This Side Of The White Lines

If his knees hadn't got sick

He'd have made the big leagues, like his hero, the Mick

He wore number seven on his back, like the Mick

But his knees got sick

So he had to quit

He had the quickness, he had the size

He could hit a ball further than Johnny Mize

He was blond on top

But his knees went pop

So he had to stop

Had to give it up

(chorus)

If you get thrown out of the game and get sent on your way

You can come back the very next day

After having, having had your say

But that's on a field of nine

Which is not ruled by time

And it don't work out so fine

On this side of the white lines

On this side of the white lines

If his Dad hadn't got sick

They'd have argued nights over their World Series picks

Who's better than the Yanks

Who's better than the Mick

He was tough as a brick

But he still got sick

They were close as a father and son could be

Close as the surgeon is to the knee

He waited for his Dad to make his climb

But he wasn't gonna get better, not this time

(chorus)

He plays softball now when he's got the time

When he ain't too beat, and the knees feel fine

He ain't forgot how to swing that stick

And he says to himself, “just like the Mick”

Ty Cobb never got to face Dizzy Dean

Joe Jackson's best was never seen

He held a private funeral mass

All alone in the park by the outfield grass

(chorus)