It could be a clue that this narrative is a reminiscence, penned in summer, or he could have meant the line to be ironic. In any event, the lack of consensus on this point should be recognized. It's the only thing. In fact, Green Bay never once made the playoffs between 1972 and 1982. A closer listening, however, reveals that the second of these is most likely a misheard or erroneously-transcribed lyric.
Football is a collision sport.
The last five lines of the verse draw a striking parallel between the mythical Hyacinth, beloved of Apollo, who illustrated the fleeting nature of youth and beauty when he was accidentally struck by Apollo's discus and felled on the field of competition, and Lombardi, whom the gods killed with cancer at the age of 57. How you suffered for your sanity How you tried to set them free They did not listen, they're not listening still Perhaps they never will Although proving himself an expert storyteller to this point, McLean unfortunately loses focus in the final verse. The rest of this is just babbling.