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.
Bill Barilko disappeared that summer
He was on a fishing trip
The last goal he ever scored
Won the Leafs the cup
They didn't win another 'til nineteen-sixty-two
The year he was discovered
I stole this from a hockey card
I keep tucked up under
My fifty-mission cap
I worked it in
I worked it in to look like that
It's my fifty-mission cap
It's his fifty-mission cap
And I worked it in (worked it in)
I worked it in
And I worked it in to look like that
And I worked it in to look like that
Bill Barilko disappeared that summer (in nineteen-fifty-one)
He was on a fishing trip (in a plane)
The last goal he ever scored (in overtime)
Won the Leafs the cup
They didn't win another 'til nineteen-sixty-two
The year he was discovered
In my fifty-mission cap
I worked it in
I worked it in to look like that
It's my fifty-mission cap
It's his fifty-mission cap
And I worked it in (worked it in)
I worked it in
And I worked it in to look like that
And I worked it in to look like that
It's my fifty-mission cap
It's my fifty-mission cap
It's my fifty-mission cap
It's my fifty-mission cap
He was on a fishing trip
The last goal he ever scored
Won the Leafs the cup
They didn't win another 'til nineteen-sixty-two
The year he was discovered
I stole this from a hockey card
I keep tucked up under
My fifty-mission cap
I worked it in
I worked it in to look like that
It's my fifty-mission cap
It's his fifty-mission cap
And I worked it in (worked it in)
I worked it in
And I worked it in to look like that
And I worked it in to look like that
Bill Barilko disappeared that summer (in nineteen-fifty-one)
He was on a fishing trip (in a plane)
The last goal he ever scored (in overtime)
Won the Leafs the cup
They didn't win another 'til nineteen-sixty-two
The year he was discovered
In my fifty-mission cap
I worked it in
I worked it in to look like that
It's my fifty-mission cap
It's his fifty-mission cap
And I worked it in (worked it in)
I worked it in
And I worked it in to look like that
And I worked it in to look like that
It's my fifty-mission cap
It's my fifty-mission cap
It's my fifty-mission cap
It's my fifty-mission cap
Lyrics submitted by black_cow_of_death
Fifty-Mission Cap Lyrics as written by Gordon Sinclair Gordon Downie
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Bill Barilko actually went missing in 1951, 4 months after he scored the winning goal that gave the Leafs the 1951 Stanley Cup. He was on his way home from a fishing trip when the plane he was on disappeared. His fellow players refused to believe he was gone and actually kept his equipment in the same locker in the dressing room at the beginning of the next season's training camp. In 1962 the plane was finally found along with him and his friend (the pilot). That year was the next time the leafs won the cup.