A National Anthem
A song is more than a mere sum of its parts. A melody accompanies lyrics, sometimes with a chorus or a refrain, the end result of all the parts meaning much more than those parts individually mean. A song without music could potentially lose a very effective vehicle by which the lyrical meaning might be expressed, in turn weakening any intended effect upon the listener by the song’s composer. As a song can convey more meaning, given certain circumstance, such as appropriate accompanying music, so too can a song carry more significance than one might suppose upon merely listening to the tune. The literal words of the song may not do justice to the full scope of the lyric’s subject, whatever it may be. For example, to fully understand the significance of the song “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” one would have to realize that the song is as concretely etched into the ideology of being an American as would be, say, “The Star Spangled Banner” or the White House. For millions of Americans, baseball, as the national pastime is a symbol of everything that an American is. Similarly, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” is a universally recognized representation of baseball, at least in America, and therefore a representation of America as a culture. As such, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” is a cultural icon of America.
The song deals with certain attitudes of American culture, in regards to baseball. Although Jack Norworth had never seen a baseball game by 1909 when he wrote the song, he was fascinated by the zealousness with which baseball fans interacted with their beloved sport. The sentiment he captures in the lines “Buy me some peanuts and cracker-jacks/ I don’t care if I ever get back” tells of the enjoyment the fans derive from the immersing atmosphere of a baseball game. The American love for the game inspired Norworth as he unknowingly wrote a second national anthem, proclaiming without error the national love for the game.
By definition, an anthem is “ song of praise or devotion, as to a nation,” and is generally accepted by a group of people. As an American anthem, or icon, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” is recognized by most, if not all Americans, whether they are actually fans of baseball or not. This “universal” recognition exudes the idea of the song as a symbol of America; as many Americans so firmly hold the ideas the song promotes, of love and of anthem-like passion for this game, the song must be a symbol and icon of America, and cannot be associated in any other way.
Inseparable to the image of America as the Statue of Liberty, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” is definitively symbolic of what it is to be an American. Much more than just a song about a game, it has come to be a statement of one aspect of American culture. As one explores the sweepingly diverse scope of ideas and symbols by which American culture can be identified, overlooking this integral part of the American identity, this second national anthem, becomes impossible. “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” stands as proudly American as the Washington Monument.
Take me out to the ballgame
Take me out to the crowd
Buy me some peanuts and crackerjacks
I don’t care if I ever get back
It’s root, root, root for the home team
If they don’t win it’s a shame
‘Cause it’s one, two, three strikes you’re out
At the old ball game!