"Walter Johnson" lyrics - JONATHAN RICHMAN

Well I'm a gonna tell you if you don't know
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About a great ball player from a long time ago
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Whose a hero to me I ain't puttin' you on son.
'Cause I'm now gonna tell a story of baseball's great Walter Johnson.

All through baseball he was loved and respected
Was there bitterness in Walter Johnson?
Well it was never detected.

Well now, when pitchers throw their pitch to scare
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They'll actually tried to almost hit that opposing player
Do de do de do de do de do de do de do
Walter Johnson wouldn't do that, not even just a little
He made sure he threw that baseball right down the middle.

And All through baseball he was loved and respected
Was there bitterness in Walter Johnson?
Well it was never detected.

Now (he pitched for the Washington Senators back in about 1924) now (1906)

Now look, when the Washington nine was a-goin to win
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Walter would actually ease up a little on the opposition (that's right)
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Now the other teamates they simply didn't get it,
They said, "Walter how come you let him hit it?"
Now Walter just told them with his gentle smile
"Boys, this game isn't any fun if you don't get a hit once in a while."

Now all through baseball he was loved and respected
Was there bitterness in Walter Johnson?
Well it was never detected.

Now a record's just a record in a book that's just a book
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This Walter Johnson, I speak of, never so much as gave the opposing team a dirty look
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And a season's just a season in a game that was supposed to be just a game
Walter Johnson cared about people more than he cared about fame.

So all through baseball he was loved and respected
Was there bitterness in Walter Johnson?
Well it was never detected.