TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME

Live 13 Jun 1973 version

[Spoken intro:] There I was, in right field. There was a make-up game. It was a nice sunny morning... I had just rolled out of bed... I was standing out there thinking, "I hope nothing comes to me." No sooner did I saw that, than whssh, ooh! Here it came, highest ball I've ever seen in my life. It was scary. So I started running for it... Got underneath that devil... Down it came, glanced off my glove, and hit me in the head. Very embarrassing. I made believe I was knocked out and they carried me off the field. I'm wearing earphones up there, so take!

Me out to the ballgame (you can all sing, you know all the words)
Take me out to the crowd
Go buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks
I don't care if I never get back
So we root (root) root root for the home team (home team)
If they don't win it's a shame (it sucks!)
'Cause it's one
Two (two)
Three strikes you're out at the old ball game

Page last updated: 26 Feb 2012

Info

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME is a song originally written in 1908 by Jack Norworth and set to music by Albert Von Tilzer. See the original version for more details.

A version of TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME parodying Bruce Springsteen was recorded and released by Bruce Springstone. See Bruce Springstone's version for more details.

13 Jun 1973 Performance

The above lyrics are for the live 13 Jun 1973 performance of TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME at Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton, NY, during the Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. Tour. Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band played only a snippet of the song.

This was a double bill show, with Bruce Springsteen and his band opening for headliners Chicago. This was their 10th of 12 consecutive shows opening for Chicago. A poor quality audience recording of this performance is in circulation.

Promotional ad for the 13 Jun 1973 show at Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena, Binghamton, NY [Taken from Brucebase]

Official Releases

Audio for the live 07 Sep 2003 version of TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME was released on the Live In Barcelona DVD in 2003. The song was included on the DVD's "Night Of The Living Boss" bonus feature.

Live History

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME is known to have been performed at least once during the Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. Tour. Very little is known about the 1972 and 1973 shows, and therefore, the song may have been played on some more dates.

[Click here to display/hide detailed known Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. Tour performances list]

After disappearing from Springsteen's repertoire for three decades, TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME was performed 3 times during the 120-date-long The Rising Tour. The song was played as an instrumental opener. The first of the three performances featured Danny Frederici, Nils Lofgren, and Roy Bittan on organ, while the remaining two featured Danny Frederici alone on organ. Audio for the live 07 Sep 2003 performance of TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME at Fenway Park in Boston, MA, was included on the Live In Barcelona DVD in 2003.

[Click here to display/hide detailed The Rising Tour performances list]

Available Versions

List of available versions of TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME on this website:

• Live 13 Jun 1973 version
• Original version
• Bruce Springstone's version

Credits

Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake at BTX and Greasy Lake) for the lyrics help.