The intro is compiled (into the easiest version possible) from the recording and the
popular 'bleacher' video, which are slightly different.
[intro]
e | --------------1---2---5---3--0-------------------------2---------------------------- |
B | --------------1---1---4--------1--------------------1----------0h3--1--------------- |
G | ----0---------2---2---5----------0-2---2-1-0------2----------0---------------------- |
D | --3---1-2-3---3---1---4----------------------2/4----------3------------------------- |
A | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------0---2--- |
E | ------------------------------------------------------------------------3----------- |
["Boom chk" strumming pattern (base note, then chord) in the verse; freeer in the chorus]
[Talking Blues]
C G C C7
By the shores of old Lake Michigan,
F D7/F# C C7
Where the hawk wind blows so cold,
F D7/F# C A
An old Cub fan lay dying
D7 G, then e | --3---3---3--- |
In his midnight hour that tolled. B | --3---3---3--- |
G | --0---0---0--- |
D | --0---2---0--- |
A | --2---0---2--- |
E | --3---3---3--- |
[as above]
'Round his bed, his friends had all gathered;
They knew his time was short,
So on his head they put this bright blue cap
From his all-time favorite sport.
He told them , "it's late and its getting dark in here
And I know its time to go,
But before I leave the line-up
There's just one thing I'd like to know:"
[Chorus, sung]
C C7
"Do they still play the blues in Chicago
F D7/F# C C7
When baseball season rolls around?
F D7/F#
When the snow melts away,
C A
Do the Cubbies still play
D7 G
In their ivy-covered burial ground?
C C7
When I was a boy they were my pride and joy
F D7/F# C C7
But now they only bring fatigue
F D7/F#
To the home of the brave
C A
The land of the free
D7 G C (pick G
A B in bass)
And the doormat of the National League."
[Talking Blues]
He told his friends "You know the law of averages says:
Anything will happen that can." That's what it says.
"But the last year the Cubs won a national league pennant
Was the year we dropped the bomb on Japan."
"The Cubs made me a criminal;
Sent me down a wayward path;
They stole my youth from me." (That's the truth.)
"I'd forsake my teachers
To go sit in the bleachers
In flagrant truancy."
"And then one thing led to another:
Soon I'd discovered alcohol, gambling, dope
Football, hockey, lacrosse, tennis.
But what do you expect,
When you raise up a young boys hope..."
"And then just crush it like so many paper beer cups.
Year after year, after year, after year,
After year, after year, after year, after year,
'Til those hopes are just so much popcorn
For pigeons beneath the "EL" tracks to eat."
He said "You know I'll never see Wrigley Field
Anymore before my eternal rest,
So, if you have your pencils and your score cards ready,
I'll read you my last request:"
"Give me a double-header funeral in Wrigley Field
On some sunny weekend day." (No lights.)
"Have the organ play the National Anthem
And then a little 'Na, Na, Na, Na, Hey Hey, Hey, Goodbye'"
"Make six bull pen pitchers carry my coffin
And six ground keepers clear my path.
Have the umpires bark me out at every base
In all their holy wrath."
"'Its a beautiful day for a funeral:
Hey Ernie lets play two!'
Somebody go get Jack Brickhouse to come back
And conduct just one more interview."
"Have the Cubbies run right out into the middle of the field
and have Kieth Moreland drop a routine fly.
Give everybody two bags of peanuts and a frosty malt
And I'll be ready to die."
"Build a big fire on home plate out of your 'Louisville Slugger' baseball bats
And toss my coffin in.
Let my ashes blow in a beautiful snow
From the prevailing 30 mile-an-hour southwest wind."
"When my last remains go flying over the left field wall
I'll bid the bleacher bums 'adieu'
And come to my final resting place
Out on Waveland Avenue."
The dying man's friends told him to cut it out!
They said, "stop it, that's an awful shame!"
He whispered, "Don't cry, we'll meet, by and by,
Near the Heavenly Hall of Fame."
He said, "I've got season's tickets to watch the Angels now,
So that's just what I'm going to do."
He said, "but you, the living, you're stuck here with the Cubs!
So it's me who feels sorry for you!"
And he said, "Ahh, play that 'Lonesome Loser' tune,
That's the one I like the best."
And he closed his eyes, and he slipped away.
That gave us the Dying Cub Fan's Last Request, so here it is:
[Chorus, sung]
"Do they still play the blues in Chicago
When baseball season rolls around?
When the snow melts away,
Do the Cubbies still play
In their ivy-covered burial ground?
[Big Finish]
When I was a boy they were my pride and joy
But now they only bring fatigue
To the home of the brave
The land of the free
And the doormat of the National League!"
Outro:
C C7 F Fm C
Last Three Chords:
e | --5---4---3-- | STRUM OUT
B | --5---4---3-- |
G | --5---4---3-- |
D | --4---3---2-- |
A | --5---4---3-- |
E | ------------- |
