Michigan migrants sing own version of anthem

CHICAGO (ap) -- "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" has provided the soundtrack to our national pastime since 1908, when the Cubs last won the World Series.

Now there is a new version with changes to the time-honored lyrics, which have been sung loudly and off-key by second-rate celebrities at every Cubs game since Harry Caray's death.

A group of Michigan migrants have presented their own take on the seventh-inning stretch for themselves, in their native language, titled "Take Me Out with the Victors" or "Our Ball Game."

The idea came from Michigan music icon Iggy Pop, who sympathized with the recent immigrant demonstrations at Lincoln Park taverns but was troubled by the number of Michigan flags in the windows.

He hopes the new Michiganese version of the seventh inning stretch will demonstrate that migrants can assimilate into Chicago without leaving behind their yellow and blue pride.

"It has the passion, it has the respect, it has all of the things that you really want a seventh inning stretch to have and it carries the melody," said Pop.

Altered Lyrics Tone Down Reference to the Cubs

"Take Me Out to the Ball Game" has endured some extreme versions -- from Mike Ditka's shouted version to an indecipherable one byOzzy Osbourne -- since Harry Caray first started drunkenly blabbering it at Wrigley Field.

The current version will likely spark debate, because it is not an exact translation. Some of the classic lyrics have been changed for rhyming reasons while other phrases were altered so that drunken frat boys can remember their glory days. For example:

Original version
And it's root root root for the Cubbies,
If they don't win it's a shame.

Michiganese version
Hail! to the victors valiant
Hail! to the conqu'ring heroes
Hail! Hail! to Michigan
the leaders and best

The original singer's grandson, Chip Caray, finds the Michigan version unpatriotic and is adamant that it should be sung only in honor of the Cubs.

"I think it's a despicable thing that someone is going into our ballpark from another state and changing our seventh inning stretch," Caray said.

Those behind the new song say Caray and others miss the point. The Michigan version is meant to show immigrant pride in a new city where they live and work.