In the Shoes of Joe Jackson

"Shoeless" Joe Jackson's take on the Black Sox of 1919.

I can't read, I can't write, I can't play to lose.
Joseph Jefferson Jackson is my name.
You know that you can't buy me, I never was that kind.
You can make me take your money—
But you can't make me play your game!

I went up to see Commie 'cause I had to let him know.
I tried to tell him that the fix was in.
He didn't want to hear me, and he wouldn't let me sit.
So I just had to do my best to win.

But one man can't do it it all in this game they call baseball
I must've been a fool to even try
Although we didn't win, I would give my best again
My dignity is something you can't buy.

It started as a rumor, the series had been fixed.
Eventually I found myself in court
The jury said, "Not guilty!" but they brought Judge Landis in.
As Commissioner, he banned me from the sport.

I can't read, I can't write, I can't play to lose
Although you said I had to fix the game
You gave me lots of money but you couldn't buy my pride
Though I may be banned from baseball,
I won't hang my head in shame.

Reviews

[Thoughts]

well..... a strong personality indeed.........well written.......

[W.k.kortas]

It's like Robert Service if he could hit the curveball, which, given that the two men were contemporaries, is wonderfully fitting. I, for one, cannot wait until we see "The Love Song Of Larry Dierker" or "The Ballad Of Jose Cruz".