Sportsong of the Week #17

"Straight down the middle"

Bing Crosby

1957

Music by James van Heusen

Words by Sammy Cahn

Sportsong of the Week #17 is a true hole-in-one song (pun intended)! It's the swinging, big-band tune 'Straight down the middle' by multimedia star Bing Crosby. The song was written for the film called 'Honor Caddy'. It's thought that this was the first ever song written about golf!

Harry 'Bing' Crosby (may 3 1903 - october 14 1977) was a true superstar in his time. He was a singer and actor who for twenty years was the leader in record sales, radio ratings and motion picture grosses. His trademark warm bass-baritone voice made him one of the best selling artists of the 20th century, having sold close to one billion records, tapes, CDs and downloads worldwide!

Bing was also a golf fanatic and a good golfer himself. For all his efforts he was inducted in the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1978 after his passing. And not surprisingly he died after a round of golf in Spain because of heart failure. This song is a sportsong how a sportsong is a supposed to be! It truly went straight down the middle!

Full lyrics "Straight down the middle" - Bing Crosby

Fore

Straight down the middle It went straight down the middle Then it started to hook just a wee, wee bit That's when my caddie lost sight of it That little white pellet has never been found to this day But it went straight down the middle like they say

Whack down the fairway It went smack down the fairway Then it started to slice just a smidge off line It headed for two then it bounced off nine My caddie says long as you're still in the state, you're okay Yes, it went straight down the middle quite a ways

The sun was never brighter The greens were never greener And I was never keener to play I heard it came down the middle It went zing down the middle

Oh, the life of a golfer is not all gloom There's always the lies in the locker room And I'm in my glory when wrapped in a towel I say That it went straight down the middle today

Oh, the life of a golfer is not all gloom Though they should charge just for listening in the locker room But I'm in my glory when wrapped in a towel I say That it went straight down the middle Where it wound up is a riddle But it went straight down the middle far away