The Ninth Man (Live Session)

(Chatter)

When we were young yeshiva boys way back in '65
We were known throughout the city as the bums from the east side
In school we never studied all we did was laugh and play
No Rebbe ever lasted long they all just ran away

Rebbe tried to teach us Torah each and every day
But we just closed our eyes and ears to everything he'd say
And all we'd like to do was sit and watch our TV sets oy vey
We'd talk about the Yankees and the Dodgers and the Mets

Well the principal brought the new rebbe in
On the first day of the term
And he says to him show discipline be strong and tough and firm
Don't think these youngsters run the school he says with a big frown
And by the way for the next few weeks I'm going out of town

Now this here rebbe he was strange he never lost his cool
He just kept on teaching while we broke all the rules
And though we hadn't even learned a single word all year
It was Pesach time already and the rebbe was still here

Rebbe tried to teach us Torah each and every day
But we just closed our eyes and ears to everything he'd say
And all we'd like to do was sit and watch our TV sets
We'd talk about the Yankees and the Dodgers and the Mets

When Lag Ba'Omer came around it was time to play that game
Against those boys from Brooklyn how we prayed it wouldn't rain
All nine of us got on the bus with our gloves and bats
The Rebbe also came along in his jacket tie and hat
That's right
Right from the start we all could see things weren't going right
Some big strong kid from Bensonhurst had hit one out of sight
And just as things were looking up the tide about to turn
Our catcher went and broke his leg while sliding into third

It's a forfeit cried the other team you've only got eight guys
No we don't a deep voice said much to our surprise
Since I am their rebbe well the fair thing it would seem
Is let me be the ninth man the ninth man on the team

Well the Rebbe went picked up the bat faced the pitcher with a smile
Knocked the cover off that ball went about half a mile
He flew around the bases he scored the winning run
We danced and cheered until he said now boys
You owe me one

Well the next day in the classroom no one moved and no one stirred
The Rebbe started teaching and his voice it could be heard
We all said hey the man he is interesting
The man he is no bore
The legendary east side bums were gone forevermore

Rebbe used to teach us Torah each and every day
We opened up our eyes and ears to everything he'd say
And no more did we sit all day and watch our TV sets
We'd talk about the Yankees
Not the Yankees

Rebbe used to teach us Torah each and every day
We opened up our eyes and ears to everything he'd say
And no more did we sit all day and watch our TV sets
We talked about the Rashi and the Tosfos
And the Mets

Lchaim Yidden

(Chatter)