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 providing
Now he was down to relying on medicare
The nurses took a liking 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 fishing
Working on that Firebird engine
Running 99 proof moonshine cross that county line
3,2,1 and ignition off on some space shuttle mission
Playing QB for the Cowboys
Getting high on the crowd noise and the bright lights
'Cause deep inside things were rocking 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 screaming down the hall
"Hey, it's a miracle ya'll, I think he's coming back"

The doctors all rushed in, said
"Do you know what year this is?"
"How many fingers am I holding, and where've you been?"

And he said
Fly fishing
Working on that Firebird engine
Running 99 proof moonshine cross that county line
3,2,1 and ignition off on some space shuttle mission
Playing QB for the Cowboys
Getting high on the crown noise and the bright lights
Yeah, this time things were rocking in the mind
Of John J. Blanchard

He had a stroke in '95
They thought it best he reside in a nursing home