Sister Wynona Carr – The Ball Game

One of my great loves in life is baseball. It lends itself to music and movies better than any other sport, in my opinion. I’ve been asked what are my favorite baseball songs. This one is in my top 5. It uses baseball as a metaphor, but I count it.  Some other songs are Centerfield by John Fogerty, Talkin’ Baseball by Terry Cashman, Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball?, and so many more. Also, the Baseball Project, which has Mike Mills from REM as a member. I first heard this song in Ken Burns’ documentary “Baseball” in the mid-nineties. It was also in the movie about Jackie Robinson called 42. 

Sister Wynona Carr had such a powerful, soulful voice. This song is also known as Life Is A Ballgame. It’s a gospel song recorded by Sister Wynona Carr in 1952. The song uses baseball as a metaphor for life’s challenges, depicting Jesus as the coach and Satan as the opposing pitcher, with bases representing stages of temptation, sin, and tribulation.

Wynona Carr started her musical career in gospel, forming the Carr Singers around 1945. She later signed with Specialty Records, where she recorded around twenty gospel tracks between 1949 and 1954, including this song. Despite its initial success, Carr moved to popular music in the mid-1950s, exploring R&B and rock and roll genres.

She was influenced by Sister Rosetta Tharpe in bringing in jazz, gospel, and blues influences. Sister Wynonna Carr also wrote this song, which is incredible. I think it’s one of the best songs to use baseball as the subject. 

The Ball Game

Life is a ball game

Bein’ played each day

Life is a ball game

Everybody can play

 

Yes you know, Jesus standing at the home plate

He is waiting for you there

You know, the life is a ball game

But you’ve got to play it fast

 

The first base is temptation

You know the second base is sin

The third base tribulation

If you pass, you can make it in

 

Old man Solomon is the umpire

And Satan pitchin’ a game

He’ll do his best, strike you out

He playin’ just the same

 

You know, Daniel’s up to bat first

You know, he pray three times a day

Yes Satan pitched him a fast ball

But he hit it anyway

 

Yes you know, Job is up to bat next

Satan’s struck him in every way

But Job hit a home run

And he came on in that day

 

Yes you know, prayer is a strong bat

To hit at Satan’s ball

And when you start to swing it

You got to give it your all and all

 

Yes you know, the priest gonna be your catcher

And on him you can depend

Oh Jesus standing at the home plate

And He is waiting for you to come in

 

Yes you know, Moses is on the sidelines

Waiting to be called

You know, the day he parted the Red Sea

Little price all and all

 

Then John came in the ninth inning

And the game was almost done

Then God gave John a vision

And he knew we’d already won

 

Yes you know life is a ball game

Being played each day

You know life is a ball game

Each and everybody can play

 

Yes you know, Jesus is standing at the home plate

He is waiting for you there

Well you know, life is a ball game

But you’ve got to play it fast

…

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

24 thoughts on “Sister Wynona Carr – The Ball Game”

  1. Pingback: Sister Wynona Carr – The Ball Game – MobsterTiger

    1. Thanks Randy…I was wondering if you had heard of her or this this song. It caught me the first listen…I simply love her voice…mixes between soulful and rough….

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    1. She just caught my ear right away! Of course. I love that it’s both a baseball song AND a good gospel song.

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  9. Never heard the original. Love it and so do you. The images are perfect. Like the one where the ump is checking Phil or Joe Niekro’s (I think) hat.

    I thought of you yesterday while listening to ‘Laughing River’ by Greg Brown. I might have sent it to you before. Great ball song.

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    1. I don’t think so…I’ve never covered him before but I’ve seen his name though.
      Glad you liked it CB…she spoke out to me.

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      1. I just did the live take with him and Bo Ramsey. The song is about a journeyman ball player. One of them story songs i like.
        I think the first time i heard the song you posted was when Phil Alvin sang a little snippet of it.

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      2. Yep! Bo Ramsey stood out in my mind because of the 335 guitar!
        I’ve never heard another version…I need to track a few down….that is cool that Phil Alvin sang a little of it.

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