Decided to tackle something fun today: Figuring out what songs every real Cubs fan absolutely gotta know by heart. Wanted it to be the soundtrack for the bleachers, you know?
Starting Simple & Getting Nostalgic
First thing I did? Went straight back to childhood. Grabbed my old baseball glove from the closet shelf – dusty as heck – and just sat with it for a minute. Remembered being a little kid at Wrigley with my grandpa. The smells, the green grass, the noise. Then it hit me: the songs that stick are the ones tied to those moments. Started scribbling down names on a notepad just based on pure feel: “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” obviously. That’s Harry Caray territory, a holy thing. Then “Go, Cubs, Go!” after a win. Singing that leaving the park? Pure joy.
But I needed more than just my memories. Wanted the full fan experience. Hopped online, poked around Cubs forums and fan groups. Noticed the same tracks popping up over and over:
- “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” (Seventh Inning Stretch) – Non-negotiable. You stand up, you sing loud.
- “Go, Cubs, Go!” (Post-Victory) – Win? This blasts. You sing, you clap.
- “Sweet Home Chicago” (Blues Brothers vibe) – Heard this echo during warm-ups often.
- “Here Come the Cubs” (Entrance Music kinda thing) – Gets the blood pumping before first pitch.
- Budweiser Song (“Here Comes the King”) – Yeah, the beer one. Controversial maybe, but folks chant along when it rolls.
The Practice Part (Making it Stick)
Okay, knowing the names wasn’t enough. Had to feel them, sing ’em myself. Found a playlist online with the tunes – lots of versions, live crowd noise mixed in too, which was perfect for the vibe.
Cued it up. Grabbed my morning coffee cup like a mic. Stood up for the seventh inning stretch track (“Take Me Out…”), belted it out embarrassingly loud in my quiet living room. Felt ridiculous. Did my best Harry Caray impression on “Root, root, root for the Cubbies!” Laughed at myself.
Then “Go, Cubs, Go!” came on. That’s more my speed – easier melody. Started singing, tried to match the crowd energy I remembered. Got the clapping rhythm down: Clap-Clap-ClapClapClap… CUBS! Clap-Clap-ClapClapClap… GO! Muscle memory started kicking in.
Tried “Sweet Home Chicago” next. Oh man, my voice ain’t built for the blues. Croaked my way through “Ba-ba-ba-BAAAA Chicago,” but tapped my foot the whole time. The Budweiser song? Didn’t need lyrics for that one – the tune does all the work, crowd just roars.
Kept cycling through the playlist. Focused on remembering the lyrics without peeking (messed up “Here Come the Cubs” a few times), getting the timing of the crowd chants right, and most importantly, feeling like I was back on those creaky bleacher benches.
The “True Fan” Realization Hits
Singing along alone in my socks was one thing. But thinking about being back in Wrigley with thousands? That’s when it clicked. Being a true Cubs fan isn’t about having the most expensive jersey or knowing every stat from 1945. It’s about joining that chorus.
It’s about standing shoulder-to-shoulder during the stretch, maybe a little off-key but giving it everything for Harry. It’s about that spontaneous burst of “Go, Cubs, Go!” spilling out of a bar after a win downtown. It’s humming “Sweet Home Chicago” walking down Clark Street. These songs? They’re the glue. They turn strangers into neighbors for a few hours. They define the shared experience, the shared misery sometimes, but mostly that shared, stubborn hope. Singing them poorly together is way better than singing them perfectly alone.
So yeah, my kitchen concert probably scared the cat. But walking through those tracks, straining my voice trying to hit notes, remembering the feeling? That cemented it. Knowing these songs by heart isn’t trivia; it’s your pass to belong in that massive, loud, beautiful Cubs family choir.
