Do you know who Steve Goodman is?

by JD on Apr 22, 2008 10:17 AM CDT Comment 35 comments

If you were a Cubs fan in the early '80s, then there's a good chance you do.

Reading the MetsBlog post-game post, at the end it said:

"…lastly, how long have Cubs fans been singing that song after a win…is this new, or have i been living in a cave…".

And then I felt compelled to write this post, after reading through the game thread comments here, seeing a comment about the song "Go, Cubs, Go" being kinda cheesy.

Now, I'm not trying to argue with anyone about their taste in music, and when it comes to music from the early '80s, sometimes it's the cheesiness that people like most about the music. But knowing a bit of history about the guy who wrote "Go, Cubs, Go" (Steve Goodman, for those that hadn't made the connection yet) could perhaps bring some new appreciation for the song.

For me, at least, knowing that the song was written by someone who lived and breathed the Cubs the same way I do, it really makes me feel like this is our song. I don't care if Cardinals fans think it sucks, or Sox fans find it annoying as hell, it's not for them. And I'll always associate the song with the great feeling of knowing the Cubs won (which I got to feel again last night, as I was leaving Wrigley, singing along with hundreds of Cubs fans around me).

Check out the wikipedia page on Steve Goodman to learn more.

And his song "A Dying Cubs Fan's Last Request" is a classic that any Cubs fan can relate to. Seriously, if you've never heard this song, it's almost mandatory that you click on this link.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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I think you make a valid point.

It’s understandable that fans of other teams might not know the genesis of “Go, Cubs, Go,” but every Cubs fan should. Steve Goodman is an important part of Cubs lore.

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by dat cubfan daver on Apr 22, 2008 10:28 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Good post JD

I guess I didn’t know that any Cubs fan would think “Go Cubs Go” would be cheesy. I can’t wrap my head around that.

If you have ever been to Wrigley after a win, I can’t describe how great it feels to join 40,000 people in singing that song. I like to think of it as an ode to the Cubs, and a tribute to Goodman.

by montanacubby on Apr 22, 2008 10:33 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Definitely.

I’m taking my daughter to her first Cubs game on May 31. She loves the song, and I’m praying they win that day so we can sing it together at Wrigley.

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by dat cubfan daver on Apr 22, 2008 10:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dying Cubs Fan

That’s a beautiful song made poignant by the fact that he knew he was dying of leukemia when he wrote it. I get chills and a little misty-eyed every time I hear it.

by Mike Vails Evil Twin on Apr 22, 2008 11:23 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

No better feeling...

...then singing that song at the top of your lungs in Wrigley Field, with thousands of other Cubs fans. It is an experience that I wish everyone could have.

Great post JD. Thanks for shedding some light on Steve and his songs.

by Tangled Up In Blue on Apr 22, 2008 11:52 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Steve Goodman

Steve Goodman is a name every Cub fan should know.

And guys if you’ve never had a chance to listen to his non Cubs songs take a listen sometime. He has some great songs.

I hope when it’s our turn they play that first before We Are the Champions or anything else.

We are all waiting for that glorious October night when we finally win it all. Until then we will continue to cheer, never do the wave and hope.

by cubstoseriesby100 on Apr 22, 2008 11:53 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Cubs fan in Houston

I grew up a Cubs fan in Houston and as a result the Eagles “Take it Easy” has a special place in my heart, as it is the song the Astros play when they lose. I have a lot of great Cubs memories that end with that song. I always kind of liked that song but I never really knew why until a couple of years ago when I realized it was because I always heard it when I went to a Cubs game that they won.

It really is amazing what a song can do when it becomes associated with something good.

by Texas Wahoo on Apr 22, 2008 11:53 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Lyics

Here’s the lyrics

Baseball season’s underway

Well you better get ready for a brand new day

Hey, Chicago, what do you say

The Cubs are gonna win today.

They’re singing …

Go, Cubs, go

Hey, Chicago, what do you say

The Cubs are gonna win today

Go, Cubs, go

Hey, Chicago, what do you say

The Cubs are gonna win today.

