Take Me Out to the Ball Game

CBS Sunday Morning had a great feature about the song, "Take Me Out to the Ball Game." I didn't know that what we sing at the ball park is, in fact, the refrain. The song is actually about a young lady, whose boyfriend wants to take her out on a fancy date. She says, no, must take me out to the ball game!

Here's a story from MSN about a recent book about the song:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23878705/

The original song was written in 1908, and was a huge hit. It was re-recorded in 1927 - here is that version (slightly different from the earlier one)

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 boy friend 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.

"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 game sing this song.

"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."


Gee, don't know any gals like that!