Steve Goodman, and the Surprising Story of "Go, Cubs, Go"

The Chicago Cubs haven't won a World Series in 100 years. Perhaps that's why they celebrate every victory - you can't be sure when the next one will come along.

For the last two years, that post-game celebrating has included a song. Over 40,000 fans standing, partying, singing along to the recording of a boisterous anthem, "Go, Cubs, Go." But for most people, the story ends there. In fact, it's the beginning of a story that makes this all far more wonderful than most people swaying along imagine.

And therein lies the tale.

Singer-songwriter Steve Goodman has always been popular in his hometown of Chicago, bursting on the scene in the 1970s. However, he's always been little-known outside the city. But there's a good chance you do know Steve Goodman, because several of his songs have had great fame. In fact, he's won two Grammy Awards.

His best known is the legendary "City of New Orleans." Not only did Arlo Guthrie have a massive hit with it - but a decade later, Willie Nelson reached #1 with the song again.

With John Prine, he co-wrote the wry country hit, "You Never Even Call Me By My Name." (David Allan Coe even refers to Goodman on the recording for adding a new comic-ending that Coe insists now makes it, "The perfect country-and-western song.")

Story continues below

advertisement

Goodman's versatility was remarkable, from folk to rock, blues and country, yet above all, riotous and sly humor throughout. And then he'd burst your heart with "Would You Like to Learn to Dance?" and "My Old Man." He was so admired that Bob Dylan sings back-up and performs on his second album.

As wonderful as Steve Goodman is on record, he was better in concert, where his ingratiating personality exploded. One time, I saw him at the Universal Amphitheatre, opening for Steve Martin at the peak of the comic's stand-up career. Now, you must understand, this is when people showed up with toy arrows in their heads, reciting his album monologues by heart, shouting "Excuuuuuse me...." every other word. The last thing they wanted to see was any opening act, let alone a short, balding, cherubic folk singer they'd never heard of. Moreover, the place seated 5,200, all jammed with stomping maniacs. It was a rock concert for a stand-up comic.

And throughout all this, Steve Goodman simply kept singing, telling stories and winning over the Martin Fanatics...to their utter shock. By the end of only his fourth number, a guy sitting in front of me - who had heard my running, Steve Goodman commentary to my date - spun around, his face wide-eyed with that shocked look of heavenly discovery, and shouted, "Who IS This Guy???!!!!! He's Incredible??!!!" By the end of Steve Goodman's set, this amphitheatre of 5,200 Steve Martin cultists were stomping and screaming for the other Steve, as well.

It should come as no surprise that Steve Goodman opened for Steve Martin over 200 times.

Indeed, Steve Goodman was incredible. And he was a massive Chicago Cubs baseball fan. He wrote two songs for his favorite team. One was the hilarious "A Dying Cubs Fan Last Request," whose narrator ultimately envisions his ashes scattered around Wrigley Field. For the other, he wrote a radio jingle for them.

It was a song called - "Go, Cubs, Go."

The song was written before the 1984 season began, when WGN radio asked Goodman to write something for them that could begin their broadcast. (If one listens closely, you can hear one of the lines, "Baseball time is here again / You can catch it all on WGN.")

When it was originally aired, I never was crazy about the song. It was okay, but compared to the best of Steve Goodman, it paled. (To be fair, compared to the best of Steve Goodman, most songs pale.) But it certainly was memorable.

You'll note that I've use paste tense a lot here. "Was" is, unfortunately, an important word in the story of Steve Goodman and the song.

Steve Goodman had leukemia, and though it went into remission, he always kept it a secret. Only a few people knew. And the knowledge of that makes his joyful personality and effervescence all the more impressive. (In pure-Goodman fashion, one of his nicknames was "Cool Hand Leuk." Another was "Chicago Shorty.") And then, after over seven years of remission, when most cases are thought to be gone - it so sadly returned. And in 1984, the same year he wrote "Go, Cubs, Go," Steve Goodman died at the ridiculously too-young age of 36.

It was then that people discovered "A Dying Cubs Fan's Last Request" was autobiographical.

He was scheduled to sing the National Anthem before the Cubs' very first post-season playoff game in 39 years. But he died 11 days earlier. His friend Jimmy Buffett performed it instead, dedicating his performance to Steve Goodman.

And then, just like in his song, the Chicago Cubs ballclub allowed his ashes to be spread at Wrigley Field. That's how beloved he was by the team, even back in 1984. Yet the best was still to come.

Because it turned out that Steve Goodman was far too good and far too full of life for the story to end there.

To be sure, Steve Goodman songs continued to be played and recorded by others, and there remained a core group of fans, most especially in Chicago. But 23 years dims that over time. Music changes, culture changes, people change. And time passes. A core group becomes a niche. And names to others become lost.

