a criminal
Sent me down a wayward path
They stole my youth from me
(that's the truth)
I'd forsake my teacher's
To go sit in the bleachers
In flagrant truancy

and then one thing led to another
and soon I'd discovered alcohol, gambling, dope
football, hockey, lacrosse, tennis
But what do you expect,
When you raise up a young boys hopes
And then just crush 'em like so many paper beer cups.

Year after year after year
after year, after year, after year, after year, after year
'Til those hopes are just so much popcorn
for the pigeons beneath the 'EL' tracks to eat
He said "You know I'll never see Wrigley Field, anymore
before my eternal rest
So if you have your pencils and your score cards ready,
and I'll read you my last request
He said, "Give me a double header funeral in Wrigley Field
On some sunny weekend day (no lights)
Have the organ play the National Anthem
and then a little "na, na, na, na, hey hey, hey, Goodbye"
Make six bullpen pitchers, carry my coffin
and six ground keepers clear my path
Have the umpires bark me out at every base
In all their holy wrath
Its a beautiful day for a funeral, Hey Ernie lets play two!
Somebody go get Jack Brickhouse to come back,
and conduct just one more interview
Have the Cubbies run right out into the middle of the field,
Have Keith Moreland drop a routine fly
Give everybody two bags of peanuts and a frosty malt
And I'll be ready to die

Build a big fire on home plate out of your Louisville Sluggers baseball bats,
And toss my coffin in
Let my ashes blow in a beautiful snow
From the prevailing 30 mile an hour south west wind
When my last remains go flying over the left field wall
Will bid the bleacher bums adieu
And I will come to my final resting place, out on Waveland Avenue

The dying man's friends told him to cut it out
They said stop it that's an awful shame
He whispered, "Don't Cry, we'll meet by and by near the Heavenly Hall of Fame
He said, "I've got season's tickets to watch the Angels now,
So its just what I'm going to do
He said, "but you the living, you're stuck here with the Cubs,
So its me that feels sorry for you!

And he said, "Ahh Play, play that lonesome losers tune,
That's the one I like the best
And he closed his eyes, and slipped away
What we got is the Dying Cub Fan's Last Request
And here it is

Do they still play the blues in Chicago
When baseball season rolls around
When the snow melts away,
Do the Cubbies still play
In their ivy covered burial ground
When I was a boy they were my pride and joy
But now they only bring fatigue
To the home of the brave
The land of the free
And the doormat of the National League

© 1981 by Steve Goodman

Now c'mon, folks! It can't be that tough. This is a flexible category...songs about teams, about sports, college sports chants, songs that mention sports, songs often associated with sports Queen...hint, hint!

Here's another to help it along...

NOTRE DAME FIGHT SONG

Cheer, cheer for Old Notre Dame,
Wake up the echoes cheering her name,
Send a volley cheer on high,
Shake down the thunder from the sky.
What though the odds be great or small,
Old Notre Dame will win over all,
While her loyal sons are marching
Onward to Victory.

On a warm summer's evenin' on a train bound for nowhere,
I met up with the gambler; we were both too tired to sleep.
So we took turns a starin' out the window at the darkness
'Til boredom overtook us, and he began to speak.

He said, "Son, I've made a life out of readin' people's faces,
And knowin' what their cards were by the way they held their eyes.
And if you don't mind my sayin', I can see you're out of aces.
For a taste of your whiskey I'll give you some advice."

So I handed him my bottle and he drank down my last swallow.
Then he bummed a cigarette and asked me for a light.
And the night got deathly quiet, and his face lost all expression.
Said, "If you're gonna play the game, boy, ya gotta learn to play it right.

You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
Know when to walk away and know when to run.
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.

Ev'ry gambler knows that the secret to survivin'
Is knowin' what to throw away and knowing what to keep.
'Cause ev'ry hand's a winner and ev'ry hand's a loser,
And the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep."

