Jess Chapman’s “Take A Knee” perfectly sums up Bombers’ fans’ criticism of Tim Burke

Winnipeg Blue Bombers' head coach Tim Burke's decision to take a knee on the final regulation possession of Friday's game has sparked plenty of internet mockery, but that mockery has really gone to a new level now. It's understandable that Burke's getting blasted for this one, as his team gave up a 20-0 lead in the game and suffered their 10th loss of the year to an Edmonton team that had only beaten one non-Winnipeg squad this year. Perhaps most damningly, the Bombers elected to do nothing when they got the ball back with 22 seconds left, instead deciding to just wait for overtime, where they lost 35-27. That saw plenty of criticism of Burke from the Winnipeg fanbase, but potentially the greatest one yet comes from Jess Chapman, who composed a new version of the Beatles' famed "Let It Be" in honour of Burke. With her permission, here it is:

When the Bombers find themselves in trouble
Tim Burke has a remedy
Speaking words of wisdom
Take a knee

And when they blow a 20 lead
He's got a path to victory
Speaking words of wisdom
Take a knee

CHORUS:
Take a knee, take a knee, take a knee, take a knee
What's the use in trying?
Take a knee

And when the broken-hearted fans prepare to shiver through OT
Tim Burke has an answer:
Take a knee

For though the Blue won Banjo Bowl
Why let the Esks improve to 3?
Tim Burke has an answer:
Take a knee

CHORUS (x2):
Take a knee, take a knee, take a knee, take a knee
Who's next to be fired?
Take a knee

I wake up to Bob Irving nearly sobbing on CJOB
Can't say that I blame him
Take a knee

And now I hear the IGF needs 3.5 mil more from me
Can't they let the taxpayers take a knee?

CHORUS (x3):
Take a knee, take a knee, take a knee, take a knee
Let's write off this season
Take a knee

Perfectly done. There are plenty of musical ("The Knee Gees"? "The Knee Sharps"?) and literary ("The Old Man And The Knee"?) ways to mock Burke here, but this is perhaps the best one, and it's brilliantly executed. It's possible Burke's conservatism here was thanks to his defensive background (he actually played more aggressively than most coaches last year, but that may be thanks to the incentives to go for it in a blowout loss), but it's notable that conservative coaching often revolves around the idea that going for it and failing will be criticized more than making the "safe" play and still losing. Winnipeg fans have shown that isn't true this week, though, so Burke may want to rethink his strategy going forward. He's starting to look more and more like Gary Cherone all the time. Regardless of what he does going forward, though, thanks to Chapman, CFL fans now have a great new set of lyrics for "Let It Be"...