In the end, a new generation ultimately solidifies its place with its own interests.

But for whatever reason, some person in Chicago Cubs management remembered the radio song that Steve Goodman had written a quarter of a century earlier.

In 2007, the team had the idea the play it after the ballclub won, and it caught on and grew like a wildfire. It might have been nice as a radio promo, but it turned out to be infectious as a celebratory sing-along. And as the Cubs started winning and made the playoffs last year, the song took on even greater meaning to the fans. And as that winning actually grew and the Cubs suddenly now bizarrely have the best record in all of Major League Baseball, and pennant fever has ignited in Chicago - with improbable dreams of a century-delayed World Series, no matter how unlikely - the song has not only become an anthem, but a requirement as part of a Wrigley Field experience. A packed-stadium united in joyful song. And finally, a phenomenon. Whereas in most ballparks, people leave before the final out to get to their cars in time, 40,000 jubilant fans stay in Wrigley Field, refusing to leave until they've all sung their song. Along with Steve Goodman.

And it's not just a Wrigley Field experience. Two thousand miles away, a friend in Los Angeles gets the WGN television broadcast, and says that he and his 10-year-son always sing it together after each win. No doubt this occurs across the country. And with the Internet, probably around the world.

But the best part of all is an interview I heard with one of Steve Goodman's daughters, Rosanna, a musician herself, explaining how bowled over the family is by the way the song has become this massive, beloved exultation in the city and brought so much attention to her father. Once again.

His mother, Minnette, told the Chicago Tribune, "It blows my mind."

A major 800-page biography - long in the works - was released last year, written by Clay Eals. October 4, 2007, was named Steve Goodman Day in Illinois. Last year, the Chicago Cubs drew over 3 million fans, and this year they're on a pace for more. Most of whom now know Steve Goodman, when they didn't before.

And with each victory, the people blasting out, "Go, Cubs, Go," grows.

Though it won't replace seeing Steve Goodman play live, here are videos of his wildly-exuberant, in-concert version of "Red Red Robin" and the haunting "Penny Evans." But for a special treat, don't miss this video of him performing "A Dying Cubs Fan's Last Request" from a rooftop overlooking Wrigley Field.

And of course, his 20 albums still continue to sell, with newly discovered material released, along with archive concert recordings. The album, "A Tribute to Steve Goodman," won a third Grammy.

I only met Steve Goodman once. It was at Dodger Stadium, where I'd gone with my pal Patrick Goldstein who had become friends with Goodman back as a reporter covering music in Chicago. Goodman saw Patrick, came over for a brief, charming chat, and then returned to his seat to watch the game. The game, after all, that was the important thing.

The other team playing was the Chicago Cubs.

That's the story.

But this below - this is the experience.

Comments

[ali-remixamerica]

My step-dad introduced me to the music of Steve Goodman while I was still a teenager and Ryne Sandburg and Jody Davis were my heroes. I loved the song then, and I love it now, no matter how long I have been gone from Chicago. His version of Glory of Love is the first song that goes on any iPod or musical device I use. Thanks for this nice column.

[Verite]

Shortly before Steve Goodman died in Sept. of 1984, my sister was diagnosed with a cancer that put her in her grave four months later at the age of 38. She had introduced all of us to Steve Goodman (and John Prine) in the early 70's, and identified his passion for the Cubbies as the equivalent of ours for the Red Sox. Coincidentally, one of her oncologists had treated Steve Goodman over the years and the two of them commiserated over his passing.

So, here's one BoSox fan who has done his best to turn folks on to Steve Goodman's music since then...and I think a special tip of the hat should go to John Prine for endlessly promoting Steve's albums over the years. While much of the recordings of Steve Goodman are just marvelous...one of my favorites for a glimpse of his talent and humor is a live recording of Steve singing a request for Winter Wonderland - pure magic...especially when he sings the adlib, "It's kind of absurd, when you don't know the words, to sing walkin' in a winter wonderland."

Thanks for getting his name out there into the blogosphere, buy his albums folks, and go Cubbies!

[BabooKyra]

I saw this from a slightly different perspective. I saw a lot of people in a circle chanting and raising energy. It was pure magick. And it seems to be working. Some singer/songwriters have that ability, like Stan Rogers and Pete Seeger. It is as ancient as people.

Blessed Be, BabooKyra

[spyboyz]

Steve Goodman was amazing...I still hate baseball though

[karenann]

Thanks for this entry. An island of beauty in otherwise stormy news. . .

Steve Goodman remains one of Chicago's greatest treasures, and I'm happily sitting here, playing his songs in my head.

Thanks for the memories!

