He looked like an apparition
Like a ghost without the sheet
But his eyes burned like a stove pipe
As he limped along the street

He walked by me slow but firmly
I knew he wouldn’t stop to chat
But I thought that I might help him
He shook his head and touched his hat

He said I’ve come to see The Babe
They say Babe Ruth is dyin’
I’ve come to lift his spirits
Just like he once lifted mine
I can’t promise any homers
I’m no Sultan of Swat
But I’ll be up there swingin’
With everything I got

Years ago I lay in bed
My life hung like a rope
My sickly frame was wracked with pain
They said there was no hope

But the big guy would have none of that
He just sneered at tragedy
He hit four home runs that series
And each one was for me

Thanks to those arcing wallops
My wretched body healed
Thanks to the greatest player
That ever took the field

And as he stood above me
My eyes alert but dim
I never thought that someday
I’d be staring down at him

And I’ve come to see The Babe
They say Babe Ruth is dyin’
I’ve come to lift his spirits
Just like he once lifted mine
I can’t promise any homers
I’m no Sultan of Swat
But I’ll be up there swingin’
With everything I got

Before there was Paul Bunyan
Before Old Honest Abe
Before there was John Henry
There always was The Babe
He took a hundred million spirits
And said Dare to be a land
He took one dying child
And said Stand up and be a man

And I’ve come to see The Babe
They say Babe Ruth is dyin’
I’ve come to lift his spirits
Just like he once lifted mine
I can’t promise any homers
I’m no Sultan of Swat
But I’ll be up there swingin’
With everything I got

(lyrics: Dan Bern)