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Song Parodies -> "Guess Who Fought At Fort Sumter?"
Original Song Title:
"Take Me Out To The Ballgame"
Original Performer:
Traditional
Parody Song Title:
"Guess Who Fought At Fort Sumter?"
Parody Written by:
Old Man Ribber
The Lyrics
Yesterday was the 150th anniversary of the bombardment of Fort Sumter and the start of the American Civil War (or War Between The States). Throughout the next four years, I'll be submitting songs about historical events, personalities, and strange-but-true facts. First on my list from the third catagory...the second-in-command of the Federal garrison at Fort Sumter was Captain Abner Doubleday! Though this officer had a fine military record, the legend that he invented baseball is pure mythology. I can't resist telling Doubleday's story and debunking the legend using basaball's most famous song. ;D
At Fort Sumter the war did start.
Our proud nation was torn apart.
Charleston harbor was smoke and flame,
And in shame - warfare came.
From the fort Robert Anderson
Returned fire with a single gun.
His calm first officer aimed the shot,
And I'll bet you - can't guess who!
Guess who fought at Fort Sumter?
It's amazing but true.
If you're a sports fan you'll know his name.
He's been tied to our national game.
And 'though he did not "invent" baseball,
Lots of fame came his way.
He was Captain and West Point grad
Abner Doubleday!
Further study now has revealed
He was not there at Phinney's field,
Never mentioned or laid claim
To the game. Still the same,
He is in our legend and lore,
And his service during the war
Brought his name a touch of renown
And he was from Cooperstown.
Guess who fought at Fort Sumter?
This I already knew!
'Though Abner soldiered with fine good sense,
The myth's countered by strong evidence.
If the di'mond lore's just a story
It takes nothing away
From the calm Fort Sumter X.O.
Abner Doubleday!
The verse of TOS was new to me. Also new...I learned that, after the war, Doubleday patented the San Francisco street car system (he later relinquished the patent). ;D
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User Comments
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It's true: Abner Doubleday was there at the start of an American institution that would later be commemorated in a long documentary by Ken Burns. Just not the one everyone thinks! Doubleday kept a journal that was a godsend for people studying the Civil War for its attention to detail. But in all those volumes, not once is baseball even mentioned. As Bill Mazer, the founding father of New York sports-talk radio, taught us, there's no surviving evidence that Doubleday ever even saw a baseball game. Or even that he liked baseball. But he was a friend of Abraham G. Mills, the man who ran the commission investigating baseball's origins on behalf of baseball's "Godfather," Albert G. Spalding, and was conveniently dead so he couldn't deny it.
Michael - And Alexander Cartwright as well. Have a great season and maybe we'll meet in the World Series. ;D
Another "Doubleday" ""Doubleheader" of a parody that hits a "home run" over the "home fort" ;-D Excellent Job OMR! 5's!
JIN - Thanks. ;D
We know who won the "Civil War Series."
I didn't realize the original song was more than just the chorus. Parody was really cool though
Well.....baseball aside, I knew the song and liked the parody. Just how did Douleday get a mention where he wasn't?
I liked the parody aa lot, OMR!!
oops! Meant to write Doubleday, not Douleday!
Yankees vs. Reds in the World Series? 50 years after the 1961 matchup, and a chance to get even for 1976? Maybe, the Reds did make the Playoffs last year and are off to a good start this year... But keep in mind that Dusty Baker is Cincinnati manager, OMR. So, as another former Reds manager, Pete Rose, might say, don't bet on it!
Great job. It's ironic - I'm writing a book called "If Baseball Integrated Early" (avauilable on lulu.com and being updated this year sometime). The player who is the anti-Cap Anson and helps push for baseball to be integrted from the start and remain so fights under General Doubleday and is encouraged by him. Doubleday's going to have more to do with baseball in my ATL than in real life! :-)
OMR: I tried to send you a PM (private message) at in the 00's, but it said that your inbox was full, but to get into the discussion forums, here is what I did, go to the "Welcome New Users to the Colony" thread and introduce yourself, then they should let you into the other threads from there. :-)
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