“The Weight” for Wrigley Field
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
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)
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)
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 …