And when he'd finished speakin', he turned back towards the window,
Crushed out his cigarette and faded off to sleep.
And somewhere in the darkness the gambler, he broke even.
But in his final words I found an ace that I could keep.

You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
Know when to walk away and know when to run.
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done

Gamblin's a "sport", TEd?

Maybe it has something to do with his name

Well, gamblers are sports. I consider poker an excellent sport! As well as cribbage.

Take me out to the ballgame,
take me out to the crowd.
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks
I don't care if I ever get back

Oh it's root, root root for the Cubbies,
if they don't win it's a shame
for it's ONE - TWO - THREE strikes your out
at the old ballgame.

7th inning stretch at Wrigley Field

Thanks, Keven! Figured "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" would be an early hit!

Now here's one that was even discussed on the board recently, and nobody came up with it:

FUGUE FOR TINHORNS

from Guys and Dolls

Nicely-Nicely:
I got the horse right here,
The name is Paul Revere,
And here's a guy that says if the weather's clear,
Can do, Can do,
This guys says the horse can do,
If he says the horse can do,
Can do, Can do, Can do.
Can do, Can do,
This guy says the horse can do
If he says the horse can do,
Can do, Can do. (Benny starts here)
For Paul Revere I'll bite,
I hear his foot's all right.
Of course it all depends if it rained last night.
Likes mud, Likes mud,
This "X" means the horse likes mud,
If that means the horse likes mud,
Likes mud, Likes mud.
I'll tell you Paul Revere,
Now this is no bum steer,
It's from a handicapper that's real sincere.
Can do, Can do,
This guy says the horse can do.
If he says the horse can do,
Can do, Can do.
Paul Revere,
I got the horse right here.

Benny:
I'm picking Valentine,
Cause on the morning line,
This guy has got him figured at five to nine
Has chance, Has chance,
This guy says the horse has chance,
If he says the horse has chance,
Has chance, Has chance. (Rusty starts here)
I know it's Valentine,
The morning works looks fine.
Besides the jockey's brother's a friend of mine.
Needs race, Needs race,
My friend says the horse needs race.
If he says the horse needs race,
Needs race, Needs race.
I go for Valentine,
Cause on the morning line,
The guy has got him figured at five to nine.
Has chance, Has chance,
This guy says the horse has chance.
Valentine,
I got the horse right here.

Rusty:
But look at Epitaph,
He wins it by a half,
According to this here in the Telegraph,
Big threat, Big threat,
This guy calls the horse big threat.
If he calls the horse big threat,
Big threat, Big threat.
And just a minute boys,
I've got the feed box noise,
It says the great grandfather was Equipoise.
Shows class, Shows class,
This guy says the horse shows class,
If he says the horse shows class,
Shows class, Shows class.
So make it Epitaph,
He wins it by a half,
According to this here in the Telegraph.
Epitaph,
I got the horse right here.

© 1950 by Frank Loesser

Little boy, in a baseball hat stands in the field with his ball and bat.
Says, "I am the greatest player of them all" puts his bat on his shoulder and he tosses up his ball.
And the ball goes up and the ball comes down swings his bat all the way around
The world so still you can hear the sound, the baseball falls to the ground.
Now the little boy doesn't say a word, picks up his ball, he is undeterred.
Says, "I am the greatest there has ever been" and he grits his teeth and he tries it again.
And the ball goes up and the ball comes down swings his bat all the way around
The world so still you can hear the sound, the baseball falls to the ground.
He makes no excuses, he shows no fear, he just closes his eyes and listens to the cheers.
Little boy, he adjusts his hat, picks up his ball, stares at his bat
Says,"I am the greatest, the game is on the line" and he gives his all one last time.
And the ball goes up and the moon so bright, swings his bat with all his might
The world's as still, as still can be, the baseball falls and that's strike three.
Now it's suppertime and his momma calls, little boy starts home with his bat and ball.
Says, "I am the greatest, that is a fact, but even I didn't know I could pitch like that!"
Says, "I am the greatest,that is understood, but even I didn't know I could pitch that good!"

