Basketball

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"Basketball"
Album track by Weezer
Album	SZNZ: Winter
Recorded	2022
Length	2:49
Label	Crush Music/Atlantic Records
Writer(s)	Rivers Cuomo
Status	Release forthcoming
Live debut	September 19, 2022 in West Hollywood, CA
SZNZ: Winter track listing
"Iambic Pentameter" (2) "Basketball" (3) "Sheraton Commander" (4)
This song is part of the "Basketball" lineage of songs "Hello, Concubine" (1995) "Basketball" (2022)

"Basketball" is the third track on SZNZ: Winter.

Appearances

• SZNZ: Winter (2022)

Overview

Rivers Cuomo stated in 2021 that musical elements from the verses of his unrecorded 1995 demo "Hello, Concubine" would be used for the verses in "Basketball."

Weezer (under the Goat Punishment moniker) performed SZNZ: Winter in its entirety (including "Basketball") at a secret show in West Hollywood on September 19, 2022, months ahead of the EP's release.

A demo of "Basketball" was leaked online in December of 2022.

Known recordings

about this table

Performer(s)	Title	Filename	Date of recording	Recording location	Length	Appeared on	Notes
Rivers Cuomo	Basketball	Basketball 2021-06-22 16.40.mp3	June 22, 2021		3:28	Leaked online
Weezer	Basketball		2022	Groove Masters, Santa Monica, CA The Village Recorder, West Los Angeles, CA Funkhaus Berlin, Berlin, Germany	2:49	SZNZ: Winter

Personnel

• Rivers Cuomo — lead vocals, guitar
• Brian Bell — rhythm guitar
• Scott Shriner — bass
• Patrick Wilson — drums

Lyrics

Album lyrics Under the bleachers hiding for an hour Coach is looking for me 'cuz his job is to empower I don’t want to go in; I won't make a difference I don’t need a stupid award I’m still in my parka watching condensation I’d be glad to stay here 'til the end of all creation I wish you would cue me, give a little whistle Maybe just a wink of your eye I can’t throw this basketball into my own arms Could you be there for me And tell me that you want me on the team? I can’t throw this basketball into my own arms Basketball Basketball I was counting on you, you’re the one who gets me When I try my best, you shoot a cannon of confetti I’ve been growing colder You’ve been getting bolder But I believe I still have a shot I can’t throw this basketball into my own arms Could you be there for me And tell me that you want me on the team? I can’t throw this basketball into my own arms Basketball Basketball Down to the buzzer I'll go in for a jumper But ooh, alley-oop-oop-oop Don’t make me go alone Ohh, I'm alone Over and over and over, and over, and over I can’t throw this basketball into my own arms Could you be there for me And tell me that you want me on the team? I can’t throw this basketball into my own arms Basketball Basketball I can’t throw this basketball into my own arms Over and over and over, and over, and over

Early lyrics (live debut) Under the bleachers hiding for an hour Coach is looking for me 'cuz his job is to empower I don’t want to go and I won't make a difference I don’t need a stupid award I’m still in my parka watching condensation I’d be glad to stay here 'til the end of all creation I wish you will cue me, give a little whistle Maybe just a wink of your eye I can’t throw this basketball into my own arms Could you be there for me And tell me that you want me on the team I can’t throw this basketball into my own arms Basketball Basketball I was counting on you, you’re the one who gets me When I try my best, you shoot a cannon of confetti I’ve been growing older You’ve been getting colder But I believe we still have a shot I can’t throw this basketball into my own arms Could you be there for me And tell me that you want me on the team I can’t throw this basketball into my own arms Basketball Basketball Ooh alley-oop Don’t make me go alone Ooh alley-ooop Don’t make me go alone Down to the buzzer I’m going for the jumper And ooh alley-oop Don’t make me go alone Ohh, ohh Over and over and over, and over, and over I can’t throw this basketball into my own arms Could you be there for me And tell me that you want me on the team I can’t throw this basketball into my own arms Basketball Basketball

Demo version Under the bleachers, I've been hiding out Coach is looking for me 'cuz his job is to empower I don’t want to go in; I won't make a difference I don’t need a stupid award I’m still in my parka watching condensation I know I got skills, but I can't seem to face the nation I wish you would cue me, give a little whistle Maybe just a wink of your eye 'Cause I can’t throw this basketball into my own arms Could you be there for me And tell me that you want me on the team? I can’t throw this basketball into my own arms Basketball Basketball I was counting on you, you’re the one who gets me I can't even swim, but they will put me on a jet ski Pulling down my 'didas Laughing in the hallway Kids can be so heartless sometimes I can’t throw this basketball into my own arms Could you be there for me And tell me that you want me on the team? I can’t throw this basketball into my own arms Basketball Basketball We could have won it all, but I can’t throw this basketball into my own arms Could you be there for me And tell me that you want me on the team? I can’t throw this basketball into my own arms Basketball Basketball

See also

• SZNZ: Winter
• List of Rivers Cuomo songs
• List of Weezer songs