She is known for her sense of humor, which is expressed in both her music and her onstage performances. Many of her songs alternate between emotional reflections on romance and outright comedy. Two of her more famous songs include "Sensitive New Age Guys" and "Bald Headed Men".
Ballad Of A Ballgame
Christine Lavin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The one where she complains about
Not getting chosen for the basketball team?
Her song went, "For those whose names are never called
When choosing sides for basketball"
Remember that depressing song?
I would have written about that but she did it first
When you're 5 foot 2
Okay, 5 one and a half
And everybody else in the whole gym class
If 5 foot 3 and even taller, it hurts
Truth is I hadn't thought about that for years
But then a recent phone call rekindled all those fears
"A softball game ", Robin said, "And you're invited"
Softball? Great, that's my game
Why softball's practically my middle name
I'll be right over I said, feeling excited
Even though I can't throw, I can't hit
I can't run, I must admit
I can't catch, I can't pitch
In softball I have not found my niche
But I don't let details get in my way
Team sports, ooh, that's what I loves to play
I got dressed, got my sneakers tied
Made it to the park in time for choosing sides
Pick me, pick me, pick me, pick me, pick me, pick me, ooh
Pick me, pick me, pick me, pick me, pick me, pick me, ooh
Glove? Sure I own a glove
But it's in the repair shop with my rugby helmet
But I can always borrow from the other team
Pick me, pick me, pick me, pick me, pick me, pick me
Pick me, pick me, pick me, pick me, pick me, pick me
This part goes on for a long, long time
Because 20 people showed up to play and they picked 10 to a side
So as the ranks of the chosen grew and the unchosen we depleted
I tried to act nonchalant
'Cause deja vu, I was the last one chosen
Even after the overdressed Felicity Rosen
Do you know her?
She was wearing high heels
Stockings with seams and those Lee stick on nails
And they picked her before me
They put me in the field so far out and to the right
I was practically out of sight
But everybody said, I had a real good day
I didn't make any errors, I didn't make any plays
You see, the ball never came out my way
And I figured it's just gonna be one of those days
Now, coming up to bat was a whole new kind of humbling experience
I took one swing and missed, that was no surprise
I took another swing and missed, that was no surprise
Then I practiced strategy, I let one go by, the umpire called it a ball
I had a proud moment
Then the pitcher figured me out
He threw one I just couldn't resist, I swung and I actually hit it
But it was a pathetic little dribbler that went
Bloop, bloop, bloop, right back to the pitcher
Who threw it over to first and I was out which again is no surprise
But as I was walking to the bench to pick up my borrowed glove
To captain of the other team said to the captain of my team
"Hey, she really doesn't know how to play so let's not count her outs"
Not count my outs? Not count my outs? What are you talking about?
I want you to count my outs, I want my outs to count
Which made me unpopular with my entire team
So I said, "Don't count my outs"
What a great idea and it makes me feel so special
Thank you for being such a sensitive human being
And thinking of my needs in such an open
Kind and generous way
I really said something like that
I was babbling like an idiot
Well, eventually I resumed my place in the outfield
And continued watching the dandelions
Grow and blossom and turn into puffs
And blow away in the chilly wind
I continued watching the clouds making ugly formations in the sky
And it wasn't long before I began to question my worth as a human being
And my reason for living
But then top of the seventh
Two on, two out, a crack of the bat, a mighty clout
My whole team turned and cringed to see
That speeding ball heading vaguely toward me
I ran as fast as I could, I said a prayer
I stuck out my glove, the ball landed in there
No one could believe it on either team
They hooped and hollered and stomped and screamed
And total strangers clapped and cheered
(Aware that God had performed a miracle here)
I was carried to the bench, I was handed a beer
Then the clouds broke apart
Then the sun reappeared
No, it didn't, but it felt like it did in my heart
I wanted to live again
Oh, by the way we lost that game 17 to 3
But I considered it a moral victory
And Janis Ian, wherever you might be
Take heart, there's hope for you 'cause there's hope for me
Take me out to the ballgame, take me out to the crowd
Buy me some peanuts, I'll buy you Crackerjacks
As long as you count my outs when I come up to bat
Now it's root, root, root, root, root, root for both teams
Win or lose, lose or win we're all the same
Oh, won't you please take me out to the old ball game?