"I Am The Greatest"
~~Kenny Rogers

Come on, chaps, fight for Harvard's glorious name!
Won't it be peachy if we win the game? (Oh, goody!)
Let's try not to injure them,
But fight, fight, fight - FIGHT FIERCELY HARVARD
- Harvard Fight Song "

"

Crocodile Dundee: That's not a fight song, mate. THIS is a fight song...

- "YEA ALABAMA" -

Yea Alabama! Drown'em Tide,
Every Bama man's behind you,
Hit your stride...

Go teach the Bulldogs to behave
Send the Yellow Jackets to a watery grave,

And if a man starts to weaken,
That's a shame,
'Cause Bama's pluck and grit have
Writ her name in Crimson Flame,

Fight on, Fight on, Fight on, men!
Remember the Rose Bowl we'll win then.
Go, roll to victory, Hit your stride!
You're > Dixie's football pride <,
Crimson Tide!

(If in another life, if he gained thirty pounds and still could run the forty in three point two, Crocodile Dundee would make an outstanding outside cornerback for the
storied, yet endearingly unassuming, Crimson Tide.)

-

- RoooOOOOooooOOOOoooOOOOooooLL TIDE! Roll! -

Horse racing is a "sport", WO'N?

Horse racing is a "sport", WO'N? WO'N, huh?

Well that's what they say, musick. Although, I've always contended that horse racing is not a sport, it's gambling. Because if you couldn't bet on it, nobody would care. But it seems there are flexible opinions about this. I've always enjoyed a good game of poker, but I never thought of it as a sport, like TEd. But gamblers were known as sports in slang for a long time. So whattiya think, sport?

If horse racing and gambling are sports, then so are sex and eating!

Life's a sport, then you die!

---------------
Is that all there is?
Is that all there is?
If that's all there is my freind
then let's keep dancing.
Let's break out the booze and have a ball
if that's all there is.

Life's a sport, then you die!

Now I see, musick...you're enamored of the sportin' life, ay?

GO-GO's LYRICS

The Whole World Lost Its Head
(Valentine/Wiedlin)

Freeway fell into the bay
Popes on L.S.D.
Muslim girls are getting down
In bikinis
Nazis selling tupperware
Door to door
Telepreachers mud-wrestling
On the dance floor

I read it in the paper
I see it on my TV
Has the whole world lost it's head
(Is it just me)
Has the whole world lost it's head
(Is it just me)
Has the whole world lost it's head

You can buy tomatoes
That last 500 years
Claudia Schiffer's fianc��
Made her disappear
Drag queens have the navy
Tossing in their beds
Mary ate her little lamb
And punk rock isn't dead

I read it in the paper
I see it on my TV
Has the whole world lost it's head
(Is it just me)
Has the whole world lost it's head
(Is it just me)
Has the whole world lost it's head

I read it in the paper
I see it on my TV
Has the whole world lost it's head
(Is it just me)
Has the whole world lost it's head
(Is it just me)
Has the whole world lost it's head
(Is it just me)
Has the whole world lost it's head
Lost it's head
Lost it's head
Lost it's head

An aside from WW: Let me tell you! I don't know squat about sports, but I thought it would be fun to post lyrics from a mud wrestling song and so off I went a-googling. Good grief! I don't advise googling mud wrestling.

Ev'ry duke and earl and peer is here
Ev'ryone who should be here is here.
What a smashing, positively dashing
Spectacle: the Ascot op'ning day.

At the gate are all the horses
Waiting for the cue to fly away.
What a gripping, absolutely ripping
Moment at the Ascot op'ning day.

Pulses rushing!
Faces flushing!
Heartbeats speed up!
I have never been so keyed up!

And second now
They'll begin to run.
Hark! A bell is ringing,
They are springing
Forward
Look! It has begun...!
What a frenzied moment that was!
Didn't they maintain an exhausting pace?
'Twas a thrilling, absolutely chilling
Running of the Ascot op'ning race.

