Following the team's 2016 World Series victory, the song peaked at number 3 on Billboard's Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.
[2] That song described the team as "doormat of the National League" and referred to Wrigley Field as an "ivy-covered burial ground.
Goodman happened to be in town for a WGN radio talk show and was receptive to the idea of writing the team a new song.
[6] "Go, Cubs, Go," recorded at the Chicago Recording Company with several of the team members participating in the chorus, first became popular during 1984 when the Cubs won the 1984 National League East Division Championship and subsequently lost in the 1984 National League Championship Series.
[6] During that season, Goodman lost his sixteen-year battle with leukemia four days before the Cubs clinched the division title.
[9][10] In recent years, broadcasts on WGN-TV and NBC Sports Chicago have begun delaying postgame commentary to enable viewers to hear Goodman's song and to watch fans at Wrigley listening and singing along.
[2] On August 1, 2008, WGN Radio and Vibes Media released a ringtone version of the song for purchase by text message for a cost of US$2.99.
It was performed for the first time live on WGN-TV at the Skybox on Sheffield, located directly across from Wrigley Field on opening day 2008.
[20] During the team's victory rally at Grant Park on November 4, 2016, country singer Brett Eldredge sang his own rendition of the song.
[21] The following day, Cubs players Anthony Rizzo, Dexter Fowler, and David Ross appeared on Saturday Night Live to perform the song during the show's weekly Weekend Update segment, together with actor Bill Murray, an avid Cubs supporter.
[22] Several of the Cubs' minor league affiliates also use the song, including the Tennessee Smokies[23] and the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.
[27] It is described as having catchy riffs and exuberant vocals that characterized the essence of Cubs fandom while, noting in the lyrics, "You can catch it all on WGN.