Frank Sinatra - There Used To Be A Ballpark (Reprise 1973)

Frank Sinatra
Reprise Recordings
(J.Raposo)
[Recorded June 22, 1973, Hollywood]


And there used to be a ballpark where the field was warm and green
And the people played their crazy game with a joy I'd never seen
And the air was such a wonder from the hot dogs and the beer
Yes, there used a ballpark right here

And there used to be rock candy and a great big Fourth of July
With the fireworks exploding all across the summer sky
And the people watched in wonder, how they'd laugh and how they'd cheer
And there used to be a ballpark right here

Now the children try to find it
And they can't believe their eyes
`cause the old team just isn't playing
And the new team hardly tries

And the sky has got so cloudy
When it used to be so clear
And the summer went so quickly this year

Yes, there used to be a ballpark right here

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Frank
• Sinatra

[UndercoverObserver]

I was there, the final game at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Many many times I froze out there watching Giants games. They played this as Dusty Baker dug up home plate. Game time it would be 70 degrees, but by the 3rd inning the temp would drop to 50, the wind would be howling and the cold would chill you to the bone as the fog swept across the field so thick you cant see the outfield from home plate. Thoes were the best days of my life. I miss going to The Stick for Giants games.

[50marioD]

What a classic! I still have the original LP" 'Ol Blue eyes is Back". How apt-this song,when referred to the old ballparks of yesteryear. But we still have the Yankees.Thanks for this one.

[strictlycomments]

"And the sky has got so cloudy, when it used to so clear"

Clearly the topic of baseball serves only as a metaphor in this song. Love songs are written and sung about love only. This song; appearing to be about baseball, is actually about life...and it actually makes the song all the more poignant. I listen to it, and think about the brevity of life; my wonderful childhood, right up until the passing of my exceptional parents. The song is a true masterpiece with a most meaningful message...

[mackbee628]

We all had this song in mind when they demolished the nearly 100-year-old Tiger Stadium here in Detroit in 2008/9.

[GTN310]

wonderful song....really nice...I've always loved it.....

[trombizzle69]

@galacticsuperstar58 That'd be cool. Good luck finding the Bob Dylan song though. I could n't find it as done by him. Other people covering it, yes...

[kondor26]

Much more than just a lament of the demise of Ebbets field. A general comment on a bygone era, pollution, the passing of time just a gem of nostalgia motivated by the razing of Ebbets field. The marriage of the music and lyrics with the delivery of that masterful interpreter of song, Mr. Frank Sinatra, is an all too little appreciated work of magic. In my opinion, this song deserves to be played at the

end of every major league ball game, sung, as only he can sing it, by Frank Sinatra.

[kondor26]

Sinatra doing what he does best, singing like no body else can sing. Beautiful!

[galacticsuperstar58]

@trombizzle69 I'm making a playlist with all the songs from that article! 

[trombizzle69]

After getting mentioned in Sports Illustrated's Ultimate Sports playlist, I expect you'll get tons of views. I'm curious though- any idea which ballpark this song is about?