Odes to Poncey-Highland · Track 4 · middle
The Crack of the Bat at Ponce
Sports heritage — Ponce de Leon Ballpark (Spiller Field), home of the Atlanta Crackers and the Atlanta Black Crackers; the legendary magnolia tree growing in deep center field, in play; decades of baseball where Midtown Place shopping center stands now. Joyful.
Lyrics
[Intro] Listen to the ghost of the summer breeze Blowing through the leaves of the center field trees [Verse 1] You’re pushing your cart out at Midtown Place Looking for a parking spot, a little empty space But right beneath the asphalt, right below the lines There’s a diamond in the dirt from a different time Spiller Field shining in the afternoon sun Hear the roar of the bleachers for a home team run [Chorus] Oh, the crack of the bat at Ponce The shout of the city in sweet response Crackers and Black Crackers swinging for the sky Watching that white stitched baseball fly Right into the branches of the magnolia tree A ground rule double in history [Verse 2] It’s a living green giant, standing right there today Deep out in center where the branches were in play Babe Ruth launched a rocket right into the leaves Eddie Mathews sent one soaring on the Atlanta breeze You can almost see the dust kick around home plate When the bases are loaded and the inning is getting late [Chorus] Oh, the crack of the bat at Ponce The shout of the city in sweet response Crackers and Black Crackers swinging for the sky Watching that white stitched baseball fly Right into the branches of the magnolia tree A ground rule double in history [Bridge] It’s a carnival of cheers from 1923 Ringing through the shopping aisles, wild and free Hear the vendor calling out, pouring the drinks cold It's a neighborhood story that never gets old [Outro] So tip your cap to the ghost on the mound There’s magic still breathing in this Midtown ground Yeah, listen to the crack of the bat at Ponce And the echoes ringing on... Long after the final out.