Most Valuable Player
Credit: words & music by Minnie O'Leary, (c) Tom O'Leary 1981
Album: Patchwork Planet
Lyrics: This song is a helpful reminder about
the value of being a good sport. We learned this song from Bob
Reid, and several other people have recorded it, too.
I know a kid, used to play on my team
The most valuable player I know.
That player wasn’t the best at the game,
but to me, that kid looked like a pro.
(Chorus:)
Played hard, played fair
Treated other kids with care
No matter what the score-board said,
That kid came out a winner -
Always won the game.
Now, we would have games where nothing went right
And we would be badly behind.
But that kid kept trying, and never gave up
Until we were all out of time.
(Chorus)
Now, some of us thinks that the referee hates us
So once in a while, why not cheat.
But that kid would always play by the rules
Even though we might get beat.
(Chorus)
Now, some of us team-mates would make a mistake
By sending the ball the wrong way.
But that kid would never give us a hard time;
Just say, "Nice try - that’s ok".
(Chorus)
And so anytime that I play on a team,
I want that kid on my side.
I know that I can play that way too;
It’s finally time that I tried.
(Final Chorus:)
I’ll play hard, I’ll play fair
I’ll treat the other kids with care
No matter what the score-board says
I’ll come out a winner -
Always win the game.
I know a kid, used to play on my team
The most valuable player I know.
That player wasn’t the best at the game,
but to me, that kid looked like a pro.
(Chorus:)
Played hard, played fair
Treated other kids with care
No matter what the score-board said,
That kid came out a winner -
Always won the game.
Now, we would have games where nothing went right
And we would be badly behind.
But that kid kept trying, and never gave up
Until we were all out of time.
(Chorus)
Now, some of us thinks that the referee hates us
So once in a while, why not cheat.
But that kid would always play by the rules
Even though we might get beat.
(Chorus)
Now, some of us team-mates would make a mistake
By sending the ball the wrong way.
But that kid would never give us a hard time;
Just say, "Nice try - that’s ok".
(Chorus)
And so anytime that I play on a team,
I want that kid on my side.
I know that I can play that way too;
It’s finally time that I tried.
(Final Chorus:)
I’ll play hard, I’ll play fair
I’ll treat the other kids with care
No matter what the score-board says
I’ll come out a winner -
Always win the game.