My Favorite Spring

(album: Live - For The Record - 1996)

I used to play baseball
I used to love to play
The people all said
I'd be a winner someday
We played on the sandlots
And the gravel schoolyards
I once had a try-out
With the Saint Louie Cards
The Cardinals said
Young'un, we sure like your arm
We believe you can make it
We'll send you down to the farm
You need a little seasoning
Play a little double-A
We'll give you a chance to show
How much you want to play
That was my favourite spring
I could do anything
Full six feet tall and lean
I was just seventeen
My fastball was nothing but smoke
My curve-ball snapped and broke
My change-up made 'em look bad
They couldn't hit a thing I had
I was pitching down in Tampa
I was doing really well
I was in the rotation
I was giving 'em Hell
I threw a two-hitter
Ought to heard people shout
The very next morning
Korean war broke out
On the spur of the moment
I didn't have any plans
I went and joined the Air Force
I wound up in Japan
I pitched for the squadron
We toured all the camps
We didn't have any problem
We were all Far East Champs
That was my favourite spring
I could do anything
Full six feet tall and lean
I was just seventeen
My fastball was nothing but smoke
My curve-ball snapped and broke
My change-up made 'em look bad
They couldn't hit a thing I had
I was throwing a no-hitter
The day McArthur got fired
They were going down like ten-pins
I really had 'em wired
Bottom of the seventh
Throwing easy as can be
Something snapped in my shoulder
That was all she wrote for me
Well, I finished up my service
And I moved back down here
I married a fine lady
And I found a new career
We had us a young son
And we watched Jimmy grow
And the first time he asked
I taught him everything I know
And this is my favourite spring
He can do anything
Full six feet tall and lean
He's just seventeen
His fastball gives 'em the shakes
His curve-ball snaps and brakes
His change-up makes 'em look bad
People say he takes after his dad