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 past
Where they are now, who they married, how many kids they have She knew their backgrounds, family and friends A few she even talks to now and thenBut there is one
She can’t put her finger on There is one who never leaves her thoughts And she thinks His name was JohnA chance meeting, a party a few years back
Broad shoulders and blue eyes, his hair was so black He was a friend of a friend you could say She let his smile just sweep her awayAnd in her heart though she knew that it was wrong
But too much wine and she left his bed at dawn And she thinks His name was JohnNow each day is one day that’s left in her life
She won’t know love, have a marriage or sing lullabies She lays all alone and cries herself to sleep ‘Cause she let a stranger kill her hopes and her dreamsAnd all her friends say, “What a pity, what a loss”
And in the end when she was barely hanging on All she could say is she thinks His name was JohnShe thinks
His name was John