Come on, please take me out to the old ball game
"Ballad Of A Ballgame" is a humorous song that depicts the experience of being an unskilled athlete. In the first verse, Christine Lavin references a Janis Ian's song that laments the experience of not being chosen for the basketball team. But Lavin decides to write about her experience with softball instead. Despite being excited to play and being there on time, Lavin still doesn't get chosen until the end, and is put in a far-off spot in the field. She is incapable of playing well and is set aside throughout the game. The team, however, doesn't count her outs when it is her turn to bat, and she earns a few points for her team. The game is ultimately lost, but Lavin considers it a moral victory.
The song is comical, yet relatable, as it humorously describes what many people have gone through as inexperienced athletes. It also shows how team sports have a way of bringing out both the best and the worst in people, as they learn not only to work as a team, but also how to handle being put on the spot or not living up to expectations. The song ends on a positive note, celebrating the joy of the game despite the outcome.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you remember that song by Janis Ian?
Referencing a song by Janis Ian where she laments not being picked for the basketball team.
Her song went, "For those whose names are never called
When choosing sides for basketball"
Remember that depressing song?
Quoting Janis Ian's lyrics from her song about not getting picked for the basketball team.
I would have written about that but she did it first
Acknowledging the inspiration from Janis Ian's song but unable to write about it since Janis did it first.
When you're 5 foot 2
Okay, 5 one and a half
And everybody else in the whole gym class
If 5 foot 3 and even taller, it hurts
Feeling short compared to everyone else in gym class and associating that with the anxiety of not being picked for teams.
Truth is I hadn't thought about that for years
But then a recent phone call rekindled all those fears
Having not thought about the anxieties associated with team sports and not being picked until a recent phone call reminded her.
"A softball game ", Robin said, "And you're invited"
Softball? Great, that's my game
Why softball's practically my middle name
I'll be right over I said, feeling excited
Being invited to a softball game and feeling excited since it's a game she is good at and enjoys playing.
Even though I can't throw, I can't hit
I can't run, I must admit
I can't catch, I can't pitch
In softball I have not found my niche
Admitting that she isn't actually good at softball but loves playing team sports nonetheless.
But I don't let details get in my way
Team sports, ooh, that's what I loves to play
Not letting her shortcomings stop her from playing team sports since she enjoys the camaraderie of being on a team.
Pick me, pick me, pick me, pick me, pick me, pick me, ooh
Glove? Sure I own a glove
But it's in the repair shop with my rugby helmet
But I can always borrow from the other team
Eagerly volunteering to join a team but lacking her own equipment due to other hobbies.
Because 20 people showed up to play and they picked 10 to a side
So as the ranks of the chosen grew and the unchosen we depleted
I tried to act nonchalant
'Cause deja vu, I was the last one chosen
Being picked last due to an overwhelming turnout of players and feeling disappointed and anxious.
You see, the ball never came out my way
And I figured it's just gonna be one of those days
Not getting the ball during the game and accepting that it just wasn't her day to shine.
But as I was walking to the bench to pick up my borrowed glove
To captain of the other team said to the captain of my team
"Hey, she really doesn't know how to play so let's not count her outs"
Being told by an opposing team member that her lack of skill should not count against her team.
"Don't count my outs"
What a great idea and it makes me feel so special
Thank you for being such a sensitive human being
And thinking of my needs in such an open
Kind and generous way
I really said something like that
I was babbling like an idiot
Feeling grateful and flattered that the opposing team would disregard her bad plays, but also acknowledging how silly she must have sounded.
And it wasn't long before I began to question my worth as a human being
And my reason for living
Feeling very low about herself and questioning her sense of purpose after the game.
But then top of the seventh
Two on, two out, a crack of the bat, a mighty clout
My whole team turned and cringed to see
That speeding ball heading vaguely toward me
Getting a chance at bat in a key moment of the game but feeling nervous about it.
I ran as fast as I could, I said a prayer
I stuck out my glove, the ball landed in there
No one could believe it on either team
They hooped and hollered and stomped and screamed
And total strangers clapped and cheered
(Aware that God had performed a miracle here)
Against all odds, catching the ball and feeling ecstatic about it. Both teams celebrate her catch and it feels like a miracle.
But I considered it a moral victory
Feeling proud of herself for having caught the ball, even though her team ultimately lost the game.
Oh, by the way we lost that game 17 to 3
Despite her moral victory, acknowledging that her team lost by a significant margin.
But as long as you count my outs when I come up to bat
Jokingly asking to have her poor batting performance counted but ultimately expressing a love for the game.
Win or lose, lose or win we're all the same
Emphasizing that while there are winners and losers in sports, they are all just people and it doesn't define their worth.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: CHRISTINE LAVIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind