Jimmy Collins Wake

Album: Signed & Sealed In Blood (2013)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Jimmy Collins (1870 - 1943) was a professional baseball player who was widely regarded as being the best third baseman prior to the Second World War. Collins led the Boston Americans to their first American League pennant in 1903 and again in 1904, the latter time with Collins batting .271 and leading the league in putouts for the fifth time in eight seasons.

    This song, with lyrics written by curator of the Boston Sports Museum Richard Johnson, tells the story of Collin's wake in Buffalo, New York. Johnson explained the story behind the song: "A collector friend of mine told of meeting the nephew of former Boston Americans player/manager Jimmy Collins in Buffalo and how the now elderly gent recalled his uncle's wake in 1943. Apparently several of Collins' teammates made the trip to the house where he was laid out in the parlor, and after a few drinks and songs they propped him up in the casket and carefully placed in his stiff hands the silver trophy Boston fans had given him as an expression of their gratitude for the 1904 pennant."

Comments: 1

  • VladimirtThe song apparently quotes a musical phrase from Russian folk song "Korobeiniki"
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Gary Lewis

Gary LewisSongwriter Interviews

Gary Lewis and the Playboys had seven Top 10 hits despite competition from The Beatles. Gary talks about the hits, his famous father, and getting drafted.

AC/DC

AC/DCFact or Fiction

Does Angus really drink himself silly? Did their name come from a sewing machine? See if you can spot the real stories about AC/DC.

Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders

Chrissie Hynde of The PretendersSongwriter Interviews

The rock revolutionist on songwriting, quitting smoking, and what she thinks of Rush Limbaugh using her song.

The Fratellis

The FratellisSongwriter Interviews

Jon Fratelli talks about the band's third album, and the five-year break leading up to it.

Kelly Keagy of Night Ranger

Kelly Keagy of Night RangerSongwriter Interviews

Kelly Keagy of Night Ranger tells the "Sister Christian" story and explains why he started sweating when he saw it in Boogie Nights.

Laura Nyro

Laura NyroSongwriting Legends

Laura Nyro talks about her complex, emotionally rich songwriting and how she supports women's culture through her art.