Somehow I started thinking about Nils Lofgren’s classic song “Bullets Fever,” which told the story of the Washington Bullets 1978 NBA championship. I remember writing down all the words in pencil at the time, and I kept it for years and years. I found it recently but it was all moldy so I had to throw it out. (Poor Nils. 30 years in the E Street band playing alongside Bruce Springsteen and some of the songs he’s most known for are “Bullets Fever and the classic “Jhoon Rhee” commercial – jhoon-rhee-nobody-bothers-me-nobody-bothers-me-either. Of course Nils is known as one of the best musicians in the band).
That year, 1978, was the first year I was a sports fan. The Bullets won the NBA title. Still waiting to get back there. I’ve written in previous blogs that the Wizards should go back to their old name of the Bullets. Of course, after the Gilbert Arenas fiasco, that’s not likely to happen anytime soon.
About 15 years ago I was working as a traffic reporter. There was this one station that wanted a female reporter to sing a different song every day before the traffic report. Actually, now I remember – it was WTEM, the sportsradio station and the show was the Tony Kornheiser show. I filled in for her one day and sang Bullets Fever. That was the first and last time I sang on the radio.
Anyway, here are the words. You can find the tune somewhere on the internet. (Sorry, I can’t figure out how to space the text properly in WordPress.)
Bullets Fever! Happens to me every year
Bullets Fever. And this year’s the one
Bullets Fever. Got the Doctor and the Iceman
Bullets Fever. Seattle was stunned
You’ve gotta be a fan from old DC
To know what the Bullets mean to me
To see them get up and go all the way
For me Bullets Fever is here to stay
Bullets Fever! Happens to me every year
Bullets Fever. And this year’s the one
Bullets Fever. Got the Doctor and the Iceman
Bullets Fever. Seattle was stunned
C.J. and Larry, Greg, Joe and Mitch
Ran the Bomb Squad into a ditch
C.J. Tom and Larry are fast as light
Kevin, Bobby and Elvin they shoot out of sight
Aint it beautiful how Bobby D plays so great
With the Big E!
(inaudible) …we blew the Sonics out
Now all the world knows what our team’s about
Bullets Fever! Happens to me every year
Bullets Fever. And this year’s the one
Bullets Fever. Got the Doctor and the Iceman
Bullets Fever. Seattle was stunned
With all his heart Wes fought the west
Now every Bullet wears a champion’s ring
They’ve got our town screaming and stompin’
They turn it into a family thing
Come on coach Motta
King of basketball chess
Come on now fans support them every test
Bullets Fever! Happens to me every year
Bullets Fever. And this year’s the one
Bullets Fever. Beat the best in the world
Bullets Fever. Now we’re number one!
Bullets Fever. Come on Bobby D
Bullets Fever. Put in a swish for me
Bullets Fever. Let’s see that turnaround, Mr. Hayes
Bullets Fever. See your play is amazing
Bullets Fever. Hey Dick and Bernie, we’re pulling for you
Bullets Fever. Dreams come true
Number one, number one…
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