Fireworks, $2 Beers & Taylor Swift: Big Weekend at Polar Park

From Late-Night Lyrics to Polar Park: The Story Behind “We Are Worcester

By-Radio Worcester Staff

Photo-submitted

WORCESTER, MA- Dr. Charles Steinberg has written a new song, “We Are Worcester,” a tribute that captures the city’s story from its earliest days to its current cultural momentum.

The narrative stretches across generations, tracing Worcester’s early settlers, its industrial rise, and its long-standing role as a place of innovation. At the same time, the song reflects a more recent sense of renewal—something Steinberg hopes listeners will feel immediately.

“It’s my hope that people will see the love that we all have for the city and to look at it through a long lens,” Steinberg said.

The project came together through a collaboration with Ellis Hall, whose performance helps bring the song’s emotional tone to life. Steinberg also shared details about the recording process and how the piece will be introduced publicly.

“We Are Worcester” is scheduled to be featured during the National Baseball Poetry Festival at Polar Park on May 8.

The origin of the lyrics, however, was far more personal and unexpected.

“And these were lyrics born in the middle of the night, holding my little puppy who was yapping and I didn’t want him to wake up my wife,” Steinberg said.

That moment of quiet inspiration became the foundation for a song designed to feel inclusive—something any Worcester resident could connect with. Rather than focusing on a single institution or identity, Steinberg intentionally kept references broad, with only a subtle nod to the city’s baseball presence.

“It’s a song designed for people who love Worcester to say, ‘Oh, did he include that? Did they include that?’”

The result is a piece that invites listeners to find their own connection to the city within it, whether through history, culture, or personal experience.