Song Lyric Sunday: Jolly Hockey Sticks

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For Song Lyric Sunday this week Jim is inviting us to play a song that mentions bones, sticks, stones or words. I saw the connection between the first three but had to rely on his post The Old Adage to explain the last one. Of course, it’s the old playground taunt, but in my defence that was a very long time ago!

I’ve decided to go for a song which has one mention each of bones and stick, and it also contains lots of words, so I think that counts, right? I know I only played this guy for SLS a month back but he’s too good to resist. This is today’s tune:

As the video made abundantly clear, that was Hit Somebody (The Hockey Song), by Warren Zevon. And as the lyrics were in the video I’m not going to regurgitate them in full – I hope you were watching sufficiently closely to spot my two key words – and all the others, come to that. There are quite a lot of words in the song, and as a taster here are the first two verses:

He was born in Big Beaver by the borderlineHe started playing hockey by the time he was nineHis dad took the hose and froze the back yardAnd Little Buddy dreamed he was Rocket RichardHe grew up big and he grew up toughHe saw himself scoring for the Wings or CanucksBut he wasn’t that good with a puck
Buddy’s real talent was beating people upHis heart wasn’t in it but the crowd ate it upThrough pee-wee’s and juniors, midgets and mitesHe must have racked up more than six hundred fightsA scout from the flames came down from SaskatoonSaid, “There’s always room on our team for a goonSon, we’ve always got room for a goon”

 

Songwriters: Mitchell David Albom / Warren Zevon
Hit Somebody! (The Hockey Song) lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

 

In case you have ever thought of ice hockey as licensed thuggery, that was for you – they kind of set the tone for the rest of the song, don’t they. Hit Somebody (The Hockey Song) was on Warren’s eleventh – and penultimate – album My Ride’s Here, which was released in May 2002. Its only chart placing was at #22 in the US Independent Albums listing but, like everyone who knew of his genius, this was in my collection. Warren tragically left us early, taken at just 56 in September 2003 by a virulent form of cancer, but his remarkable legacy of songs lives on. During his time he made many appearances on David Letterman’s chat show, and they became firm friends, so much so that Warren gave David one of his guitars during one of those shows. David is credited with ‘backing vocals’ on this track: those shouts of ‘Hit Somebody’ are him!

 

If you aren’t familiar with Warren’s music you really should be: this is typical of his wry sense of humour. It’s no surprise that he was also friends with the wonderful novelist Carl Hiaasen, who shares a similar (warped) sense of humour and has often quoted Warren’s lyrics in his books. Needless to say, I’m a fan of both of them! One of the other tracks on that album was co-written by Carl and Warren: Basket Case, which was also the title of one of Carl’s incredibly funny novels. The song’s lyrics were of course included in the book.

This track was released as a single but, like just about every single of his, it didn’t make the charts: his was very much (and still is) a cult following and he mostly sold albums. You either get him or you don’t. I’d like to think that I’m in good company, as Carl Hiaasen and David Letterman are two good compadres to have. The mark of the man was, I think, best demonstrated by the huge support he received from his peers when he set out to to make one final album after his terminal cancer diagnosis: it’s like a Who’s Who? of music!

For today I thought I’d play you a little extra. This is from Warren’s appearance on David Letterman’s show just after My Ride’s Here was released – I think this was the penultimate time he was on. He played this song, and although you can’t see David on screen you can just about hear his contributions from offstage, through Paul Shaffer’s efforts:

“Let’s play golf” 🤣 Knowing what was to come that still feels poignant to watch. The full session is on YouTube, but as another little bonus for you here it is, all 23 minutes of it, including three more songs:

You are of course under no obligation to watch that, but if you enjoy seeing two old friends catching up with each other and enjoying the music, it won’t disappoint you.

That’s my lot for today – just the one song but a few extras to go with it. I’ll see you again for Tuesday Tunes, so until then stay warm and well 😊

54 thoughts on “Song Lyric Sunday: Jolly Hockey Sticks”

  2. Pingback: That Was October | Take It Easy

    • Thanks, Pete. This is typical of his lyrics – wry humour is a feature of his songs. He freely admitted that he didn’t have the best voice, but for me his songs more than made up for that. No one has covered this, as far as I know, though quite a few of his others have been: Linda Ronstadt in particular has delved into his catalogue.

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  8. Clive, that’s one hell of a song. Brought tears at the end. I see Mitchell Albom co-wrote it. I wonder if that is the same Mitch Albom who wrote, “Tuesdays with Morrie,” which is a great book. Love that David Letterman was yelling Hit Somebody. Hockey is big around these parts, and my stepdad used to play for a local team as a young man. He remained a Detroit Red Wings fan all of his life. I think of the movie, “Slapshot” also. If you saw it, The Hanson Brothers came from my hometown 🙂

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    • Thanks, Jim, it’s a favourite of mine too. The sport is much bigger there than here, and I don’t know any other songs about it. Even if I did I doubt they’d match up to Warren’s genius 😊

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  15. Kudos to you for thinking of this song, the only one I know of that mentions ‘cold cocking’ someone! A great tribute to hockey and players everywhere and my husband’s favorite Warren Zevon song. Our little community is big into ice hockey and just about every boy growing up here has played the game and bled on the ice. It’s probably a dentist’s favorite sport!

    Zevon’s final appearance on Letterman’s show is both funny and poignant. His outlook on life and death is to be admired.

    Great pick, Clive. Thanks! 🏒

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    • I had to look that up the first time I played this as a Tuesday Tune a few years back – American slang that I didn’t know! I’m pleased that it is a favourite for your other half – one of mine too. The sport is one of a number that means much more over there, but it has a small but loyal following here too.

      I thought I’d add that final Letterman clip in as it says so much about both men and their friendship. Warren was truly one of a kind.

      Glad you enjoyed it, Nancy 👍

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      • American ice hockey has a significant number of players from other countries, more so than any other sport, so I’m not surprised to learn there’s a small following in the UK. It’s one of the fastest games to watch as well as one of the most violent. A brawl is guaranteed in each game and the shout of “Hit somebody” is most appropriate! A true lover of the game, Bill finds the fighting boring.
        Keep bringing us Warren Zevon songs; it’s important for people to know he’s much more than “Werewolves Of London” (as great as that song is)!

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      • I just looked it up. We have a ten team Elite League here, with teams from all four UK countries, and there are some lower levels too. I’ve never been to a game but have watched it on tv, and it is definitely fast! Have you seen my favourite YouTube clip: a group of girls in the crowd holding up a sign for one of the players, saying “Tyler, we sucked your dick in high school!” Fan worship at its best 🤣

        I’ll keep playing Warren as often as I can – I never miss a chance 👍

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    • I’m glad you enjoyed it, Christine. I thought it might be stretching the brief a little but it cried out to be played. Warren is still missed by many, but he left us a fabulous musical legacy.

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    • It was a sad loss but, as he said in the final clip, he made ‘a tactical error’ by not going to see a doctor for twenty years! His musical legacy is fantastic, driven by that attitude 👍

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