Steve Goodman's Last Request
Okay, we have to go out on this song. Win or lose, it's the only way to fly. Steve Goodman's classic, "A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request."
Even in victory at last it retains its resonance, because it puts into perspective those 108 years of not winning a World Series, and how important the team was to Chicagoans and their fans.
As most people now know, but few did at the time, the song was largely autobiographical. Goodman had leukemia, and passed away at the age of 36. He was scheduled to sing the National Anthem before Game One of the 1984 playoffs, but died only four days before. His good friend Jimmy Buffet played relief pitcher that day and filled in, dedicating his performance to Steve. And one thing is especially worth noting. There's a line in the song about the old Cub fan asking that his ashes be strewn in Wrigley Field. When Steve Goodman passed away, he was so beloved by the Cubs -- remember, it's his recording of his song "Go, Cubs, Go" that is now the anthem that fans sing after every home game win at Wrigley -- that the team gave permission so that his ashes could indeed be strewn at Wrigley Field.
I particularly like this version of the song because he sings it on the rooftop of one of the buildings overlooking Wrigley Field.
He got his request. And his World Series win.
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