Tessie: Difference between revisions

Browse history interactively ← Previous edit Next edit →Content deleted Content addedVisual WikitextInline

Revision as of 14:04, 6 June 2005

"Tessie" is the title of a Broadway song, as well as another song about how the singing of "Tessie" helped the Boston Red Sox win the first World Series in 1903. The name Tessie itself is a diminutive form used with several names, including Esther, Tess, and Theresa.

Broadway & Royal Rooters version

The original version of "Tessie (You Are the Only, Only, Only)" was written by Will R. Anderson and was featured in the Broadway musical The Silver Slipper, which ran for 160 performances between October 27, 1902 and March 14, 1903.

While a popular tune, the song gained greater notoriety when it was adopted as a rallying cry by the Royal Rooters, a collection of loyal Southie fans led by Michael T. "Nuf Ced" McGreevy, owner of the 3rd Base saloon. (McGreevy earned his nickname due to the way he kept peace in his bar; when he grew frustrated with arguments over the Red Sox and the Boston Braves, he would pound his hand on the bar and declare "Nuff Said!")

After the first four games of the 1903 World Series, Boston was down 3–1 to the Pittsburgh Pirates. (It was a best of 9 series; 5 wins were needed to win the series.) The Royal Rooters began rallying their team with every song they could think of; ultimately "Tessie" helped win the day. Pittsburgh outfielder Tommy Leach credited at least part of Boston's win to "that damn 'Tessie' song." He continued: "It was a real hum-dinger of a song, but it sort of got on your nerves after a while." (Boston won Game 5 and went on to win Games 6, 7, and 8 to win the series 5–3.)

The chorus to the original "Tessie" goes:
Tessie, you make me feel so badly.
Why don't you turn around?
Tessie, you know I love you madly.
Babe, my heart weighs about a pound.
Don't blame me if I ever doubt you,
You know I wouldn't live without you.
Tessie, you are the only, only, only.

The Rooters stopped singing in 1916. The Red Sox won the World Series in 1918 but then endured an 86-year drought before winning again in 2004, the same year a rerelease of "Tessie" was issued by the Dropkick Murphys.

Dropkick Murphys version

In 2004, the Boston-area punk rock group Dropkick Murphys recorded a cover of "Tessie," released on a five-cut CD single of the same name. The Murphys said it was their intent to "bring back the spirit of the Rooters and to put the Red Sox back on top."

The second "Tessie" — which featured backing vocals from Red Sox players Johnny Damon, Bronson Arroyo, and Lenny DiNardo; Red Sox Vice President of Public Affairs Dr. Charles Steinberg; and Boston Herald sportswriter Jeff Horrigan (who co-wrote the new lyrics with the Murphys) — has become a theme song for the Red Sox and tells the story of how the Royal Rooters stormed the park one time when they found the game was already sold out:

The Rooters showed up at the grounds one day
Found their seats had all been sold
McGreevy lead the charge into the park
Stormed the gates and put the game on hold

The chorus to the Dropkick Murphys' version of "Tessie" goes:
"Tessie, Nuf Ced McGreevy shouted
We're not here to mess around
Boston, you know we love you madly
Hear the crowd roar to your sound
Don't blame us if we ever doubt you
You know we couldn't live without you
Tessie, you are the only, only, only

The song is featured in the soundtrack to the 2005 movie, Fever Pitch, and is the song used in the closing credits to the VHS and DVD review of the 2004 World Series, a video that was produced by Major League Baseball Productions.

In addition to the straight version of "Tessie," the CD single includes "The Fields of Athenry," "Nutty," "The Burden" as perfomed live on WBCN, "Tessie (Old Timey Baseball Version)" in which the song is accompanied primarily by a ballpark organ, as well as a music video for "Tessie." Proceeds from the sale of the CD went to benefit the Red Sox Foundation.

External links

Categories:

Revision as of 13:53, 6 June 2005 editTcr25 (talk \| contribs)Extended confirmed users, Rollbackers32,224 edits link Leach, small edits, cut EP/LP bit, add other track titles from DKM CD single← Previous edit		Revision as of 14:04, 6 June 2005 edit undoTcr25 (talk \| contribs)Extended confirmed users, Rollbackers32,224 edits link Pittsburgh Pirates; note charity angle for 2004 CDNext edit →
Line 6:		Line 6:
	While a popular tune, the song gained greater notoriety when it was adopted as a rallying cry by the ], a collection of loyal ] fans led by Michael T. "Nuf Ced" McGreevy, owner of the 3rd Base saloon. (McGreevy earned his nickname due to the way he kept peace in his bar; when he grew frustrated with arguments over the Red Sox and the ], he would pound his hand on the bar and declare "Nuff Said!")		While a popular tune, the song gained greater notoriety when it was adopted as a rallying cry by the ], a collection of loyal ] fans led by Michael T. "Nuf Ced" McGreevy, owner of the 3rd Base saloon. (McGreevy earned his nickname due to the way he kept peace in his bar; when he grew frustrated with arguments over the Red Sox and the ], he would pound his hand on the bar and declare "Nuff Said!")

