The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
He had a stroke in'95
They thought it best that he reside in a nursing home
His family vowed they'd never leave him
Last time they came to see him was three years ago
He spent his whole life providin'
Now he was down to relyin' on medicare
The nurses took a likin' to him
They'd get his wheelchair out and push him on sunny days
He couldn't walk, he couldn't speak
Seemed so far outta reach
But in his mind, as far as they knew, he could be
Fly fishin'
Workin' on that Firebird engine
Runnin' 99 proof moonshine cross the county line
3,2,1 And ignition off on some space shuttle mission
Playin' QB for the Cowboys
Getting high on the crowd noise and the bright lights
'Cause deep inside things were rockin' in the mind
Of John J Blanchard
One afternoon in June
A nurse saw his finger move she bout had a heart attack
She went screamin' down the hall
"Hey it's a miracle ya'll, I think he's comin' back"
The doctors all rushed in, said
"Do you know what year this is?"
"How many fingers am I holdin', and where've you been?"
And he said
Fly fishin'
Workin' on that Firebird engine
Running 99 proof moonshine cross that county line
3,2,1 And ignition off on some space shuttle mission
An playin' QB for the Cowboys
Getting high on the crown noise and the bright lights
Yeah, this time things were rockin' in the mind
Of John J Blanchard
He had a stroke in '95
They thought it best he reside in a nursing home
They thought it best that he reside in a nursing home
His family vowed they'd never leave him
Last time they came to see him was three years ago
He spent his whole life providin'
Now he was down to relyin' on medicare
The nurses took a likin' to him
They'd get his wheelchair out and push him on sunny days
He couldn't walk, he couldn't speak
Seemed so far outta reach
But in his mind, as far as they knew, he could be
Fly fishin'
Workin' on that Firebird engine
Runnin' 99 proof moonshine cross the county line
3,2,1 And ignition off on some space shuttle mission
Playin' QB for the Cowboys
Getting high on the crowd noise and the bright lights
'Cause deep inside things were rockin' in the mind
Of John J Blanchard
One afternoon in June
A nurse saw his finger move she bout had a heart attack
She went screamin' down the hall
"Hey it's a miracle ya'll, I think he's comin' back"
The doctors all rushed in, said
"Do you know what year this is?"
"How many fingers am I holdin', and where've you been?"
And he said
Fly fishin'
Workin' on that Firebird engine
Running 99 proof moonshine cross that county line
3,2,1 And ignition off on some space shuttle mission
An playin' QB for the Cowboys
Getting high on the crown noise and the bright lights
Yeah, this time things were rockin' in the mind
Of John J Blanchard
He had a stroke in '95
They thought it best he reside in a nursing home
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
John J. Blanchard Lyrics as written by R. Anthony Smith Chris Allen Wallin
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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