When the Great Depression hit the US in the 1930's-
the country's most desperate time in it's history-
an Irish American boxer was The Heavyweight Champion of the World!
New Jersey fighter James Braddock fought his way out of adverse poverty-
driven by his love for his family, determined to find a way out of their desperate situation.
He carried the hopes of an entire nation on his shoulders inspiring
the poorest of the poor to believe in and be part of his dream!
On June 13th 1935 he defied all odds and defeated the legendary
Max Baer to win the Heavyweight Championship of the World!
Andy
New Jersey, fall, the snow comes down, 1932
And the hungry moans and shivers of your children rips through you
No money or no start could tear your home apart,
Still this man with a lion's heart stands at the gate for you
With the country on it's knees you always had your pride
You never took the final count a fire burned down deep inside
On the docks you got no breaks, just hand outs from the state
But a day of destiny was shining down on you!
The Bulldog from Bergin and the hope of the working man
You punched down hungers door to a better day
The hopes of down trodden men were vested in your hands
And they all stood with you The Cinderella Man
You were rared by the Hudson as a boy you soon would see
How this country harboured many from their home across the sea
From Sullivan to Conn, Tunney, Dempsey were just some
Of the one's from Gaelic sons that found a better day
The thirteenth day of June, 1935
You walked into the ring with something much deeper than pride
You fought with a lion's heart, an empty belly, feet apart
And you won a brand new start for your hungry clan
The Bulldog from Bergin and the hope of the working man
You punched down hungers door to a better day
The hopes of down trodden men were vested in your hands
And they all stood with you The Cinderella Man
So here's to the Bergin Bulldog, James Braddock was his name
He fought too for his country and he laboured for it's gains
From far off Saipan's ridge to the Verrazano Bridge
Walks the man with the iron fists The Cinderella Man.
The Bulldog from Bergin and the hope of the working man
You punched down hungers door to a better day
The hopes of down trodden men were vested in your hands
And they all stood with you The Cinderella Man
