# Songs that refer to a sport without actually mentioning the name of a sport **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 9, 2010, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-a-sport-without-actually-mentioning-the-name-of-a-sport/535486 "2010-04-09T02:19:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-a-sport-without-actually-mentioning-the-name-of-a-sport/535486/1 "2010-04-09T02:19:58Z")
I’ve had the idea for this thread for quite a while, now. John Fogerty’s “Centerfield” clearly refers to the game of baseball, yet the word “baseball” is not anywhere in the lyrics. David Geddes’ “The Last Game of the Season (The Blind Man in the Bleachers)” is about a Friday night high school football game, “The boy’s just not a hero. He’s strictly second-team. Though he runs each night for touchdowns in his daddy’s sweetest dreams.” but the word “football” is not mentioned anywhere in it. There might not be too many, but let’s see how far this one can go. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-a-sport-without-actually-mentioning-the-name-of-a-sport/535486/2 "2010-04-09T02:26:47Z")
The chorus of “Take Me Out to The Ball Game,” the only part of the song that is regularly sung, doesn’t mention baseball. It is mentioned in the introductory verse (which no one ever sings). ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-a-sport-without-actually-mentioning-the-name-of-a-sport/535486/3 "2010-04-09T02:40:54Z")
Not a song, but the most famous poem about baseball, _Casey at the Bat_, doesn’t mention the name of the sport. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-a-sport-without-actually-mentioning-the-name-of-a-sport/535486/4 "2010-04-09T02:51:04Z")
Genesis - “Match of the Day” (soccer) Bob Dylan - “Catfish” (baseball) ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-a-sport-without-actually-mentioning-the-name-of-a-sport/535486/5 "2010-04-09T02:56:12Z")
Does “Mrs. Robinson” count, even though it only mentions a baseball player? (“Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio, our nation turns its lonely eyes to you.”) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-a-sport-without-actually-mentioning-the-name-of-a-sport/535486/6 "2010-04-09T02:59:39Z")
“[Van Lingle Mungo](http://www.themadmusicarchive.com/song_details.aspx?SongID=10885)” by Dave Frishberg (baseball) “Backfield in Motion” by Mel and Tim (football) > [@](#): > > Backfield in motion, yeah, > I’m gonna have to penalize you > Backfield in motion, baby, > You know that’s against the rules. > Offside and holding, yeah, > You ought a be ashamed of yourself baby > Offside and holding yeah, > Holding on to some one else ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-a-sport-without-actually-mentioning-the-name-of-a-sport/535486/7 "2010-04-09T03:01:06Z")
“The Boxer,” Simon and Garfunkle “Boom Boom Mancini,” Warren Zevon “Hurricane,” Bob Dylan ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-a-sport-without-actually-mentioning-the-name-of-a-sport/535486/8 "2010-04-09T03:09:36Z")
Tom Cochrane’s “Big League” is about hockey, and never uses the word “hockey.” [QUOTE=pravnik] “The Boxer,” Simon and Garfunkle [/QUOTE] Well, they do use the word “Boxer,” which is pretty close to “Box” or “Boxing.” ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-a-sport-without-actually-mentioning-the-name-of-a-sport/535486/9 "2010-04-09T03:12:30Z")
tons in rap. “i catch a beat running like randy moss” ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-a-sport-without-actually-mentioning-the-name-of-a-sport/535486/10 "2010-04-09T03:15:04Z")
“Fight Fiercely Harvard” by Tom Lehrer. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-a-sport-without-actually-mentioning-the-name-of-a-sport/535486/11 "2010-04-09T03:23:25Z")
“Night Game” by Paul Simon. ---
**Author:** ![Obeseus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbce88/32.png) [@Obeseus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Obeseus)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-a-sport-without-actually-mentioning-the-name-of-a-sport/535486/12 "2010-04-09T03:36:38Z")
“Zanzibar” by Billy Joel Rose, he knows he’s such a credit to the game But the Yankees grab the headlines every time ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-a-sport-without-actually-mentioning-the-name-of-a-sport/535486/13 "2010-04-09T03:38:17Z")
Well, this thread gets credit for an assist in the fight against ignorance. I intended to post a Lennon lyric from _Watching the Wheels_, because I thought he sang \*Don’t you miss the big time boy you no longer run the ball \* According to a couple of lyrics sites, the lyric actually is: \*Don’t you miss the big time boy you’re no longer on the ball \* So, Double Dumbass on me. However, I have another football nominee: Meatloaf, _All Revved Up With No Place to Go_: _I was a varsity tackle and a hell of a block_ Also, _Paradise by the Dashboard Light_ has some baseball play by play commentary in the middle of the song, don’t remember if the word baseball is used, prolly can’t find out before edit window closes. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-a-sport-without-actually-mentioning-the-name-of-a-sport/535486/14 "2010-04-09T03:48:55Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Also, _Paradise by the Dashboard Light_ has some baseball play by play commentary in the middle of the song, don’t remember if the word baseball is used, prolly can’t find out before edit window closes. It doesn’t use the word baseball, according to [this lyrics site](http://www.lyricsfreak.com/m/meat+loaf/paradise+by+the+dashboard+light_20091297.html) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-a-sport-without-actually-mentioning-the-name-of-a-sport/535486/15 "2010-04-09T04:03:03Z")
Air Supply-_Making Love Out Of Nothing At All_ > [@](#): > > I can make the runner stumble > I can make the final block > And I can make every tackle > at the sound of the whistle > I can make all the stadiums rock. ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-a-sport-without-actually-mentioning-the-name-of-a-sport/535486/16 "2010-04-09T04:13:33Z")
“Blue Skies, Black Death” by Megadeth is about skydiving. ZZ Top has claimed, tongue in cheek I imagine, that “Tube Snake Boogie” is really about surfing. An awful lot of Dick Dale’s tunes are about surfing without using that word in the song. ---
**Author:** ![Rattlehead02](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rattlehead02/32/3944_2.png) [@Rattlehead02](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rattlehead02)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-a-sport-without-actually-mentioning-the-name-of-a-sport/535486/17 "2010-04-09T04:18:36Z")
Fountains of Wayne - All Kinds of Time It’s about a quarterback having all kinds of time in the pocket, but I don’t recall the term football mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-a-sport-without-actually-mentioning-the-name-of-a-sport/535486/18 "2010-04-09T04:29:44Z")
The [lyrics](http://www.beefheart.com/walker/lyrics/doc/runpaint.htm) to “Run Paint Run Run” by Captain Beefheart are so cryptic that it takes a few listenings to realize the song is about a horse race. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-a-sport-without-actually-mentioning-the-name-of-a-sport/535486/19 "2010-04-09T04:34:28Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The [lyrics](http://www.beefheart.com/walker/lyrics/doc/runpaint.htm) to “Run Paint Run Run” by Captain Beefheart are so cryptic that it takes a few listenings to realize the song is about a horse race. Dan Fogelberg-_Run For The Roses_. Slightly less cryptic.😉 ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-a-sport-without-actually-mentioning-the-name-of-a-sport/535486/20 "2010-04-09T04:35:30Z")
How about _Cake_’s [Going the Distance](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__PU5CVSegg)? I suppose it doesn’t count since it does mention “racing” a couple times, but that seems pretty vague still. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-a-sport-without-actually-mentioning-the-name-of-a-sport/535486.md?page=2)