HEART

from Damn Yankees

[VAN BUREN]
You've gotta have heart
All you really need is heart
When the odds are sayin' you'll never win
That's when the grin should start
You've gotta have hope
Mustn't sit around and mope
Nothin's half as bad as it may appear
Wait'll next year and hope
When your luck is battin' zero
Get your chin up off the floor
Mister you can be a hero
You can open any door, there's nothin' to it but to do it
You've gotta have heart
Miles 'n miles n' miles of heart
Oh, it's fine to be a genius of course
But keep that old horse
Before the cart
First you've gotta have heart

[ROCKY]
A great slugger we haven't got

[SMOKEY]
A great pitcher we haven't got

[VERNON]
A great ball club we haven't got

[ROCKY, SMOKEY & VERNON]
What've we got?

[ALL]
We've got heart
All you really need is heart
When the odds are sayin' you'll never win
That's when the grin should start

[ROCKY, SMOKEY, LINVILLE]
We've got hope
We don't sit around and mope
Not a solitary sob do wwe heave
Mister, 'cause we've got hope

[ROCKY]
We're so happy that we're hummin'

[ALL]
Hmm-hmm-hmm

[VAN BUREN]
That's the hearty thing to do

[ALL]
Hoo-hoo-hoo

[SMOKEY]
'Cause we know our ship will come in

[ALL]
Hmm-hmm-hmm

[ROCKY]
So it's ten years overdue

[ALL]
Hoo-hoo-hoo
We've got heart
Miles 'n miles 'n miles o' heart

[VERNON]
Oh, it's fine to be a genius of course

[BOYS]
Butt keep that old horse before the cart

[VAN BUREN]
So what the hecks the use of cryin'?

[SMOKEY]
Why should we curse?

[ROCKY]
We've gotta get better, 'cause we can't get worse!

[ALL]
And to add to it, we've got heart
We've got heart
We've got heart

We've got heart
All you really need is heart
When the odds are sayin' you'll never win
That's when the grin should start

[SMOKEY]
We're so happy that we're laughin'

[ALL]
Ha ha ha

[VAN BUREN]
That's the hearty thing to do

[ALL]
Hoo-hoo-hoo

[VERNON]
So we ain't been autographin'

[ALL]
Ha ha ha

[ROCKY]
'Cept to sign an I.O.U.

[ALL]
Hoo-hoo-hoo

[ALL]
We've got heart
Miles 'n miles n' miles of heart
Oh, it's fine to be a genius of course
But keep that old horse
Before the cart

[SMOKEY]
Who minds those pop bottles flyin'?

[VERNON]
The hisses and the boos

[VAN BUREN]
The team has been consistent

[ROCKY]
Yeah, we always lose

[THREE BOYS]
But we're laughin' cause... We've got heart

[ALL FOUR BOYS]
We've got heart... We've got heart

© 1955 by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross

I kinda can't be bothered linking (especially since all I'd have to do is choose a word like "in" or "and" so as to meet the criteria)

but here's a great Aussie sports song, Up there Cazaly by Mike Brady.

Up there Cazaly,
In there and fight,
Out there and at 'em,
Show'em your might,
Up there Cazaly,
Don't let 'em in,
Fly like an angel
You're out there to win.

World Series Cricket 1978-79 - Australia v West Indies v The World
Results from http://Cricinfo.com

C'mon Aussie C'mon
You've been training all the winter
And there's not a team that's fitter
And that's the way it got to be
'Cause you're up against the best you know
This is Supertest you know
And you've go to beat the best the world has seen

Lillee's pounding down like a machine
Pascoe's making divots in the green
Marshy's taking wickets
Hooksey's clearing pickets
And the Chappells' eyes have got that killer gleam
Mr Walker's playing havoc with the bats
Redpath, it's good to see you back
Lairdie's making runs
Dougie's chewing gum
and Gilmour's wielding willow like an axe

C'mon Aussie c'mon c'mon
C'mon Aussie c'mon c'mon
C'mon Aussie c'mon c'mon
C'mon Aussie c'mon

But wait there's more...

