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| ''You know we couldn't live without you<br>'' | ''You know we couldn't live without you<br>'' | ||
| ''Tessie, you are the only, only, only<br>'' | ''Tessie, you are the only, only, only<br>'' | ||
| The word Tessie itself is a diminutive form of the girl's name of ] origin ]. | |||
| == External links == | == External links == | ||
Revision as of 11:51, 21 January 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 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 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 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 "Tessie" came back to Boston.
In 2004, the Boston-area rock group Dropkick Murphys recorded a cover of "Tessie," released on a five-cut CD 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 the theme song 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 chorus to the Dropkick Murphys' version of "Tessie" goes:
Tessie, Nuff 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 word Tessie itself is a diminutive form of the girl's name of Persian origin Esther.