'A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request' by Steve Goodman

[HuskerDU]

'By the shores of old Lake Michigan, where the hawk wind blows so cold

An old Cub fan lay dying in his midnight hour the toll

Around 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 'em 'it's late it's 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 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'

He told his friends 'You know the law of averages says anything will happen that can

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 truancy

Then one thing led to another and soon I 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 them (pop) like so many paper beer cups

Year after year after year after year after year after year after year after year

Till those hopes are just so much popcorn for the pigeons under the L tracks to eat

He said 'You know I'll never see Wrigley Field any more before my eternal rest

So if you have your pencils and your scorecards ready I'll read you my last request

Give me a double header funeral at Wrigley Field on some sunny weekend day- no lights

Have the organ play the national anthem then a little na na na na hey hey hey goodbye

Make 6 bullpen pitchers carry my coffin, and 6 groundkeepers clear my path

Have the umpires bark me out at every base, in all their holy wrath

It's a beautiful day for a funeral- hey Ernie let's play two!

Somebody go get Jack Brickhouse to come back and conduct just one more interview

Have the Cubbies run right out on the middle of the field

Have Keith Moreland drop a routine fly

Give everybody 2 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 Slugger baseball bats and throw my coffin in

Let my ashes blow in a beautiful snow from the prevailing 30 mph southwest wind

And when my last remains fly over the left field wall, we'll bid the Bleacher Bums adu

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 in that heavenly hall of fame'

He said, 'I've got season tickets to watch the Angels now, so that's just what I'm gonna do

But you the living, you're stuck here with the Cubs so it's ME who feels sorry for YOU!'

Then he said, 'oh play, play that lonesome losers tune- that's the one I like the best'

He closed his eyes and slipped away it was the dying Cub fan's last request

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'


Goodman's song speaks for every Cub fan I've ever known. One more Goodman quote: 'GO CUBS GO!'

[BrklynLib at work]

1. ...

[HERVEPA]

2. He died way too young

I hope the Cubbies make it past the first series, so the Phillies can blow them away after the next.
But if the Phillies lose the first series, I hope the Cubs go all the way.

[HuskerDU]

3. Thank you Hervepa.

Steve's ashes are not 'out on Waveland Avenue' as the song says, they are actually underneath home plate.

Fightin' Phills are looking pretty good. Good luck to them when not playing my Cubs.

[Ellen Forradalom]

4. A classic Chicago voice

and an archetypical Chicago sense of humor. RIP Steve.