take me out to the ball game

who doesn't yearn to spend a thrilling afternoon at wrigley field cheering the cubs on to ultimate victory and displaying their vocal stylings on "take me out to the ball game" during the 7th inning stretch? i know i do!

yet, this song that has been associated with baseball and snack food for almost a century was penned by two people who had never even seen a major league baseball game! stranger things are true, but, did you know that it was also written for a woman to sing? yes! that's supposes to be a base ball crazed woman belting out her longings to nibble ball park treats and taunting the umpire. who was this mysterious katie casey? was she related to the legendary casey at the bat? was she cheering for the cubs? we will never know.

john norworth, who penned the unforgettable lyrics in 1908 with the musical accompaniment by albert von tilzer didn't get to see his first major league game until 1942. unlike john, albert rushed right out to see his first game in 1928. it is unknown if norwood, who also wrote "shine on harvest moon" had actually seen a harvest moon at the time he wrote that song, though it is speculated that he had seem several full moons before taking pen to paper.

oh! gotta run! i think i see a hebrew national hot dog with my name on it! : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : for those of you who want to practice the tune at home... here are complete lyrics.

Katie Casey was baseball mad
Had the fever and had it bad
Just to root for the home town crew
Every 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 ever 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
Take me out to the ball game

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 ever 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

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