They got the power, they got the speed

To be the best in the National League

Well this is the year and the Cubs are real

So come on down to Wrigley Field.

We’re singing now …

Go, Cubs, go

Hey, Chicago, what do you say

The Cubs are gonna win today

Go, Cubs, go

Hey, Chicago, what do you say

The Cubs are gonna win today.

Baseball time is here again

You can catch it all on WGN

So stamp your feet and clap your hands

Chicago Cubs got the greatest fans.

You’re singing now …

Go, Cubs, go

Hey, Chicago, what do you say

The Cubs are gonna win today

Go, Cubs, go

Hey, Chicago, what do you say

The Cubs are gonna win today.

We are all waiting for that glorious October night when we finally win it all. Until then we will continue to cheer, never do the wave and hope.

by cubstoseriesby100 on Apr 22, 2008 11:54 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Amen, brother.

My parents have been fans since the 70s, and we listened to a lot of Steve Goodman growing up [especially in the past few years, with reissues, the biography, DVDs, etc].

It’s kinda sad that it took other people performing his music to get it heard outside of Chicago, but on the other hand – guy’s gotta pay his bills somehow. Especially when you’ve got a wife and three kids, plus medical bills that must have cost a fortune.

[Speaking of bills – my Dad told me once that when John Denver recorded “City of New Orleans” he purposely changed the lyrics to soften them a little, and so he could take ‘co-writer’ credit and thus half the royalties. Anyone know more about this? I can’t find anything online about it.]

But, regardless of how popular his songs are or how well known he is as an artist, I think he would be thrilled to see this resurgence of “Go Cubs Go.”

Beer, of course, is actually a depressant. But poor people will never stop hoping otherwise. -- Kurt Vonnegut

by bluebythebook on Apr 22, 2008 12:44 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

H. J. Deutschendorf

(The real name of “John Denver”, just in case some didn’t know…)

It would not surprise me to hear that. He’d always been a very self-centered, pompous, even repellent human being. And at his best, I would not have held him qualified to open Goodman’s guitar case, let alone tune it for him.

Miss ya, Chicago Shorty…

by MN exile on Apr 22, 2008 2:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

did NOT know that

I think it’s actually a cool name, but probably not the best for showbiz.

Also, I found this story about the Denver-Goodman-Guthrie incident.

Baseball is an allegorical play about America, a poetic, complex, and subtle play of courage, fear, good luck, mistakes, patience about fate, and sober self-esteem. -- Saul Steinberg

by bluebythebook on Apr 22, 2008 7:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And of course you have Clay Eals book

Steve Goodman, Facing the Music Clay came here to BCB seeking help with aquiring pictures and such for the book. This book is a GEM! I was a fan of Steves for a long time and reading this book just made me a bigger fan.

(Full disclosure – even though some of the pictures that I took at the CUbs playoffs in 84 are in this book and I am mentioned in the acknowlegements, but this has no relation to how much I really love this book. I get nothing from any sales of this book)

Kasey

See the Cubs 2008 schedule (with TV schedule & game-by-game results) at http://ignarski.tripod.com/sched2008.html

by kaseyi on Apr 22, 2008 1:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Best Experience Singing Go Cubs Go

Walking up the outer steps of Turner Field in 2003, along with 11 other chest-painted Cubs fans, singing at the top of our lungs, with a crowd of a few dozen braves fans turning and wondering what cheesey song we were singing.

Thankfully, the Cubs had our back that night.

by holmerica on Apr 22, 2008 3:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I remember singing at the Great American Ball Park

Last year when we had clinch and won on Saturday. As we filed out of the park everyone bust into “Go Cubs Go!”

It was awesome :)

"I’ll try to do anything to win a game." - My Man....BIG Z

by akbeck98 on Apr 22, 2008 4:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great post JD

It doesn’t matter that Mets fans don’t know what they are talking about when it comes to team music. They are the ones that voted to have thier “8th inning” song be “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley. They basically Rick-Rolled themselves.

