Music
You Give It All Your Heart Run Time: 5:23
Written by Bill Mallonee for CyBrenJoJosh (BMI) ©2002
yeah you give it all your heart
'cause that's the way you play the game
ever since the smell of fresh cut outfield grass
you've always been this way
from the oil upon your leather glove
to the sharp crack of the bat
to the faces on the trading cards
and the stats upon the back
you give it all your heart
'cause they come to see you swing
you learn to nurse your own hurts
and hope the coach doesn't suspect a thing
sure it is a long shot
but the sky seemed oh so clear
we may not make it out the bush leagues honey
but that's not why we're here
now ever since the first game
it's been deep inside of you
was it a music only you could hear
when the count was three and two?
but ever since you picked up the wood
you can't seem to put it down
you cannot get enough of it
so you roam from town to town
and some call it your passion
and some call it your gift
you know the way you read the wind-up
and the nuance of each pitch
the whole thing felt like something else
when we walked onto that field
it was like a language you must learn to read
or a base that you must steal
we may not win the pennant
we may not drink champagne
it's not whether you win or lose
but it's how you play the game
the heroes are not as many
and the scoreboards are not as bright
but somewhere some kid gets it all
when he swings that wood tonight
i once knew a woman
she asked her son to shine her shoes
she put a quarter in each one of them
'cause she thought that was his due
but he returned the money
and when she asked him why that was
he said mom i'm old enough to know by now
you just do some things for love
well you give it all your heart
'cause that's the way you play the game
ever since the smell of fresh-cut outfield grass
we've always been this way
sure it is a long shot
but the sky seemed oh so clear
we may not make it out of the bush leagues honey
but that's not why we're here
Did You Know?
In Bill's words, "it's a tune about baseball, Joseph [Bill's son] and the life (expectancy) of this thing I do called VoL. Though not included on the record, Bill usually ends this song during concerts with a rambling compendium that goes something like this:
You know that scorecard of life you keep there in your top shirt pocket? Burn the thing for just one day. Take and enemy to lunch and break down some wall of mistrust. Do not run with scissors. Remember to floss after every meal. Try to do without TV so much in your life. Build a bridge to your father. And pray with out ceasing. Pray without ceasing. And get close to flesh and blood.
This has become known as "Welcome to the New Dark Ages" (I think). Bill also has a "Hosea" story-song that goes along with this song, loosely taken from Buechner's Peculiar Treasures.
Appeared On…
Fetal Position (2002)
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