Written and first performed by the O.G. (original gunfighter) Marty Robbins. So you really gotta keep a twangy 4/4 western/polka beat in your head while reading. Better still, listen to a few bars to get the tune down first, either from one the Marty Robbins renditions on youtube, or from this awesome Mike Ness cover which popped up on my mp3 player the other day and got my cowboy amble on:
From the town of El Mar Lado rode a Pitcher one fine day
Hardly spoke to folks around him didn’t have too much to say
He liked plastic interlocking blocks shaped like Darth Vader’s ship
And the Pitcher name of Cahill had a Big Iron on his hip
Big Iron on his hip
It was early Friday evening Cahill rode into Oaktown
He came riding from the slough side slowly lookin’ all around
With a sinker loose and running and a reasonably good WHIP
He’s a former Midland Rockhound with a Big Iron on his hip
Big Iron on his hip
To Oaktown there came some Strangers by the name of Texas Red
Many men had tried to take them and that many men were dead
They were vicious evil killers numbered one plus twenty four
But their playoff winning seasons numbered one and not one more
One and not one more
Now Cahill he started talking made it plain to folks around
Was an El Mar Lado Pitcher wearing green for old Oaktown
He came here to take the Strangers back alive or maybe dead
And he said it didn’t matter he was after Texas Red
After Texas Red
Wasn’t long before the story was relayed to Texas Red
But the Strangers didn’t worry men that tried before were dead
Some All-Stars had tried to take them some All-Stars had made a slip
And the next would be the All-Star with the Big Iron on his hip
Big Iron on his hip
Friday daylight passed so quickly it was time for them to meet
It was just five clicks past seven when White Rabbit filled the street
Folks were watching from the grandstands every-body held their breath
They knew this handsome Pitcher was about to meet his death
About to meet his death
There was sixty feet between them and six inches more in play
And the sharpness of the Pitcher is still talked about today
Texas Red bats stuck on shoulders as the pitches fairly ripped
For the Pitcher’s aim was deadly with the Big Iron on his hip
Big Iron on his hip
It was over in a moment and the folks had gathered round
There before them lay the bodies of the Strangers on the ground
Oh they might have gone on playing but they made one final slip
When they tried to match the Pitcher with the Big Iron on his hip
Big Iron on his hip
Big Iron, Big Iron
They tried to match the Pitcher with the Big Iron on his hip
Big Iron on his hip
NEEDS MOAR TRASH-CAN (and folding-chair) THROWING
They train ’em early in the Rangers’ system.
I thoroughly endorse requiring every game thread to have a f(il)k.
Very nice!
Holy shit that’s a good one.
Yeeeee-haw!
The Andyman an’t
Yes, that was quite a “burn brilliantly, crash quickly” Oakland career arc from young Mr. LaRoche. Call it Mediocrity’s Rainbow.
So, everybody loves Rush, but I don’t know where to start. Any tips?
Not everybody.
Perhaps their lyrics are really good. I’m just having trouble finding the melody, and the lead singer’s voice takes some getting used to.
I do not care for the band.
The album 2112 is considered a classic by many (and an example of overwrought high school quality lyrics by others).
Bingo – 2112 is one of my favorites.
My advice is to crank up Moving Pictures and forget that Geddy Lee is a guy. Helps if you’re fifteen. Other easily accessible starters songs are “Spirit of the Radio” and “Working Man.”
And remember – go withe excess (insane drumming, unnecessary time signature changes, Randian politics), not against it.
I start by running the other way with an index finger in each ear.
No kidding. Once you get out here east of the Sierra it’s hard to find a radio station he’s not on in the mornings.
I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed that.
Especially liked
Free Kraut! Come for the game thread, stay for the f(il)k!
Well done.
I was wondering how you were going to take Woodstock and morph it into Overstock. Wrong number of syllables; I should have known I was off track. Nice job on this one.
Oh, man, that’s a great idea. I’m calling
Danley giveth and Danley taketh away.
Kouz?
KOUZ!?!
I love it!
Fosse: Kouz with the good job of not throwing the ball …
it was. He fielded it and held onto it and as a result, held the runner to a single and did not commit an error. They did not give up a run that inning and only an ESPN top plays type throw would have gotten the out.
Thus far Upgrade family game night has trumped both the A’s and Sharks. I see both games stand 1-0, one to the good, one not so much. Maybe Landon’s due for a longball.
That didn’t work. Maybe the Sharks are due for a power play goal.
0 fer 2
What’s the Upgrade family’s game of choice?
We mix it up quite a bit. Lately we’ve been playing this neat game called Forbidden Island, a cooperative game in which all players work together using individual assigned roles (each with unique abilities) to keep the island from sinking, so either everyone wins or everyone loses.
Cool. We have a couple we do a monthly game night with, and they just bought a game called Arkham Horror which is the same cooperative idea.
Willinghamtastic!
And Todd Bertuzzi got an owie. The night’s looking up.
Kuiper and Fosse say they’re doing a broadcast from the Value Deck on May 13. I’m intrigued.
[blinks]
Cahill’s stretched the reasonably good WHIP part, but he’s sprinkled the 11 runners well.
10 groundouts helps.
woo-hoo! Oakland run!
And a Shark goal!
Heading to OT in San Jose. Terrific sustained Sharks pressure the last part of the third period.
It’s crazy that they are 4-0 in overtime (of 5 wins)
Cahill goes 4-0 in April. As Ken and Vince suggested he’s probably the early leader for token A’s representative on the AL All-Star Team.
One of these days the A’s pitching and hitting will merge perfectly and we’ll be 0-0 in the 22nd inning.
With all those Seattle and LAA games, that does not sound like an outlandish scenario.
Sharks on 4 minutes power play in OT.
Overwhelming Shark pressure in OT so far, but no goal yet.
Jesus, SJ was getting better offensive chances at even strength than they’ve had 3:30 into that 4:00 advantage.
Whooooo!
Fennario! (I think?)
Ferriero (I read off the back of his jersey). First ever playoff game, first playoff goal, first OT game winner. On his birthday.
Birthdays? Winning. Thanks, team.
Several threads ago, there was some loose talk of a grillin”n’gatin’ on Weds 5/4 and/or Tues 5/3. It looks like most of the interest is focused by now on 5/3, and frankly (and bratly) the logistics of hauling the necessary stuff on my near-term technicolor leg are a little daunting. That said, it would seem to be a good idea to make use of the 6-month gimpy parking placard that comes with the leg — so said grillin”n’gatin’ could be set-up right adjacent to Gate A or D.
So — we have tix for both Weds May 18 7:05 (Twinks) and Sairdy May 28, also 7:05 (dem Bahlimer Ohreeos, Hawn) — latter is also a Fireworks Game. Would there be interests in either or both of those dates as grillin”n’gatin’ reduxes?
Lemme know!
I think the way it shook out is a lot of FKers can make 5/3, and Mrs. N and I can make 5/4 (but maybe not much in advance of game time since she has a speaking thing and she doesn’t know the lineup).
No problem, at all — I just think the Saturday/28th/Fireworks game in particular could be a good one for planning, if folks aren’t leaving town for the Holiday. Kraut’s on me.