Among the hundreds of artists he's worked with include Phil Ochs, Tim Buckley, Haruomi Hosono, The Byrds, Rufus Wainwright, Harry Nilsson, Randy Newman, Ry Cooder, U2, Joanna Newsom, Inara George, Keith Moon, Frank Zappa, Harpers Bizarre, Little Feat, Ringo Starr, Silverchair, and Skrillex.
In addition to producing, Parks has released seven studio albums of his own recordings: Song Cycle, Discover America, Clang of the Yankee Reaper, Jump!, Tokyo Rose, Songs Cycled, and with Brian Wilson, Orange Crate Art. He has also released a live album, Moonlighting: Live at the Ash Grove. His first official release was the 1966 single Number Nine, a modernized version of Beethoven's 9th backed with Do What You Wanta.
Parks has also established himself in film scores, and over the years has directed, arranged, produced, and composed soundtracks for a great number of motion pictures and television shows.
During his childhood, Parks became extremely fond of old-style American music, most notably the sounds of Tin Pan Alley. This interest in Depression-era songwriting would correlate heavily with his artistic goals and interests during the 1960s and beyond. He was also deeply affected by musicians Spike Jones and Les Paul, which led him to develop an interest with studio experimentation in the form of pop music.
One Home Run
Van Dyke Parks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We want just one home run
That's all that we are after
My son I been around the diamond
But not for many a year
And I have lost and won
The cost in tears and laughter
When these two words you hear
Batter up! batter up!
With His eye on the sparrow you'll fly like an arrow on high
Batter up! batter up!
Whether losing or winning in only beginning
You'll make it on home by and by
You take a bat of pine
From some denuded forest
The glove was made by Mr.Spaulding
From a cow in Salvador
And by some power divine
The crowd joins in the chorus
It is a case of now or never
And you can hear them roar
Ko ko lo to ki me ku to ki
Ka ze wa to ma li
To mo ni su su mi yu ko
Mi la i bo ku la no
Ao zo la hi lo ga lu no ha la ni yu ko
Kyo o wa ta no shi i ku sa ya kyu u sa
Bo ku no ne ga i wa ta ta hi to tsu no
Ho o mu la no i pa tsu u tsu da ke sa
Ta da bo lu ni mu ka i o mo i ki i li pu le i su ru da ke
In "One Home Run," Van Dyke Parks tells the story of a father sharing his experience and advice with his son as they prepare to play baseball. The father has been around the diamond for a long time and has experienced both victories and defeats. He tells his son that all they really want is one home run, and encourages him to step up and face the pitcher when the two words "batter up" are heard. The father assures the son that no matter the outcome, whether they win or lose, it's only the beginning and they'll make it home eventually.
Throughout the song, Parks incorporates various references to the equipment used in baseball. The bat of pine symbolizes the natural resource used to make the equipment, while the glove made by Mr. Spaulding from a cow in Salvador highlights the international nature of the sport. The father also speaks of the power divine that brings the crowd together to join in the chorus. The lyrics in the chorus contain a mix of different languages, including Japanese and Hawaiian, making it a truly multicultural piece.
Overall, "One Home Run" is a nostalgic song that captures the essence of baseball as a symbol of unity, perseverance, and hope.
Line by Line Meaning
We want just one home run
All we want is to hit one home run in this game
That's all that we are after
Hitting a home run is our only goal
My son I been around the diamond
As your father, I have played baseball for a long time
But not for many a year
It has been a while since I last played the game
And I have lost and won
I have experienced both victory and defeat in baseball
The cost in tears and laughter
Baseball has brought me both joy and sorrow
You just step up and face that pitcher
To succeed, all you have to do is stand up to the pitcher
When these two words you hear
When the umpire yells 'batter up!'
Batter up! batter up!
It's your turn to bat
With His eye on the sparrow you'll fly like an arrow on high
With God's help, you can achieve anything you set your mind to
Whether losing or winning in only beginning
The outcome of the game doesn't matter, it's only the start
You'll make it on home by and by
You will eventually score a run and make it home
You take a bat of pine
You hold a bat made of wood from a pine tree
From some denuded forest
The forest where the wood came from has been stripped of all its trees
The glove was made by Mr.Spaulding
Your glove was made by a man named Mr. Spaulding
From a cow in Salvador
The leather for the glove came from a cow in Salvador
And by some power divine
The crowd joins in and cheers you on with enthusiasm
The crowd joins in the chorus
The audience sings together in support of the game
It is a case of now or never
This is a crucial moment and the outcome of the game is at stake
And you can hear them roar
The audience is cheering loudly to support the players
Contributed by Carter G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.