常看大聯盟球賽應該有注意到,在第七局攻守交替時,現場觀眾會一起唱這首歌"Take Me Out to the Ball Game"(註一)(帶我去看棒球),在重要大賽時,甚至會請名人來帶動唱,這時攝影機就會捕捉現場觀眾唱這首歌時的歡樂情景,唱完後大家會喊"Let's get some runs!"(讓我們多得一些分數)(註二),為地主球隊加油。在今年2008年,這首棒球歌曲要過一百歲的生日了!
1908年,Take Me Out to the Ball Game最早版本的專輯封面
"Take Me Out to the Ball Game" 的歌詞是1908年Jack Norworth在紐約地鐵看到看板上寫著Baseball Today — Polo Grounds,靈機一動所寫的,其草稿寫在報紙所撕掉的一小角上,之後由Albert Von Tilzer 為歌詞寫曲。在1927年,由Norworth的老婆Nora Bayes初次演唱。
Norworth和Bayes是當時非常成功的輕歌舞劇(vaudeville)的作詞者與演唱者,Norworth寫作這首歌詞只花了15分鐘。在1927年,Norworth修改了部分歌詞,成了第二版的"Take Me Out to the Ball Game",隨後推出同時有兩個版本的唱片,再度大為流行。兩個版本的主要差異在於主角從棒球狂Katie Casey換成比較平和的棒球迷Nelly Kelly。相同點就是著名的那段,要他的男朋友帶她去看棒球。
Take me out to the ball game, Take me out with the crowds; 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 was baseball mad, Had the fever and had it bad. Just to root for the home town crew, Ev'ry sou1 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:"
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 crowds; 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:
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:
註一:為紀念911事件,洋基主場會改唱"God Bless America" 註二:有次Kid Rock到芝加哥小熊隊主場唱完"Take Me Out to the Ball Game",旁邊的Jeff要他喊一下類似"Go Cubs, Let's get some runs"提振士氣的話,沒想到Kid就喊"Hey Chicago! Let's get some lunch!"