	After the first four games of the ], Boston was down 3–1 to Pittsburgh. (It was a best of 9 series; 5 wins were needed to win the series.) The Royal Rooters began rallying their team with every song they could think of; ultimately "Tessie" helped win the day. Pittsburgh ]er ] credited at least part of Boston's win to "that damn 'Tessie' song." He continued: "It was a real hum-dinger of a song, but it sort of got on your nerves after a while." (Boston won Game 5 and went on to win Games 6, 7, and 8 to win the series 5–3.)		After the first four games of the ], Boston was down 3–1 to the ]. (It was a best of 9 series; 5 wins were needed to win the series.) The Royal Rooters began rallying their team with every song they could think of; ultimately "Tessie" helped win the day. Pittsburgh ]er ] credited at least part of Boston's win to "that damn 'Tessie' song." He continued: "It was a real hum-dinger of a song, but it sort of got on your nerves after a while." (Boston won Game 5 and went on to win Games 6, 7, and 8 to win the series 5–3.)

	The chorus to the original "Tessie" goes:<BR>		The chorus to the original "Tessie" goes:<BR>
Line 17:		Line 17:
	''Tessie, you are the only, only, only.''<BR>		''Tessie, you are the only, only, only.''<BR>

	The Rooters stopped singing in ]. The Red Sox won the World Series in ] but then endured an 86-year drought before winning again in ], the same year "Tessie" ~~came~~ ~~back~~ to ~~Boston.~~		The Rooters stopped singing in ]. The Red Sox won the World Series in ] but then endured an 86-year drought before winning again in ], the same year a rerelease of "Tessie" was issued by the Dropkick Murphys.

	== Dropkick Murphys version ==		== Dropkick Murphys version ==
	In ], the Boston-area ] group ] recorded a ] of "Tessie," released on a five-cut CD single of the same name. The Murphys said it was their intent to "bring back the spirit of the Rooters and to put the Red Sox back on top."		In ], the Boston-area ] group ] recorded a ] of "Tessie," released on a five-cut CD single of the same name. The Murphys said it was their intent to "bring back the spirit of the Rooters and to put the Red Sox back on top."

	The second "Tessie" — which featured backing vocals from Red Sox players ], ], and ]; Red Sox Vice President of Public Affairs Dr. Charles Steinberg; and ''Boston Herald'' sportswriter Jeff Horrigan (who co-wrote the new lyrics with the Murphys) — has become ~~the~~ ] of the Red Sox and tells the story of how the Royal Rooters stormed the park one time when they found the game was already sold out:		The second "Tessie" — which featured backing vocals from Red Sox players ], ], and ]; Red Sox Vice President of Public Affairs Dr. Charles Steinberg; and ''Boston Herald'' sportswriter Jeff Horrigan (who co-wrote the new lyrics with the Murphys) — has become a ] for the Red Sox and tells the story of how the Royal Rooters stormed the park one time when they found the game was already sold out:

	''The Rooters showed up at the grounds one day<br>''		''The Rooters showed up at the grounds one day<br>''
Line 40:		Line 40:
	The song is featured in the soundtrack to the 2005 movie, '']'', and is the song used in the closing credits to the VHS and DVD review of the 2004 World Series, a video that was produced by Major League Baseball Productions.		The song is featured in the soundtrack to the 2005 movie, '']'', and is the song used in the closing credits to the VHS and DVD review of the 2004 World Series, a video that was produced by Major League Baseball Productions.

	In addition to the straight version of "Tessie," the CD single includes "The Fields of Athenry," "Nutty," "The Burden" as perfomed live on ], "Tessie (Old Timey Baseball Version)" in which the song is accompanied primarily by a ballpark organ, as well as a music video for "Tessie."		In addition to the straight version of "Tessie," the CD single includes "The Fields of Athenry," "Nutty," "The Burden" as perfomed live on ], "Tessie (Old Timey Baseball Version)" in which the song is accompanied primarily by a ballpark organ, as well as a music video for "Tessie." Proceeds from the sale of the CD went to benefit the .

	== External links ==		== External links ==