A Hymn for the Postseason

by Nick on Sep 27, 2006 9:59 AM PDT

Now that they've officially clinched, I think the A's need an inspirational hymn that they can sing in the clubhouse before every game, to build unity and focus and to honor the great and powerful Woofing Gods.

Here are my suggested lyrics (original is available here):

And Did Those Cleats

And did those cleats in ancient time
Run across Oakland's outfield green?
And did the steeley Voice of God
Announce the lineups, true and keen?

And did the Countenance Divine
Assemble teams of grace and skill?
And did he curse and throw his chair
Upon his dark, satanic treadmill?

Bring me my glove of burning gold!
Bring me my high socks of desire!
Bring me my rebar -- o, clouds unfold!
Bring me my unicorn of fire!

I will not cease from grit and fight
Nor shall my bat sleep in my hand
'Til we have won a World Series
'Neath Oakland's green, tarped-over stands!

(I posted an earlier version of this in a comment on the Game 24 thread, though it was on a slightly different topic. Hell, if Wordsworth can revise the Prelude, I figure I can tinker with this).

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yay, william blake!

one of my faves...

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Sep 27, 2006 10:04 AM PDT reply actions

correction

it's not called "and did those feet in ancient time" it's called "jerusalem" and it's from blake's "Milton"...

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Sep 27, 2006 10:06 AM PDT reply actions

You know, I've seen it both ways

I've always known it as "Jerusalem," but many sources I've seen call it "And Did Those Feet." I think that part of the reason for using the 1st line is to avoid confusion with Blake's longer work, "Jerusalem, The Emanation of the Giant Albion." "And Did Those Feet" is actually from Blake's "Milton."

What clinched it for me was 1) the Norton Anthology calls it "And Did Those Feet," and 2) I couldn't come up with a good alternatitle to "Jerusalem."

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Sep 27, 2006 10:12 AM PDT up reply actions

Jerusalem

You could do a rewrite advocating that Lew keep any new playing facility in the city limits, and title it "A New Stadium":

Till we have built a new stadium
In Oakland's green and pleasant land.

(Yeah, it adds a beat to the meter, but it preserves the rhyme and the emphasis of the scansion.)

I've glittered my kidney. -- Jennifer @('.')@

by monkeyball on Sep 27, 2006 12:16 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm way ahead of you!

Check out the link after the poem to the former version...

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Sep 27, 2006 12:28 PM PDT up reply actions

Quick note

I'd change "a Fremont" in the 3rd line of the second stanza to "Mt. Davis" -- makes more sense. My original version was inspired by someone referring to Fremont as the A's promised land, so I included it in the poem.

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Sep 27, 2006 12:31 PM PDT up reply actions

Indeed you are!

I've glittered my kidney. -- Jennifer @('.')@

by monkeyball on Sep 27, 2006 12:36 PM PDT up reply actions

Oh dear,

did somebody say mattress to Mr. Lambert?

Some are sabermetricians.

by andeux on Sep 27, 2006 11:02 AM PDT reply actions

LOL!

"It took eight hours...seven-and-a-half to find the heart." -- Steve McCatty on Charlie Finley's heart surgery.

by GreenNGoldSooner on Sep 27, 2006 2:44 PM PDT up reply actions

Twice!

Rap Cat!

by FormerHuntsvilleStar on Sep 27, 2006 5:23 PM PDT up reply actions

But it was my only line!

by Apricot on Sep 27, 2006 5:30 PM PDT up reply actions

Now that's just silly!

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Sep 27, 2006 6:48 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm OK with this

as long as Greg Lake doesn't attempt to sing it.

1972...1973...1974...1989...2006

by emperor nobody on Sep 27, 2006 11:28 AM PDT reply actions

steeley Voice of God

Bravissimo! Love the extra "e" in "steeley" (though I might have capped the "s").

I've glittered my kidney. -- Jennifer @('.')@

by monkeyball on Sep 27, 2006 12:13 PM PDT reply actions

Thank you, maestro!

I might have capped the "s"

I'll make sure to edit that in the full-color woodblock print!

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Sep 27, 2006 12:58 PM PDT up reply actions

Nick, great job!

What is it about those unicorns of fire and socks of desire that gets me every time...

"I've been accused of using too many words...I suppose that's like accusing Mozart of using too many notes." Bill King

by Gerard on Sep 27, 2006 1:57 PM PDT reply actions

More Blakean goodness

The Angels

We beat that team! We are champ-eens!
All hail triumphant Gold and Green:
Elephants trumped Angels mild;
Hitless foe! (Was Neyer beguil'd?)

And we cheered both night and day
As they cleared our fears away
And we cheered both 'sleep and 'wake
And did from them the flag retake

So they took their wings and fled:
Rent their garments rosy red:
The air escaped their Thunderstix
Angels fans: are they all dicks?

Aught-sev'n the Angels come again;
We'll be arm'd, they'll come in vain:
For their prime of youth will flop
Lineup theirs will still lack pop

I've glittered my kidney. -- Jennifer @('.')@

by monkeyball on Sep 27, 2006 5:58 PM PDT reply actions

and, yeah, I know ...

... Neyer's midseason "book it" was aimed at the Rangers taking the title.

I've glittered my kidney. -- Jennifer @('.')@

by monkeyball on Sep 27, 2006 6:00 PM PDT up reply actions

Love it!

I had never realized how Blakean "Thunderstix" are -- it sounds like something from "The Book of Thel."

"Does the Macha know how to run-and-hit?
Or wilt thou go ask Lil' Joe?
Can RBIs be found in a silver bat?
Or VORP in a golden bowl?"

(it scans better if you pronounce "RBIs" as "ribbies").

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Sep 27, 2006 6:16 PM PDT up reply actions

<attempts to re-recommend diary>

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Sep 27, 2006 6:30 PM PDT up reply actions