Chicago Cubs: Cubs songs you might not know by heart
Fans of the Chicago Cubs know all the favorite ballpark tunes served up during the games, but how familiar are you with these other Cubs songs?
Many Chicago Cubs fan-favorite songs can be heard right during the game. Before we explore some of the great Cubs songs you might not have heard outside the park, let’s take a look inside Wrigley Field at some of the music that makes fans chant, sing and stomp their feet.
The seventh-inning Stretch – Whether it be a guest singer or Harry Caray himself, brought to life virtually on the big screen in Wrigley Field, everyone stands and sings, “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” While the song is sung in many ballparks throughout baseball, it’s most popular at the Friendly Confines in Wrigley Field. Harry Caray, the famous sports announcer, used to sing it for the Chicago White Sox at old Comiskey Park.
White Sox owner, Bill Veeck Jr., heard Caray singing it one day in his booth and had Caray’s microphone turned on so he could sing for the park. The tradition remained when Caray became the announcer for the Chicago Cubs in 1982. The song was initially written by Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tilzer back in 1908.
Today, a virtual Harry Caray leads fans in the seventh-inning stretch and the singing of the classic hit.
Home Run Song – Sometime during the 2015 season, there was a 90’s week at Wrigley Field, and the traditional home run song, “Sweet Home Chicago” was switched up to the 1993 staple “Whoomp! (There It Is)” written and performed by the Miami bass group Tag Team. Fans loved the song so much it was played almost half the time in 2016 with “Sweet Home Chicago.” By 2017, the song was adopted as the Cubs home run song.
Opposing Pitcher is relieved – The tune often heard when the opposing team pulls their pitcher is the Village People’s 1978 hit, “YMCA” which is cued to a spot in the song and timed when the pitcher is about to leave the mound. The section that begins playing is a friendly sort of, “That’s okay – you did your best,” notion to pitchers being relieved and goes:
Young man, there’s no need to feel down I said, young man, pick yourself off the ground I said, young man, ’cause you’re in a new town There’s no need to be unhappy…
The only other song used for opposing pitcher changes is “Hit the Road Jack,” performed by Ray Charles in 1961. A little less friendly than “YMCA,” the rhythm and blues classic hit message are clear:
Hit the road Jack and don’t you come back No more, no more, no more, no more Hit the road Jack and don’t you come back no more…
Interestingly enough, when the Chicago Cubs change a pitcher, Wrigley Field gets to hear Angus Young’s guitar riff from the 1980’s AC/DC song, “Have a Drink on Me,” from the award-winning album “Back in Black.” The song is supposed to relay the notion of doing a great job and earning a drink from teammates and fans.
Let’s take a look at several more great Chicago Cubs songs, including one that gets played after every winning game.
Chicago Cubs: A dying Cubs fan’s last request song
In 1984, a Chicago-native named Steve Goodman debuted a song that has stood the test of time at Wrigley Field. Before the 1984 season, Goodman wrote, “Go Cubs Go,” which is the fan staple after a winning game at Wrigley Field.
Goodman was a folk songwriter who had originally written the Grammy Award-winning “City of New Orleans” that has been performed by many artists, including the legendary Arlo Guthrie.
Goodman contributed three Cubs songs to the universe’s collection of music about the Friendly Confines of Wrigley field and the team. These songs include “When the Cubs Go Marching In,” “A Dying Cub Fan’s Last Request,” and everyone’s favorite, “Go Cubs Go.”
“A Dying Cub Fan’s Last Request” was written in 1983 and rubbed Cubs Executive General Manager Dallas Green the wrong way, especially when it mentions the Cubs being the doormat for the National League. It almost meant there would be no “Go Cubs Go” song, but cooler Cubs heads prevailed in the end.
The tragic tale of Goodman is that he never lived to see the Cubs win the 2016 Championship and died of leukemia in 1984 six months after writing “Go Cubs Go.” It’s unclear whether Goodman ever even heard fans sing his song since Goodman passed on September 20, 1984, and the song was first played when the Cubs won the 1984 National League East Division Championship on September 24, 1984, at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh.
To make matters worse, Goodman’s family sold the rights to some of Goodman’s songs, including “Go Cubs Go” just before the 2016 World Series Championship.
