Mad Ruth/The Babe Songtext
von Danny O’Keefe

One day I was thinking about the babe
And the memories he left behind of the old ball game
And the shame of it all is that they′re almost gone
But there's still a few pieces I can recall
He′d catch ourselves two rules
You know it's just a game
You win, you lose, but it's all the same
And the babe would turn and say
You know you′re right, but I′d still love to play

And Ruth, she turns to me
And wonders where I am and where I'd be
If she didn′t care
I return to Ruth to say
You know I'd be alright, but I′d still love to play


The pitcher throws at Ruth
He can't afford to miss
He held the ball like a stolen kiss
And the babe just let it fly
And apologized like he′d hurt the guy
Mad Ruth just loves to bitch
She can afford to miss
She makes a deal as you steal your kiss
And she never says goodbye
She really loves the game, she hardly knows the guy

Mad Ruth, you should have known the babe
He loved the things he'd never had
And he made you happy as he made you sad

Babe, you're in my head
Seems like you never left
I heard the news like someone deaf
It was 1948
He′d played a game but he′d made it great

Mad Ruth sits on the couch
In someone else's room
I win or you lose
It′s just a game, she'll say
You know she′s right, but I'd still love to play

Mad Ruth, you should have known the babe
He loved the things he′d never had
And he made you happy as he made you sad

Mad Ruth, you would have loved the babe
She wanted things you'd never had
And she made you happy till she left you sad


One evening I was thinking about the babe
And the memories she left behind of the old ball game
And the shame of it all is that they're almost gone
But there′s still a few pieces I can recall

Mad Ruth, you should have known the babe