“Go Cubs Go” is the reason why Cubs fans are a family. We have our own create our fight/victory songs. And its appropriate that we celebrate someones legacy, after every victory, who’s resting place IS Wrigley.

Also, speaking of music, when are they gonna stop playing Tom Petty when the Cubs take the field and play some “Jump”? I get the idea of “Runnin Down a Dream”(which I find cheesy), but they should save that for their WGN spots and start playing the song everyone wants to hear.

"Career highlights? I had two. I got an intentional walk from Sandy Koufax and I got out of a rundown against the Mets." Bob Uecker

by mmaxon on Apr 22, 2008 4:07 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I concur

To echo Texas Wahoo’s post, Van Halen’s “Jump” is deeply connected to the Cubs for me, in a different way than “Go, Cubs, Go”. I always associate it with the excitement of baseball starting up again after the winter or the excitement of a game about to start. Why they got rid of that tradition but keep playing “YMCA” during vistor’s pitching changes is beyond me.

____________
- Jake

by JD on Apr 22, 2008 7:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

There is nothing better...

than singing Go Cubs Go in the friendly confines after a few Old Styles!

by the way, Steve has a GREAT rendition of the song “Souveniers” with John Prine

by MSCub on Apr 22, 2008 4:45 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

For those of us who grew up there

The most meaningful Steve Goodman song
is LINCOLN PARK PIRATES

The good old days of Lincoln Park Towing

by Doggie Stalker on Apr 22, 2008 5:16 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't believe your comment on

Denver is true. Besides, Arlo Guthrie recorded “City Of New Orleans” as a Top 40 hit. Hundreds of artists have covered it—but I don’t think Denver ever recorded the song. I met Denver in the early 80s and found him to very accomdating, and very much a professional.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Apr 22, 2008 6:47 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Well...

I finally found a story about it. It happened, and Denver did record the song. Goodman and Denver eventually patched things up, but Arlo Guthrie stayed mad.

Baseball is an allegorical play about America, a poetic, complex, and subtle play of courage, fear, good luck, mistakes, patience about fate, and sober self-esteem. -- Saul Steinberg

by bluebythebook on Apr 22, 2008 7:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know that in my 30 years pickin' n grinnin' that City of New Orleans is the most requested....

by FAR!!!!

by crazymountain on Apr 22, 2008 8:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Steve Goodman is God

Thanks so much for your post, JD. I can forgive ignorance on the part of Mets fans, but no true Cubs fan should ever be without the Steve Goodman oeuvre. He is one of the best songwriters of all time, a generous soul, a proud Chicagoan, and one we need to honor for all time. If you haven’t any of his tunes go out today and buy one of his CDs - any CD, doesn’t matter - you’ll be tapping your toes and thankful you did.

"We're in a good groove right now. Let's enjoy it." -- Lou P.

by Emelie on Apr 22, 2008 7:11 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Loud, sustained applause.

Have been a Goodman fan since the early 1970’s. “City of New Orleans” is one of the iconic songs of the entire 20th century. Steve died far too young.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Apr 22, 2008 9:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Steve Goodman....

all I can say is WOW! Was always a great fan as a musician…..great songwriter, even have some live Goodman with John Prine and others….’tis really true that only the good die young!!!

by crazymountain on Apr 22, 2008 8:50 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Was lucky enough..

to see Steve at the Earl Of Old Town in the early 70’s along with John Prine, Bonnie Koloc, Jim Post, etc. A really great songwriter and musician. My favorite song of his is “My Old Man”. Give it a listen sometime. It will bring tears to your eyes. So sad he died about a week before the Cubs clinched in ‘84. He was scheduled to sing the national anthem at one of the playoff games too.

"The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball"

by Bump Bailey on Apr 22, 2008 9:14 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Another connection I have...

My dad was Bonnie Koloc’s guitarist at that time.

by JD on Apr 22, 2008 9:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bonnie Koloc

That’s so cool…At the time, of the three, meaning Steve, John Prine, and Bonnie, my friends and I all thought she would be the most successful….bet your dad could really tell some stories.

