Merkle

Sometimes I think about it when I’m all alone
When I’m walking ‘round home and it’s late at night
And I don’t feel right and I just can’t sleep
And I can’t keep the dark from pourin’ out

It was a gray afternoon at the Polo Grounds
Merkle should have touched second base
Tie game, two outs, bottom of the ninth
Merkle should have touched second base
Cubs in the field and the Giants at the plate
Merkle should have touched second base
A Giant on third and Merkle on first
Merkle should have touched second base

Gotta go the whole way, make it a sure thing
Don’t leave, don’t leave nothing to chance
Gotta go the whole way, make it a sure thing
Don’t leave, don’t leave nothing to chance

The Giant at the plate hits a single up the middle
Merkle should have touched second base
The Giant on third brings the winning run home
Merkle should have touched second base
Merkle on first starts trotting up to second
Merkle should have touched second base
He pulls up short and he runs off the field
Merkle should have touched second base

Gotta go the whole way, make it a sure thing
Don’t leave, don’t leave nothing to chance
Gotta go the whole way, make it a sure thing
Don’t leave, don’t leave nothing to chance

Frank Chance was the peerless leader of the Cubs
Merkle should have touched second base
He calls for the ball and he steps on the bag
Merkle should have touched second base
The ump yells yer out! and he takes the run away
Merkle should have touched second base
Extra innings and Chicago wins
Merkle should have touched second base

Gotta go the whole way, make it a sure thing
Don’t leave, don’t leave nothing to chance
Gotta go the whole way, make it a sure thing
Don’t leave, don’t leave nothing to chance

Pennant ends tied ‘tween the Giants and the Cubs
Merkle should have touched second base
They play one game with the season on the line
Merkle should have touched second base
Chicago wins, Merkle doesn’t even play
Merkle should have touched second base
And all he hears til the end of his days is
Merkle should have touched second base

Gotta go the whole way, make it a sure thing
Don’t leave, don’t leave nothing to chance
Gotta go the whole way, make it a sure thing
Don’t leave, don’t leave nothing to chance

Sometimes I think about him when I’m all alone
Merkle should have touched second base
When I’m walkin round home and it’s late at night
Merkle should have touched second base
And I don’t feel right and I just can’t sleep
Merkle should have touched second base
And I can’t keep the dark from pourin’ out
Merkle should have touched second base

Gotta go the whole way, make it a sure thing….

Hitler would have never invaded Poland
Merkle should have touched second base
Monica Lewinsky woulda married Dan Quayle
Merkle should have touched second base
My mother and my dad woulda raised me as a wolf
Merkle should have touched second base
Godot woulda shown up in the second act
Merkle should have touched second base

Gotta go the whole way, make it a sure thing
Don’t leave, don’t leave nothing to chance
Gotta go the whole way, make it a sure thing
Don’t leave, don’t leave nothing to chance

(lyrics: Dan Bern)