The great base-ball song of 1907
Words and music by Arthur Longbrake
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- Deacon Jones addressed the congregation
Said “The roof lets in the rain
And folks that am an aggravation
To Reverend Jackson Smith, that’s plain
Now I propose good sisters and brothers
We raise some funds to shingle up the leak
A ball game we could play on Emancipation Day”
But Sister Jones in loud tones then did speak
“That am no game for good church folks to play”
Deacon Jones replied, “Does not the good book say?”
Chorus:
That Eve stole first and Adam second
St. Peter umpired the game
Rebecca went to the well with a pitcher
And Ruth in the field won fame
Goliath was struck out by David
A base hit made on Abel by Cain
The Prodigal Son made one home run
Brother Noah gave checks out for rain
- Deacon Jones received their acclamation
“That a ball game they would play”
The folks were filled with expectation
On that Emancipation day
When in the box the Deacon was pitching
A ball bat slipped and hit him on the shins
He fainted dead away
Then his wife was heard to say
“He’s only being punished for his sins”
But Deacon Jones came to and loudly cried
“We will leave it to the good book to decide”
Sung by Laurence Rubenstein: