Abie Rotenberg - Joe Dimaggio's Card lyrics

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