(Chris Wallin/Anthony Smith)

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 know he could be

Fly fishin', workin' on that Firebird engine
Runnin' 99 proof moonshine cross that county line
3,2,1 and ignition, off on some space shuttle mission
Playin' QB for the Cowboy's 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
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
Runnin' 99 proof moonshine cross that county line
3,2,1 and ignition, off on some space shuttle mission
Playin' QB for the Cowboy's getting high on the crowd noise
And the bright lights
'Cause deep inside things were rockin' in the mind
Of John J Blanchard

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