Goodman wouldn’t be the only Chicagoan inspired by the Northsiders because sitting in the stands in the ’70s and ’80s was a young kid from Evanston, Illinois named Eddie Vedder.
Chicago Cubs: Another songwriter takes on his hometown Cubs
I have to admit I was rocking to Pearl Jam since 1990 when they debuted as a Seattle-based alternative rock band. Like most, I was intrigued by the lead singer who had this raw energy and talent that reminded me of Michael Stipe from the Georgia rock alternative band, R.E.M.
Stories revolved around the band’s lead singer, Eddie Vedder, and his Jim Morrison of the Doors-like endeavor to not be a rock star and instead be a writer/poet. Rumors of Vedder carrying a dingy old notebook that contained hundreds of songs, ideas, and scribbles became a cult legend in rock mythology.
I began to see Vedder more often at Wrigley Field as time passed, and in 2016, he was right in the mix of the party. Vedder’s contribution to Cubs music is supposedly inspired by Ernie Banks, who told Vedder he should write a song for the Cubs that the city and fans could get behind. Vedder took Banks’ recommendation to heart and, in 2008, released the song, “(Someday We’ll Go) All the Way” or “All the Way” as it’s titled.
The song was released in 2008 in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Cubs’ last championship. The song is such a tear-jerker that it hasn’t gained as much steam as Goodman’s, “Go Cubs Go,” but Vedder is still young enough to give the Cubs maybe another fight song. Recently through video and concert footage shot at Wrigley Field, the song has gained more popularity among die-hard fans.
Some Cubs fan’s favorite songs have gone by the wayside, and not many people even remember them. This is what you were waiting for Cubs fans. Time to test yourself; next up are the songs fans most likely, won’t know by heart. How many do you know?
Chicago Cubs: Cubs songs from yesterday and today
One of the Cubs’ most popular hits that are rarely ever heard these days is the song, “Hey! Hey! Holy Mackerel” written by American jazz violinist and bassist Johnny Frigo. Frigo was born in Chicago and wrote and performed the Chicago Cubs fight song for the first time back in 1969. I love this upbeat Cubs song with the chorus, “The Cubs are on their way…” and the music is priceless. Be sure to give it a listen.
In 1984, it was becoming more common to see athletes in the studio recording songs, similar to the Chicago Bear’s Shufflin’ Crew, “Super Bowl Shuffle” song. Some of the Cubs players got together and performed the ragtime country-rock song, “Men in Blue” for fans of the 1984 Cubs.
The song features famous Cubs players like pitcher Rick Sutcliffe, catcher Jody Davis, first baseman Leon Durham, utility Keith Moreland and outfielder, Gary Woods. Another great tune with a ragtime hook, “As sure as there’s ivy on the center-field-wall, the Chicago Cubs are gonna win it all” is an instant classic as soon as the Cubs start singing!
In 1995, an alternative group, The Mountain Goats released, “Cubs in Five” from the group’s EP “Nine Black Poppies.” The song is an alternative classic that sounds like it was recorded on a tape cassette player in someone’s bedroom. The chorus of the song is the hook that keeps fans listening even though the song spends most of its time describing highly unlikely situations; it counts the Cubs winning a championship as one of those occurrences mixed with a lost love song:
“And the Chicago Cubs … will beat every team in the league, and the Tampa Bay Bucs … will make it all the way through January, and I will love you again, I will love you like I used to.”
The alternative pounding guitar and harmonies make this an instant classic that can’t be missed.
Who knows what youngster in his basement writing the next great Chicago Cubs fight song? While we’re waiting for that time to arrive, just enjoy some of these great classic Cubs songs tonight:
1. “Hey! Hey! Holy Mackerel” by Johnny Frigo 1969
2. “When the Cubs Go Marching In” by Steve Goodman 1970
3. “A Dying Cub Fan’s Last Request” by Steve Goodman 1983
4. “Men in Blue” by Chicago Cubs Players 1984
5. “Go Cubs Go” by Steve Goodman 1984
6. “Cubs in Five” by The Mountain Goats 1995
7. “(Someday We’ll Go) All the Way” by Eddie Vedder 2008