Thankfully the Cubs are coming home after yet another disastrous trip to Florida. When you factor in their trips a little farther south the past two years, the Cubs are now 0-10 in that god forsaken state. Let us talk of it no more. Well, at least until they go back in mid August to play the Marlins.
They need to get home because their outfield seems to be allergic to playing on turf (it’s no surprise that Reed Johnson prefers “grass” though, is it?). Last night the Cubs played a first baseman in left and a second baseman in right. Why not just play Geovany Soto in center and get it over with?
The Cubs have won 11 in a row at home and are an astounding 29-8 in Wrigley. That’s a lot of wins, and a lot of games that end with the Steve Goodman “classic” ‘Go Cubs Go’ playing. Most of you know the song, know the story behind the song, know who Steve Goodman was and actually know the words to the song.
Most of you are apparently not the people that get shown singing along after Cubs wins. No, those people seem to think that the song is just the chorus with long breaks of awkward clapping. Those people, are, of course, idiots.
Occasionally you’ll get the critic who says “that song sucks.” Well, you know what? It kind of does, yeah. I’m sure Steve didn’t think it was his best work. But it wasn’t really a song, it was a jingle. He got paid by WGN Radio to write it and they used it as their intro starting in 1984. You’d hear the song, then you’d hear Vince Lloyd say, “The Chicago Cubs are on the air” and then Ryne Sandberg and The Sarge would kick the shit out of the Phillies and all would be right with the world.
It has been replaced over the years by such great ditties as “You’re My Cubs” and the lesser known “Wow, We Really Blow This Year.” It was preceded by such corn pone as “Hey Hey, Holy Mackeral” and the equally lesser known “Let’s Play Two, Maybe We’ll Actually Win One.”
Last year, the Cubs started playing “Go Cubs Go” after Cubs’ wins. It was a nice touch, and as lame as the song might be, it creates a very cool moment when the final out is made, Wrigley goes nuts and everybody tries to sing it. I’m sure wherever Goodman is now, he’s frantically writing an alternate verse so that you’re not singing that “The Cubs are going to win today” after they’ve already won.
Goodman, a Chicago native was a Cubs’ fan of the highest order, and in his lifetime, the Cubs had two real shots at a World Series. He was there for the 1969 collapse, and it was also the year, at only 21, that he learned he had leukemia. He died 11 days before the opener of the NLCS at Wrigley against the Padres in 1984.
In between, he made a living as a folk singer, palled around with Jimmy Buffett, David Allan Coe, John Prine, Woody Guthrie and Kris Kristofferson.
He went to the University of Illinois and wrote his most famous song, “The City of New Orleans” on the train going between home and school one day.
While “Go Cubs Go” might not be his best work, one song he wrote about the Cubs, likely was.
By the shores 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, “It’s late and its getting dark in here”
And I know it’s time to go
But before I leave the line-up
Boys, there’s just one thing I’d like to knowDo 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 LeagueTold 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 teachers
To go sit in the bleachers
In flagrant truancyand 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 boy’s 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 ‘L’ 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 dieBuild 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 southwest 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 AvenueThe 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 it’s 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 isDo 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–A Dying Cubs Fan’s Last Request
You can probably figure out from that, why that’s not the song the Cubs play after home wins. Maybe they ought to play it after home losses? But it’s a piece of art, as well done as anything hanging in the Louvre, or even anything ever painted on velvet and sold near a highway on ramp. It captures the essence of Cubs’ fans. Well, at least, the essence of a segment of Cubs’ fans.
So just remember the next time the final out is made at Wrigley and the other song is cranked up (hopefully this afternoon), that you’re singing Steve’s second-best (at best) Cubs’ song.
But enjoy it.
He sure would.
Baseball season’s underway
Well you better get ready for a brand new day
Hey, Chicago, what do you say
The Cubs are gonna win today
They’re singing …
Go, Cubs, go
Go, Cubs, go
Hey, Chicago, what do you say
The Cubs are gonna win today
Go, Cubs, go
Go, Cubs, go
Hey, Chicago, what do you say
The Cubs are gonna win today.
They got the power, they got the speed
To be the best in the National League
Well this is the year and the Cubs are real
So come on down to Wrigley Field
We’re singing now …
Go, Cubs, go
Go, Cubs, go
Hey, Chicago, what do you say
The Cubs are gonna win today
Go, Cubs, go
Go, Cubs, go
Hey, Chicago, what do you say
The Cubs are gonna win today
Baseball time is here again
You can catch it all on WGN
So stamp your feet and clap your hands
Chicago Cubs got the greatest fans.
You’re singing now …
Go, Cubs, go
Go, Cubs, go
Hey, Chicago, what do you say
The Cubs are gonna win today
Go, Cubs, go
Go, Cubs, go
Hey, Chicago, what do you say
The Cubs are gonna win today
That was refreshing Dolan. Nice work. I needed that today.
I’m also partial to the “Lincoln Park Pirates,” which isn’t about Wille Stargell and Manny Sanguillen enjoying the nightlife a couple miles south of the ballpark.
Last seasin they played “A Dying Cub Fan’s Last Request” after a Cubs win, and nobody could figure it out – must have been an intern screw-up.
I’ve actually got “Go Cubs Go” on my IPod.
Which probably makes me a dork of the highest order…
I also have “When the Cubs Go Marching In”, which is actually a pretty good song because it’s done live and it sounds like he was making it up as he went along.
I remember that Fork…some fans were pissed. It ended up being harbinger of another disappointment.
Don’t forget Hey Hey Holy Mackerel
It’s in there. Dummy.
I’ve got Holy Mackerel on my iPod, LoneStar. So, yeah, you and I are those guys. But you can avoid the confusion of that problematic chorus by singing the song my way: “Hey, Chicago, whaddya say? The Sox are gonna lose today!”
Works just fine and also brings the funny. Though I guess it won’t work this weekend will it? Because when we sing the song, the Sux will already be taking their pants off in the losing clubhouse.
Here’s for all those Cubs fans who have had to hold their breath.
And sometimes you think they might win. And it scares you half to death…
I did play “Dying Cubs Fans Last Request” at my wedding reception last year. So yea…I guess that’s a little ghey.
I guess that’s what I get from scanning and completely reading the article. oops
I can top that. I played Dying Cubs Fan’s Last Request during my wedding!
Not really. Though I’ll be the harpist could have rocked that shit.
My buddy Jay’s got you beat. He really did walk down the aisle at his wedding to “Bear Down” played by a violinist.
Lassie and Dick Mountain are partial to the Lincoln Park Butt Pirates.
YOU WOULD BE A GOOD HARPIST ANDY
ALSO ON MY IPOD TOO :/
I usually listen to a Dying Cub Fan’s Last Request in times like these. It doesn’t help me a whole lot but it is still a nice thing to listen to when you are down.
Now is one of those times.
Refreshing indeed as Slak mentioned.
Yes nice typo in my harpist comment.
By the way, I’m particularly proud of the new soundbite in the How Are Things Going? thing on the sidebar.
Arlo, not Woody, Guthrie.
Nice piece.
Include me in the Cubs-songs-on-his-iPod ghey club, fellow dorks. Thanks, Andy, this somehow gave me a hunch: The Cubs are gonna win today!
Thanks, Andy. I don’t know much about Steve Goodman or why he wrote the song. And, to be honest, I watch Cubs games on WGN here in Baton Rouge and when they win, I’m doing my best white-guy-singing-and-dancing to that song.
There’s a saying around these parts: “There’s nothing like Saturday night in Tiger Stadium; when the band starts ‘Hold that Tiger’ for the pregame.” And, it’s certainly true if you’ve ever been inside the place.
But, I’m sure there’s going to be nothing like the feeling inside Wrigley when Goodman’s tune comes across the speakers when the Cubs take the NL Central and God knows what else later in the year.
I like all of the Guthries, except for Mark.
my soundbite is perfectly appropriate. nice work.
Go Cubs, Go is a gawd-awful song. That said, agreed, it’s a nice feel for the immediate post win moment.
As for it being his second best song, nope. That distinction goes to ‘You never even called me by my name.’
That’s from Superbad, not Juno.
He went to Lake Forest, not U of I. His grandma lived in Mattoon, hence the train ride. Nice job otherwise though.
He actually did go to U of I of one year, but didn’t graduate. It was there he joined his first band.
While the trip to visit his future wife’s grandma was the main inspiration, the song was definitely not written in a day.
Nice try for you though Joe
“He died 11 days before the opener of the NLCS at Wrigley against the Padres in 1984.”
For which he was scheduled to sing the national anthem.
“LoneStarCubFan”—I got both the songs on my Ipod as well.. We are both geeks… GO CUBS GO!!! I am trying to find it as a ring tone for my phone.
Thanks for the focus on “A Dying Cub Fan’s Last Request” and its semi-sequel “Go, Cubs, Go,” bot h by Steve Goodman. He often doesn’t get his due. You might be interested in my 800-page biography, “Steve Goodman: Facing the Music.” The book delves deeply into the genesis of “A Dying Cub Fan’s Last Request” and “Go, Cubs, Go” and answers all of the questions and clarifies other comments in this string.
You can find out more at my Internet site (below). Amazingly, the book’s first printing sold out in just eight months, all 5,000 copies, and a second printing of 5,000 is available now. The second printing includes hundreds of little updates and additions, including 30 more photos for a total of 575. It just won a 2008 IPPY (Independent Publishers Association) silver medal for biography: http://www.independentpublisher.com/article.php?page=1231. To order a second-printing copy, see the “online store” page of my site. Just trying to spread word about the book. Feel free to do the same!
Clay Eals
1728 California Ave. S.W. #301
Seattle, WA 98116-1958
(206) 935-7515
(206) 484-8008
ceals@comcast.net
http://www.clayeals.com