Abie Rotenberg
Capo 3
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We grew up together,
Em
in New York City
C G
Oh, how the time has flown by
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We were inseparable,
Em
closer than brothers
C G
My best friend Sammy and I.
G D
We’d play by the oak tree,
Em
in back of my house
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Tossing a ball to and fro
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Each one of us dreaming,
Em
pretending to be
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The great Joe DiMaggio.
Em D
One day we each bought
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a package of Topp’s
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And opened them under the tree
Em C D
Look Sam, I’ve got Joe DiMaggio’s card
C G
And he was so jealous of me.
Em D C
I lovingly hid it, deep inside my drawer
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Where it would be safe as can be
Em D
And I vowed I would keep it
C D C
forever and e-ver
G D G
It was so precious to me…
G D G
It was so precious to me.
G D
When we grew older,
Em
and left for Yeshiva
C G
A change could be seen from the start
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Sam loved to study
Em
while I loved to daydream
C G
Slowly we drifted apart.
G D
I watched him grow,
Em
in his learning and faith
C D
With a mixture of envy and pride
G D
I realized with sadness,
Em
no more could it be
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My best friend Sammy and I.
Em D
Many years passed,
C
as I watched my own children
C D
Playing outside in the yard
Em C
I remembered the friendship
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of long, long ago
C G
And the great Joe DiMaggio’s card.
Em D
Collectors would come,
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they would knock at my door
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Letters arrived in the mail
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We’ll pay half a million,
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your card it is one of a kind
G D G
I’d answer them, it’s not for sale
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I’d answer them, it’s not for sale.
G D
I’d read in the papers,
Em
from time to time
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Of events in the life of my friend
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He became Rosh Yeshiva,
Em
of our old school
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And now was a leader of men.
G D
But there was a fire
Em
that ravaged his school
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And I knew it just might break his heart
G D
So I reached in my drawer
Em
and I said my goodbyes
C G
To the great Joe DiMaggio’s card.
Em D
One day my grandson came
C
home from Yeshiva
C G
Holding a card that was new
Em C D
Look Zaidy Reb Shmuel is one of the Gedolim
C G
And I’m giving his card to you.
Em D
I lovingly hid it deep
C
inside my drawer
C G
Where it would be safe as can be
Em D
And I vowed I would keep it
C D C
forever and e-ver
G D G
It is so precious to me…
G D G
It is so very precious to me.