Sara Tucholsky
Song credits: words & music by John McCutcheon
Ellensburg, Washington the sun shone so bright
A beautiful day for a game
When Sara Tucholsky stepped up to the plate
She knew she would ne’er be the same
It was Senior Day and in all her four seasons
She’d had no worse year than this one
Batting under .100, she knew at month’s end
Her softball career would be done
She looked at a strike and she looked at the sky
She thought how she’d miss playing ball
She took a deep breath and swung for life or death
Hit the next pitch right over the wall
Sara Tucholsky she sprinted for first
She’d never once hit a home run
Half way to 2nd her left knee gave out
And in an instant her season was done
She lay on the base path writhing in pain
The dirt and the tears stained her face
She knew her homerun would not be recorded
Until she had touched every base
She looked to her teammates, she looked to her coach
But the ump said, “The rules are quite clear
“No one from Western’s allowed to assist you.”
When above her a strange voice said, “Here”
Mallory Holtman played first base for Central
And she held out a hand to the ground
“The rules don’t say nothing about your opponents
Get up and I’ll get you around”
With her teammate Liz Wallace, Mallory Holtman
Lifted Sara right up like a feather
They carried her ‘round ‘til she touched every base
And the three girls crossed home plate together
Thus Sara Tucholsky hit her homerun
Though she didn’t do it alone
Sometimes help comes where you least expect it
And carries you all the way home
Ellensburg, Washington the sun shone so bright
A beautiful day for a game
©2008 John McCutcheon/Appalsongs (ASCAP)
Retrieved May 5, 2014 at And here's what Wikipedia says about Sara Tocholsky.Album reference: Untold
The Principle
Song credits:words & music by John McCutcheon & Si Kahn
We wanted to have us a school fair
The kind that they have almost anywhere
I was elected to talk to the principal
To see what she would say
"That's a fine idea, but please understand
"It takes experience and people and a good plan
"I just don't see how we can manage now
"Thanks for visiting have a nice day"
I went back to the class and I let 'em know
That the principal had quite politely told us no
So Jesse and I gave it one more try
And decided we'd go see her as a pair
When we got to the office she said, "Fine
"I'll meet with each of you, one at a time"
I looked at Jesse with a grin, he looked at me I looked at him
And then together we decided what was fair
Chorus
We said, "Thank you, no
"We don't think so
"We came here together as a team"
And what one can't do
We'll try as two
Then we're not quite as lonely as we seem
Well, she still said no and when we got back
The whole class decided on a different track
We talked to all the rooms and grade, all the teachers and the aides
All the cooks and janitors were on our side
So when the whole school gathered on the front lawn
And the principal saw what was going on
She said, "I will agree to meet a group of three
"To discuss this matter, now, please, come inside
We said, "Thank you, no
"We don't think so
"We came here together as a team"
And what one can't do
We'll try as two
And when two can't score
We'll try again with more
Then we're not quite as lonely as we seem
Then she said, "Oh, oh
"I just didn't know
"We'll have the best school fair you've ever seen!"
And what one can't do
We'll try as two
And when two can't score
We'll try again with more
And if we all act as one
You'd be surprised what can be done
Then we're not quite as lonely as we seem
©1993 John McCutcheon/Appalsongs (ASCAP) and Joe Hill Music (ASCAP).
Charlottesville, VA 1993
From Bigger Than Yourself (RR8044)
Album Reference:
Bigger Than Yourself
Step by Step
Song credits:Traditional
Step by step the longest march can be won, can be won
Many stones can form an arch, singly none, singly none
And by union what we will can be accomplished still
Drops of water turn a mill, singly none singly none
Album Reference:
Water from Another Time: a Retrospective