You’ve heard it. Even if you aren't a baseball fan, you’ve probably heard it. That jaunty, slightly cheesy, insanely catchy folk-pop anthem that blares over the speakers at Wrigley Field the second the last out is recorded. It’s a song that somehow manages to feel like a warm hug and an annoying earworm at the exact same time. We’re talking about Go Cubs Go, a song that has become as much a part of the Chicago identity as deep-dish pizza or complaining about the Red Line.
Steve Goodman wrote it in 1984. He was a folk legend, a Chicago native, and—perhaps most importantly—a long-suffering Cubs fan who knew exactly what it felt like to hope for the best and expect the worst. Goodman didn't live to see the song become the global phenomenon it is today; he passed away from leukemia just a few months after recording it. But his voice stays alive every time 41,000 people scream-sing about the "Lake Front breezes."
The Weird History of a Stadium Anthem
It wasn't always the "victory" song. Originally, Go Cubs Go was commissioned by WGN-TV. Back in the early 80s, the Cubs were kind of a mess, and the broadcast team wanted something to liven up the telecasts. Goodman had already written "A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request," which was hilarious but also incredibly depressing. It basically roasted the team for being losers. Naturally, the front office wasn't exactly thrilled about playing a song that called the team "the doormat of the National League."
So, Goodman gave them something upbeat. He gave them the Go Cubs Go song.
It’s actually a bit of a miracle the song survived the 90s. For a while, it drifted into obscurity. New owners and new marketing departments usually want to "modernize" things. They want hip-hop or heavy rock to get the crowd pumped. But there is something about that specific 1980s acoustic production that just fits the ivy-covered walls of Wrigley. It feels timeless because it’s so unashamedly dated. In 2007, the team finally made it the official post-game anthem, replacing "Taking Care of Business" by Bachman-Turner Overdrive. Thank goodness for that change.
Why Some People Honestly Hate It
Let’s be real for a second. If you aren't a Cubs fan, you probably find this song incredibly grating. It’s repetitive. The chorus is literally just the title over and over. "Go Cubs Go, Go Cubs Go, Hey Chicago what do you say, the Cubs are gonna win today." It’s a simple rhyme scheme that would make a nursery school teacher proud.
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Rival fans—especially those from the South Side or St. Louis—view it as a symbol of "Cubs arrogance." There’s a specific kind of frustration that comes with watching your team lose at Wrigley and then having to hear a cheerful folk song celebrate your demise. It’s salt in the wound.
But for the North Side faithful, the simplicity is the point. You don't need to be a musicologist to sing it. You just need to be happy. It’s a collective release of tension. Baseball is a long, grueling game of inches and failures. When you finally win, you don't want a complex symphony; you want to scream a melody that your five-year-old self knew by heart.
The 2016 Peak
Everything changed in 2016. Before that year, Go Cubs Go was a local tradition. After the Cubs broke the 108-year curse and won the World Series, the song went mainstream. It hit the Billboard charts. It was played on Saturday Night Live. When Bill Murray led the crowd in a rendition during the victory parade, it wasn't just a sports song anymore. It became a cultural landmark.
Honestly, seeing five million people in Grant Park trying to stay in sync while singing Goodman’s lyrics was one of the most surreal moments in Chicago history. It proved that the song wasn't just about a game; it was about the relief of a century’s worth of pent-up anxiety.
The Lyrics: A Breakdown of Chicago Geography
If you listen closely to the verses, the Go Cubs Go song is basically a love letter to the city's geography. Goodman mentions the "Lake Front breezes" and "the baseball season has begun." He talks about the "North Side." It anchors the team to a specific neighborhood in a way that most modern stadium anthems—which are usually just generic "get loud" tracks—totally fail to do.
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- The First Verse: It sets the scene. It’s about the anticipation of the season.
- The Chorus: The hook. This is what everyone knows. It’s the part you hear from three blocks away from the stadium.
- The Second Verse: This is where Goodman shouts out the broadcast legends like Jack Brickhouse and Harry Caray (implied by the vibe of the era). It’s about the community aspect of listening to the game on the radio.
The song is actually quite short. It’s designed to be looped. At Wrigley, they usually play the studio version first, and then the crowd just keeps it going a cappella until they're out on Addison Street heading for the bars.
How to Experience it Properly
You can't just listen to this on Spotify and "get it." You have to be there. If you’re planning a trip to see the Cubs, here’s how the ritual actually goes down:
First, the game has to end in a win. That’s the prerequisite. The moment the "W" flag goes up the flagpole behind the scoreboard, the first few chords of the acoustic guitar kick in.
People don't leave immediately. In most stadiums, fans beat a path to the parking lot the second the game ends to avoid traffic. At Wrigley, people stay. They stand on their seats. They point toward the field. They sing.
It’s sort of a "church of baseball" moment.
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Technical Details and Legacy
Musically, the song is in a standard major key, which is why it feels so bright. It uses a basic folk-rock structure: verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus. There are no complicated key changes or avant-garde solos. It was recorded with session musicians who were likely just trying to get a jingle done for WGN, but Goodman’s genuine enthusiasm shines through.
Steve Goodman’s estate still receives royalties from the song, which is a nice tribute to a man who died way too young. He was a protégé of John Prine, and if you listen to his other work, like "City of New Orleans," you realize just how talented he was. He could write a heartbreaking ballad about a train or a goofy song about a baseball team, and both would feel 100% authentic.
What to Do Next if You're a Fan
If you want to dive deeper into the lore of the Go Cubs Go song, don't just stop at the anthem.
- Listen to the "A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request" first. It provides the necessary context for Goodman's relationship with the team. It’s cynical, dark, and hilarious.
- Visit the Steve Goodman plaque. There is a commemorative marker for him near Wrigley Field. It’s a pilgrimage site for folk fans and baseball nerds alike.
- Check out the 2016 World Series documentary. The way the song is used in the soundtrack of that film perfectly illustrates how it transitioned from a jingle to a sacred hymn.
The song isn't going anywhere. Even if the Cubs go through another dry spell, that track is locked in. It’s part of the bricks and the ivy now. Next time you're in Lakeview and you hear those opening chords, just lean into the cheese. Sing along. It's better that way.