Now Reading
“The Weight” for Wrigley Field
1

“The Weight” for Wrigley Field

by Dave HoekstraNovember 4, 2016

 

Me and Ernie at Billy Williams Hall of Fame Induction, 1987. No dress code.

Me and Ernie at Billy Williams Hall of Fame Induction, 1987. No dress code.

With apologies to The Band…….

I pulled into Wrigleyville, I was feelin’ about half past dead

I just need some place where I can lay my head

“Hey, Mister Rahm, can you tell me where a man might find a bed?”

He just grinned and shook my hand and, “No”, was all he said

Take a load off Ernie

Take a load for free

Take a load off Ernie

And you put the load right on me

(You put the load right on me)

the_band_3

The Band

I picked up my bat and I went lookin’ for a place to hit

When I saw a goat and a cat walkin’ side by side

And I said, “Hey, goat come on, would you like to go downtown?”

And Billy said, “Well, I gotta go butt my friend can stick around”

And take a load off Ernie 

Take a load for free

Take a load off Ernie

And you put the load right on me

(You put the load right on me)

Go down, Pat Hughes, there ain’t nothin’ that you can say

‘Cause just ol’ Lester and Lester’s  waitin’ on Opening Day

“Well, now Lester my friend, what about young Javy Spree?”

He said, “Do me a favor, son, won’t you stay an’ keep Javy Spree company?”

Take a load off Ernie

Take a load for free

Take a load off Ernie

And you put the load right on me

(You put the load right on me)

5987f0ce5502e4909a0fe6bc66983637

Crazy Maddon followed me and he caught me in the Wrigley fog

He said, “I will fix your club, if you’ll take Cousin Eddie, my RV”

I said, “Wait a minute, Maddon, you know I’m a peaceful man”

He said, “That’s okay, Theo won’t you drive him when you can?”

Take a load off Ernie

Take a load for free

Take a load off Ernie

And you put the load right on me

(You put the load right on me)

Catch an El Train, now, to take me down the line

My, my bat is sinkin’ low and I do believe it’s time

To get back to Mr. Harry Caray , you know he’s the only one

Who sent me here with drinks for everyone

Take a load off Ernie

Take a load for free

Take a load off Ernie

And you put the load right on me

(You put the load right on me)

About The Author
Dave Hoekstra
Dave Hoekstra is a Chicago author-documentarian. He was a columnist-critic at the Chicago Sun-Times from 1985 through 2014, where he won a 2013 Studs Terkel Community Media Award. He has written books about heartland supper clubs, minor league baseball, soul food and the civil rights movement and driving his camper van across America.
1 Comments
  • Kenny
    February 26, 2017 at 9:46 am

    I pulled into Nashville
    Saw a stadium all gold and black
    The scoreboard said the visitors
    Scored forty in the second half
    Hey mister can you tell me
    Who the Commodores are playing this time
    He just sighed and shook his head
    And said Tennessee School for the Blind

    Kick a field goal Vandy
    Kick a goal for three
    Kick a field goal Vandy

    … I forget the rest …

Leave a Response