World Series Cup 1979-1980 - Australia v West Indies v England
Results from http://Cricinfo.com

C'mon Aussie C'mon
They are polishing the balls and swinging bats
The stars are coming out in coloured hats
Excitement is the ticket
This in one day cricket
Once you've been to see it you'll be back

Yeah, this is cricket, 1980's style
It's slicker and it's quicker by a mile
The white ball is on fire
It's a game the stakes get higher
There's a lot of reputations standing trial

There's England, the Windies, and the Oz
It's not quite the game of cricket that is was
They'll carve each other up
In the World Series Cup
It's a 3 way battle of the cricket gods

C'mon Aussie c'mon c'mon
C'mon Aussie c'mon c'mon
C'mon Aussie c'mon c'mon
C'mon Aussie c'mon

Just when you thought it was safe...

World Series Cup 1980-1981 - Australia v New Zealand v India
Results from http://Cricinfo.com

C'mon Aussie C'mon
The gentlemen of the ACB
Cordially invite you all to see
3 international teams
Resplendent in their creams
Exchanging well chosen pleasantries

It's one day cricket - cricket at its best
About 4 days faster than your average test
There's no such word as luck
When you play against the clock
It's shape up, or ship out! - more or less

There's India, New Zealand, and there's us
Only one can win
The rest will bust
B & H are putting up the World Series Cup
You'll be there, to cheer the locals on, I trust

C'mon Aussie c'mon c'mon
C'mon Aussie c'mon c'mon
C'mon Aussie c'mon c'mon
C'mon Aussie c'mon

Not sure what happened to the theme songs since then, but if I find 'em, I'll post em.

What is it about baseball that seems to inspire songwriters more than other sports? Here's a double header for you:

CENTERFIELD (John Fogerty)

Well, beat the drum and hold the phone - the sun came out today!
We're born again, there's new grass on the field.
A-roundin' third, and headed for home, it's a brown-eyed handsome man;
Anyone can understand the way I feel.

CHORUS:
Oh, put me in, Coach - I'm ready to play today;
Put me in, Coach - I'm ready to play today;
Look at me, I can be Centerfield.

Well, I spent some time in the Mudville Nine, watchin' it from the bench;
You know I took some lumps when the Mighty Casey struck out.
So Say Hey Willie, tell Ty Cobb and Joe DiMaggio;
Don't say "it ain't so", you know the time is now.

CHORUS

Yeah! I got it, I got it!

Got a beat-up glove, a homemade bat, and brand-new pair of shoes;
You know I think it's time to give this game a ride.
Just to hit the ball and touch 'em all - a moment in the sun;
(pop) It's gone and you can tell that one goodbye!

CHORUS
CHORUS

---------------------
RIGHT FIELD (Willy Welch, performed by Peter, Paul and Mary)

Saturday summers when I was a kid,
We'd run to the school yard and here's what we did,
We'd pick out the captains and we'd choose up the teams,
It was always a measure of my self esteem.
Cause the fastest, the strongest played shortstop and first,
the last ones they picked were the worst.
I never needed to ask, it was sealed,
I just took up my place in right field.

Playing right field, its easy you know,
You can be awkward, you can be slow,
That's why I'm here in right field,
Just watching the dandelions grow.

Playing right field can be lonely and dull,
Little leagues never have lefties that pull,
I dream of the day, when they hit one my way,
They never did, but still I would pray,
That I'd make a fantastic catch on the run,
And not lose the ball in the sun.
And then I'd awake from this long reverie,
And pray that the ball never came out to me.
Here in ...

[solo break]

Off in the distance, the game's dragging on,
There's strikes on the batter, some runners are on,
I don't know the inning, I've forgotten the score.
The whole team is yelling and I don't know what for,
Suddenly everyone's looking at me,
My mind has been wandering, what could it be?
They point to the sky and I look up above,
And the baseball falls into my glove!

