Play Ball
Ashley McBryde & Brothers Osborne Lyrics
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Turns the sprinklers on at sun-up and the lights on after dark
If you got time to talk, he'll give you his two cents
The grass is always greener on his side of the fence, yeah
He lost his wife to cancer and a thumb in Vietnam
Jokes he used to be a hitchhiker but not for very long
He runs off the gophers in a golf cart full of dents
Says you're old as you feel and I feel thirty-five
And any day you wake up's a damn good day to be alive
Soak it in when you win 'cause you can't win 'em all
Go to church, love your mama and play ball, yeah
I broke into concessions once but he didn't call the cops
He just made me clean the grease traps and replace the bubble pops
That's the spring that daddy left, he knew I was actin' out
And when I hit that first homerun, he took me to Golden Corral, yeah
Says you're old as you feel and I feel thirty-five
And any day you wake up's a damn good day to be alive
Soak it in when you win 'cause you can't win 'em all
Go to church, love your mama and play ball
Someone to put the time in or fill an empty seat
The world would be a better place if we all had a Pete, yeah
"Play Ball" is a heartfelt song by Ashley McBryde and Brothers Osborne that pays homage to a man named Pete and highlights the wisdom and life lessons he imparts to those around him.
The first verse introduces Pete as someone who takes care of the ballfields at Dennis Linde park. He starts his day early, preparing the fields and ensuring they thrive. Pete is a friendly and talkative person, always ready to share his thoughts and opinions. The line "The grass is always greener on his side of the fence" suggests that Pete finds contentment and satisfaction in his work, symbolizing his positive outlook on life.
The second verse reveals some of Pete's personal hardships, including losing his wife to cancer and losing a thumb in Vietnam. Despite these difficulties, Pete maintains a lighthearted attitude, even joking about being a hitchhiker. He deals with gophers on the field using a golf cart that has seen better days, highlighting his resourcefulness and determination. The line "the grass is always greener 'cause he makes sure it is" emphasizes Pete's commitment to making the best of every situation.
The chorus conveys Pete's life philosophy, which he shares with the singer. Pete believes that age is just a number and that every day is a gift to be cherished. He encourages the singer and others to savor victories but also acknowledges that one cannot win all the time. The mention of going to church and loving one's mother reinforces the importance of faith and family in Pete's values.
In the final verse, the singer opens up about a personal experience with Pete. They admit to breaking into concessions once, but instead of punishing them, Pete offers a chance for redemption. He puts the singer to work cleaning grease traps and fixing bubble pops, teaching them responsibility and the consequences of their actions. The singer also mentions a significant moment in their relationship with their father, as Pete takes them to Golden Corral after hitting their first homerun. This gesture amplifies the impact Pete has had on the singer's life.
The song concludes with the acknowledgment that Pete, or someone like him, is an invaluable asset to society. Describing him as someone who "puts the time in or fills an empty seat" implies that Pete willingly dedicates himself to improving the world around him, both in practical tasks and by offering support and companionship to others. The line "The world would be a better place if we all had a Pete" emphasizes the universal significance of having someone like Pete in our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Pete chalks the ballfields down at Dennis Linde park
Pete takes care of the ballfields at Dennis Linde park, marking the lines with chalk
Turns the sprinklers on at sun-up and the lights on after dark
Pete ensures the grass is watered in the morning and the lights are turned on at night
If you got time to talk, he'll give you his two cents
If you have the time to chat, Pete gladly shares his opinions and advice
The grass is always greener on his side of the fence, yeah
Pete ensures the grass on his side of the fence is consistently well-maintained and lush
He lost his wife to cancer and a thumb in Vietnam
Pete experienced the heartbreaking loss of his wife to cancer and also lost a thumb while serving in Vietnam
Jokes he used to be a hitchhiker but not for very long
Pete humorously mentions that he used to hitchhike but quickly stopped doing so
He runs off the gophers in a golf cart full of dents
Pete chases away gophers from the fields using a golf cart that has seen better days
And the grass is always greener 'cause he makes sure it is, yeah
Pete puts in the effort to ensure the grass is always greener, symbolizing his dedication and hard work
Says you're old as you feel and I feel thirty-five
Pete believes that age is determined by how young you feel, and personally feels like he's thirty-five
And any day you wake up's a damn good day to be alive
Pete appreciates every day he wakes up, considering it a great day to be alive, despite life's challenges
Soak it in when you win 'cause you can't win 'em all
Pete advises to fully enjoy the moments of victory, as one cannot always be successful
Go to church, love your mama and play ball, yeah
Pete encourages attending church, showing love for one's mother, and enjoying the game of baseball
I broke into concessions once but he didn't call the cops
The singer confesses to breaking into the concession stand, but Pete didn't involve the authorities
He just made me clean the grease traps and replace the bubble pops
Instead of punishing the singer, Pete assigned them the task of cleaning grease traps and replacing bubble pops
That's the spring that daddy left, he knew I was actin' out
The singer reflects on a past incident involving their father's departure, recognizing Pete's understanding of their rebellious behavior
And when I hit that first homerun, he took me to Golden Corral, yeah
After achieving a significant milestone by hitting their first homerun, Pete celebrated by taking the artist to Golden Corral restaurant
Someone to put the time in or fill an empty seat
Pete is described as someone who is willing to invest time and effort or fill any vacant spot
The world would be a better place if we all had a Pete, yeah
The world would undoubtedly improve if everyone had someone like Pete, exemplifying his positive impact on others
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Aaron Raitiere, Ashley Dyan McBryde, Benjy Davis, Brandy Clark, Connie Harrington, Nicolette Hayford
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Darren Coile
My favorite artists collaborating didn’t disappoint ❤
tmd0402
Could NOT agree more!! Love love love
dwight greene
Ma’am..THANK YOU for this! This is my younger son and myself growing up, even Golden Choral. I cry every hear this, sent it my son, we agreed, this is us!
OH tj
You can never go wrong with Ashley McBryde and the Brothers. This song is fantastic❤
Dave
Love both these artists! What a great song!
dwight greene
Thank you! This song hits very close to home!
Neil Musgrove
Love this song, it sounds great but more than that it really tells a story, great song writing!
Julianna Kaiser
Wow! This song brought a lot of emotions to the surface. And lovely memories. Love it so much 💜⚾️⛪️ thank you for your music
Silvia Rodrigues
One of my favourites from the album for sure. 💜
Sharon Skowron
Love this song, makes me cry every time, which is a good thing!