Take Me Out to the Ball Game

By Jack Norworth & Albert Von Tilzer
1908

For this Superbowl Sunday, I give you the unofficial anthem of America's true pastime and greatest sport. Norworth was inspired to write the song by a sign on the subway advertising New York Giants baseball at the Polo Grounds. Von Tilzer would later add lyrics, and the song became a hit on the vaudeville circuit, introduced by Norworth's then-wife Nora Bayes. Interestingly, it would not be played at an actual major league baseball game until the mid 1930s--ironically, right around the time that Norworth and Von Tilzer actually saw their first live game.

Lyrics:

Katie Casey was baseball mad,
Had the fever and had it bad.
Just to root for the home town crew,
Ev'ry sou
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:"

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.

Recorded By:

Frank Sinatra & Gene Kelly
Bob Dylan
Neil Sedaka & Jerry Lee Lewis
Dr. John
Esther Williams

Ain't We Got Fun?

By Richard A. Whiting, Raymond B. Egan & Gus Kahn
1920

A classic foxtrot composition that became one of the theme songs of the Roaring '20s, as well as the Depression Era. It was introduced on stage in the revue Satires of 1920, but achieved even greater stature on the vaudeville circuit and in recordings. In particular, it has been immortalized by the recording by the great Eddie Cantor, and was even mentioned in F. Scott's Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. An uplifting ode to carefree living, it both epitomized the Jazz Decade, and raised the spirits of those who fell on hard times afterward.

Lyrics:

Bill collectors gather 'round and rather
Haunt the cottage next door
Men the grocer and butcher sent
Men who call for the rent
But within a happy chappy
And his bride of only a year
Seem to be so cheerful, here's an earful
Of the chatter you hear

Ev'ry morning, ev'ry evening
Ain't we got fun?
Not much money, Oh, but honey
Ain't we got fun?
The rent's unpaid dear
We haven't a bus
But smiles were made dear
For people like us

In the winter in the Summer
Don't we have fun
Times are bum and getting bummer
Still we have fun
There's nothing surer
The rich get rich and the poor get children
In the meantime, in between time
Ain't we got fun?

Just to make their trouble nearly double
Something happened last night
To their chimney a gray bird came
Mister Stork is his name
And I'll bet two pins, a pair of twins
Just happened in with the bird
Still they're very gay and merry
Just at dawning I heard

Ev'ry morning, ev'ry evening
Don't we have fun
Twins and cares, dear, come in pairs, dear
Don't we have fun
We've only started
As mommer and pop
Are we downhearted
I'll say that we're not

Landlords mad and getting madder
Ain't we got fun?
Times are so bad and getting badder
Still we have fun
There's nothing surer
The rich get rich and the poor get laid off
In the meantime, in between time
Ain't we got fun?

When the man who sold 'em carpets told 'em
He would take them away
They said, "Wonderful, here's our chance
Take them up and we'll dance"
And when burglars came and robbed them
Taking all their silver, they say
Hubby yelled, "We're famous, for they'll name us
In the pepers today

Night or daytime, it's all playtime
Ain't we got fun?
Hot or cold days, any old days
Ain't we got fun
If Wifey wishes
To go to a play
Don't wash the dishes
Just throw them away

Streetcar seats are awful narrow
Ain't we got fun?
They won't smash up our Pierce Arrow
We ain't got none
They've cut my wages
But my income tax will be so much smaller
When I'm laid off, I'll be paid off
Ain't we got fun?

Recorded By:

Peggy Lee
Doris Day
Eddie Cantor
Rosemary Clooney
Bing Crosby

'Deed I Do

By Fred Rose & Walter Hirsch
1926

An old vaudeville tune, introduced on stage by S.L. Stambaugh, but popularized in later recordings by Ben Bernie and Ruth Etting. It is also notable for being the very first song recorded by the young Benny Goodman in late 1926.

Lyrics:

Do I want you?
Oh my do I
Honey, indeed I do

Do I need you?
Oh my do I
Honey, a-deed I do

I'm glad that I'm the one who found you
That's why I'm always hangin' around you

Do I love you?
Oh my do I
Honey, deed I do

Recorded By:

Diana Krall
Ella Fitzgerald
Perry Como
Blossom Dearie
Billie Holiday

Chicago (That Toddlin' Town)

By Fred Fisher
1922

Oddly enough, although this song was published first in 1922, it remained relatively obscure and unperformed for 17 years, until it was reintroduced in the Astaire/Rogers vehicle The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle. When first published, it was popularized locally in the Windy City by vaudeville singer Blossom Seeley. Today one of the great themes of one of America's greatest cities, it received it's most famous recording by Frank Sinatra on the soundtrack to the 1957 movie The Joker Is Wild.

Lyrics:

Chicago, Chicago, that toddling town.
Chicago, Chicago, I will show you around.
Bet your bottom dollar you lose the blues in Chicago, Chicago,
The town that Billy Sunday couldn't shut down.

On State Street, that great street, I just want to say,
They do things they don't do on Broadway.
They have the time, the time of their life.
I saw a man, he danced with his wife,
In Chicago, Chicago my home town.

Recorded By:

Tony Bennett
Count Basie
Al Jolson
Leadbelly
Billy May