About the song
Background:
- Released in July 1994 as the second single from Reba McEntire’s album “Read My Mind.”
- Gained significant media attention and controversy due to its subject matter.
Themes:
- AIDS: The song tells the story of a woman dying from AIDS, contracted through a one-night stand with a man whose name she can’t remember. It was a bold and unflinching portrayal of a disease that was highly stigmatized in the early 1990s.
- Regret and Loss: The lyrics explore the woman’s regret over her choices and the loss of her life.
- Mortality: The song confronts the realities of death and the fragility of life.
Impact:
- The song sparked conversations about AIDS awareness and the importance of safe sex practices.
- It also highlighted the human cost of the disease, showcasing the suffering of individuals beyond statistics.
Additional Notes:
- The song was also the title for a 1994 TV movie starring Reba McEntire.
Video
Lyrics
She can account for all of the men in her pastWhere they are now, who they married, how many kids they haveShe knew their backgrounds, family and friendsA few she even talks to now and then
But there is oneShe can’t put her finger onThere is one who never leaves her thoughtsAnd she thinksHis name was John
A chance meeting, a party a few years backBroad shoulders and blue eyes, his hair was so blackHe was a friend of a friend you could sayShe let his smile just sweep her away
And in her heart though she knew that it was wrongBut too much wine and she left his bed at dawnAnd she thinksHis name was John
Now each day is one day that’s left in her lifeShe won’t know love, have a marriage or sing lullabiesShe lays all alone and cries herself to sleep‘Cause she let a stranger kill her hopes and her dreams
And all her friends say, “What a pity, what a loss”And in the end when she was barely hanging onAll she could say is she thinksHis name was John
She thinksHis name was John