Here in right field, Its important you know,
You gotta know how to catch, you gotta know how to throw,
That's why I'm here in right field,
Just watching the dandelions grow.

Hunting (a close tie with fishing)

The Ballad of Jed Clampett by Earl Scruggs

Come listen to a story 'bout a man named Jed
A poor mountaineer, barely kept his family fed
Then one day he was shootin' at some food,
and up from the ground came a bubblin' crude

Oil that is, black gold, Texas tea.

(Edit: Not one word about beer drinking. I don't like the stuff myself unless its Ringnes)

there is a song , I think the lyrics start with "when an old cricketer leaves the crease" I think it is about an old boy dying, but that is all I can remember, anybody know it?

the Duncster

In the early 90s I spent a month cycling around Ireland, during which sojourn Ireland was playing in the World Cup championships. I don't remember the name of the song, but there was a wonderful fight song that was (I think) written just for that competition. Everywhere I went in Ireland I heard it over and over again.

Perhaps GallantTed knows.

I was privileged to be invited to an NCO club at Curragh Camp, County Kildare, on the afternoon when Ireland played England. The sergeant who invited me assured me that the Guiness there was the least expensive in Ireland, somewhere around 90p, as opposed to 1 punt 20 elsewhere. The last thing I remember before waking the next day face down in my tent was everyone singing that song when Ireland tied the score with seconds remaining in regulation time.

Just heard this one on the radio. Unsure if we ever had it listed; perhaps it was within the deleted post above.

Center Field, by John Fogerty

Edit 7/1 -- just now noticed that this is duplicative. Sorry, Flatlander; I've deleted]

Keiva: you are not welcome on AWADtalk.

The person known as Keiva, who recently posted on this thread, was banned for flaming. He forced his way back into this forum by implied threats of legal action against Anu Garg, the founder of AWAD. This same person has also been known to post under the names AphonicRants, KeivaCarpal.

there is a tradition in England of the national team releasing an official world cup song, some have actually been pretty good believe it or not ( okay the one by new order and the one by the lightning seeds was). there is also a tradition of a load of semi famous 'lads' releasing unofficial songs, a particularly entertaining and admittedly puerile release came out last year called sven sven sven which essentially taunted the german team for losing 5-1 to us in the qualifiers
'rudi rudi rudi, rudi rudi voller, vor sprung durcht technike or sumfink or uvver' 'ha'

or a really bad one
'vindaloo, vindaloo, ner ner ner ner ner neerrr, we're gonna score one more than yooooooooooooooooooooo, ENGLAND'

i did like Three Lions though, you may have heard it sung on the terraces recently check out http://www.hep.ph.ic.ac.uk/~sandersp/lyrics.html for more

It's coming home
It's coming home
It's coming, football's coming home (Repeat x4)

Everyone seems to know the score
They've seen it all before
They just know, they're so sure
That England's going to throw it away
Gonna blow it away
But I know they can play
Cos I remember

Three Lions on a shirt
Jules Rimet still gleaming
Thirty years of hurt
Never stopped me dreaming

So many jokes, so many sneers
But all those oh so nears
Wear you down, through the years
And I still see that tackle by Moore
And when Lineker scored
Bobby belting the ball
And Nobby dancing

Three Lions on a shirt
Jules Rimet still gleaming
Thirty years of hurt
Never stopped me dreaming

I know that was then, but it could be again

It's coming home, it's coming home,
It's coming football's coming home (Repeat to end)

Keiva the extortionist is unwelcome here.

Agree with dody on the England football songs - Three Lions is easily best. Dead catchy.

Sadly

It's coming home
It's coming home
It's coming, football's coming home (Repeat x4)

Gets all too easily converted to

You're going home
You're going home
You're going, <Team name>'s going home

-which was probably used originally by England fans, only for it to be used against them by the Brazilians, with "England" as the team name

But the boys done good!

Ummm, mostly.

sniff sniff sob