"The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball"

by Bump Bailey on Apr 22, 2008 10:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Steve Goodman's mom....

Minette Goodman, threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the game today. How cool is that? She is tiny-five feet tall at most-and stood about halfway between the mound and the plate while they played “Go Cubs Go” over the PA system. She got a huge ovation from the crowd as she walked off the field. Very cool, and very unexpected. I had not heard anything announced in advance about that.

"Don't complain to me about the stormy weather, boys. Just bring the ship into port." --Steve Stone, September 2004

by ctcoff99 on Apr 22, 2008 9:16 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

That was a very cool thing indeed.

I should have mentioned that in the game recap. I remember her being asked about “Go Cubs Go” being sung after every win sometime late last year and her reply was, “It’s great. The Cubs win and I get to hear my kid sing.”

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Apr 22, 2008 9:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

bless her heart

"It’s great. The Cubs win and I get to hear my kid sing."

Awwwwww.

Baseball is an allegorical play about America, a poetic, complex, and subtle play of courage, fear, good luck, mistakes, patience about fate, and sober self-esteem. -- Saul Steinberg

by bluebythebook on Apr 22, 2008 10:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I love Steve Goodman

And I know who he is even though he died shortly after he was born and I love singing that song after the Cubs win, but I still have to say “One Day We’ll Go All The Way” by Eddie Vedder is a much better song about the Cubs.

"We Are Not Fair Weather But Foul Weather Fans, Brothers In Arms In Streets and The Stands." -Eddie Vedder, Someday We'll Go All The Way

by ryanbrixenivy on Apr 22, 2008 9:17 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I like that song too

I happen to have mp3’s of the Pearl Jam concert at the Vic last August, where he did play this song. And had this exchange right after:

Eddie: Ok, this next song is about the White Sox…
crowd: (mostly booing, but some cheering)
Eddie: It’s called, “F—- Them”

by JD on Apr 22, 2008 10:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would give my right arm for that mp3!

"We Are Not Fair Weather But Foul Weather Fans, Brothers In Arms In Streets and The Stands." -Eddie Vedder, Someday We'll Go All The Way

by ryanbrixenivy on Apr 23, 2008 9:15 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also love that song..

Hope I got these lyrics right ..: it’s just a game, But I’ve seen other teams and it’s never the
same

When you go to Chicago…The first time you walk into Wrigley Field

Heroes in pinstripes, heroes in blue

Give us the chance to feel like you’re old school

And whether we win and if we should lose

We know someday we’ll go all the way

Hey, someday we’ll go all the way

We are one with the Cubs, with the Cubs we’re
in love

We hold our heads tall as the underdogs

We are not fair-weather, but foul-weather fans

We are brother in arms in the streets and the stands

There’s magic in the ivy and the old scoreboard

The same one I stared at as a kid keeping score

In a world full of green we could never want more

And someday we’ll go all the way

Hey, someday we’ll go all the way

Well here’s to the men and the legends we know. Giving us faith and giving us hope. United we stand and united we’ll fall, down to our knees the day we win it all. Well Ernie Banks said “Oh, let’s play two!” I think he meant two hundred years. Playing at Wrigley our diamond, our jewel. The home of our joy and our fears. When the day comes…Deep in traditions and wishes anew. The place where our grandfathers’ fathers they grew. A spiritual feeling if I ever knew. And when the days comes with that last winning run, and I’m crying and covered with beer, I’ll look to the sky and know I was right. Cause someday we’ll go all the way…

"The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball"

by Bump Bailey on Apr 23, 2008 10:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You Got It Right But....

You forgot my favorite line which is ” When you come to Chicago, you are blessed and you’re healed, the first time you walk into Wrigley Field” but that is, in my opinion the best song written about the Cubs.

"We Are Not Fair Weather But Foul Weather Fans, Brothers In Arms In Streets and The Stands." -Eddie Vedder, Someday We'll Go All The Way

by ryanbrixenivy on Apr 23, 2008 11:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs