The Song Of Baseball
THE SONG OF BASEBALL
Baseball’s biggest hit has been around for over one hundred years. Written by Jack Norworth in 1908, “Take me out to the ball game” has been echoed in every major league baseball park across America. The lyrics were composed to that unforgettable tune by Albert Von Tilzer. Believe it or not, it wasn’t until years later that Jack and Albert actually experienced their first baseball game.
Norworth actually wrote two versions of the famous song. In 1908 the song became an instant sensation. Sales for sheet music, records, even piano rolls sky rocketed. Jack’s wife Nora was the first to sing the song, but over the years, this famous song of baseball has been sung and re-sung by popular musicians such as Gene Kelley and Frank Sinatra all the way to humble quartets like The Haydn Quartet singers.
Interesting enough the song is traditionally sung during the seventh inning stretch of a baseball game, even though it was written from the perspective of someone not at a game. These days you rarely hear the fans sing the verses. The chorus is truly what everyone remembers and fans are always encouraged to sing along.
Here are the two versions of the song:
1908 Version
Katie Casey was baseball mad,
Had the fever and had it bad.
Just to root for the home town crew,
Ev'ry sou[1] Katie blew.
On a Saturday her young beau
Called to see if she'd like to go To see a show,
but Miss Kate said "No, I'll tell you what you can do
[Chorus]
Take me out to the ball game,
Take me out with the crowd;
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack,
I don't care if I never get back.
Let me root, root, root for the home team,
If they don't win, it's a shame.
For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out,
At the old ball game.
Katie Casey saw all the games,
Knew the players by their first names.
Told the umpire he was wrong,
All along, Good and strong.
When the score was just two to two,
Katie Casey knew what to do,
Just to cheer up the boys she knew,
She made the gang sing this song
1927 Version
Nelly Kelly loved baseball games,
Knew the players, knew all their names.
You could see her there ev'ry day,
Shout "Hurray" When they'd play.
Her boyfriend by the name of Joe
Said, "To Coney Isle, dear, let's go",
Then Nelly started to fret and pout,
And to him, I heard her shout:
[Chorus]
Take me out to the ball game,
Take me out with the crowd;
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack,
I don't care if I never get back.
Let me root, root, root for the home team,
If they don't win, it's a shame.
For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out,
At the old ball game.
Nelly Kelly was sure some fan,
She would root just like any man,
Told the umpire he was wrong,
All along, Good and strong.
When the score was just two to two,
Nelly Kelly knew what to do,
Just to cheer up the boys she knew,
She made the gang sing this song
Article by Anita Winter
[1] The term "sou", now obscure, was at the time common slang for a low-denomination coin. Carly Simon's version, produced for Ken Burns' 1994 documentary on baseball, reads "Ev'ry cent / Katie spent".