[JaneaneTheAcerbicGoblin]

I hope the Cubs win this year, but they always look for ways to lose. Even when things are going their way, they seem to jeopardise themselves.

In 2004, they had 9 games left, and they were playing less than stellar teams down the stretch. They were leading in the wild card.

They lost 8 out of their last 9 games, while Houston won almost all theirs.

We all know about the 2003 debacle and the 1984 debacle. They got to the playoffs in 1989 and 1998, but they were outmatched big time. Last year they were pathetic in the playoffs.

[RobertAndropolis]

Chicago Cubs fans are the only fans in the world who exhibit unconditional love for their team. It's good to see their belief is being rewarded this year, and that Goodman is such an intregral spiritual centering force.

[hukkahukkabirninglove]

A great surprise of a story this morning. Thanks.

I'm not a Chicagoan, not a fan of the Cubs, even. But a great fan of Steve Goodman. His thoughtful writing & singing were wonderful, and never got old.

My favorite was The Dutchman. Tho Arlo's version of The City of New Orleans was a strong part of the soundtrack of my life in 1971 (before I knew who Steve Goodman was.)

Now gotta go look for the Best of CD out in the storage shed. Got a craving for some Steve. . .

[Yat1954]

Jimmy Buffett sang the national anthem one year at Wrigley, and stepped to the mike and said, "This is for Steve Goodman." before he started to sing. I know Buffett recorded at least one Goodman song, "Banana Republics" and probably did more. What a talent we lost.

[SarasotaHuskie]

Reportedly, when Jimmy did his concert in Wrigley, he went out to the bleachers
and told the crowd that this is where he and Steve sat when they went to Cubs'
games. Then he sang "City of New Orleans" in tribute.

There is a CD and DVD of the concert.

btw It also includes "Go Cubs Go".

[VivaZapata]

On one of his records, Goodman remarks that Buffett recorded "Elvis Imitators" under the pseudonym Freddie and The Fishsticks. The song is hilarious. Also, I always thought "A Dying Cubs Fan's Request" showed off Goodman's writing (not to mention his endearing sense of humor) better than "Go Cubs Go." The latter may have reached popular, anthem status attention, but is one of his lesser songs. Still any attention to a deserving artist these days is welcome. Midst the articles about lightweights like Ms Spears, I couldn't find anything about recently deceased guitar great, Jerry Reed.

[ChiGuy]

The Lincoln Avenue folk scene of the mid-to-late 70s and early 80s, is one of my fondest memories of my city, and Steve Goodman was a big presence.
I cannot tell you how many times I saw him playing during that time, but it was easily over 100.
Always a great show one would come out of refreshed and rejuvenated.

Steve, you are fondly remembered.

[Bitsko]

Thanks for the great stories and memories of this fantastically talented man.

[RedDogBear]

I used to live in Chicago and liked Steve Goodman quite a bit. My favorite song was a funny little ditty called "The Lincoln Park Pirates" about a real life toeing company that was infamous for their barely legal behavior in taking cars and then charging exhorbitant rates to get them back.

[Bitsko]

Chicken Cordon Blues is also quite nice.

[ChiGuy]

Lincoln Towing.
Stlil here. Still just skirting the bounds of legality.

[JaneaneTheAcerbicGoblin]

I used to live in Chicago, and I know the Lincoln towing pirates very well.

I went to see Fellini's Cassanova at Facets on Fullerton. I parked in a Walgreens parking lot across the street. I had parked there many times for other films showing at Facets, so I didn't think it was a big deal. When I got out of the film (which was tremendous), my car was gone.

My companion and I had to get a cab to go to Lincoln Towing, and I remember seeing a bullet proof glass by the cashier's window with a sizeable dent in it from a patron who wanted to test whether it was really bullet proof.

Cost me 80 bucks to get the car out, and 20 for the cab. And this was in the 1990's.

[DrBuzz]

IRobert, after reading your piece, I unabashedly had to swallow to keep down the tears. I loved Steve Goodman, though clearly your adoration rightfully dwarfed mine. His crisp baritone was so wonderful, and when I found out it was he, not Arlo, who had written "City of New Orleans," the Arlo fan that I was (and remain) wondered about the justice of such a beautiful song, with such a beautiful voice, to be relegated to a trivia contest.

Goodman's death, given his gift and his heart, might be one of the more forceful arguments against a living, caring God. We are robbed of all his goodness, and yet La Busha Nostra keeps on chugging along. I wish that ONE neo-con could give me hope of their ultimate goodness (doubtful) by saying that they, too, loved Goodman. Because his name said it all.

[CKD]

Great story. Now -- imagine this happening in any other baseball city. Hard, isn't it? (And I don't even like the Cubs!)