Radio VIX, side A, track 3: “Juke Box Hero” by Foreigner

Oh, Foreigner, there were two things I loved when I was a kid (besides girls, that is).  One was comic books.  And the other was the music blasting out of the radio and the sense of satisfaction in knowing I’d captured another awesome song on a cassette tape.  And this song, Foreigner, was the absolute most awesome combination of both.  Because it sounded like the origin story of a rock and roll superhero.  To this day, I’ve wanted to write a comic book character called “Juke Box Hero” and tell his story, of a guy who becomes transformed into a rock god and can split the universe in half with the power of his beat-up six-string, a cosmic adventurer who feeds off the roar of the crowd, who literally needs to keep on rockin’ to stay alive.  And it would get made into the most awesome of movies, and this would be the song that plays during the opening credits AND the closing credits, because it’s just that good.  When you’re ready to make this into the best comic book ever, you just let me know, Foreigner.

“Juke Box Hero”

Standin’ in the rain
 
With his head hung low

Couldn’t get a ticket

It was a sold-out show

Heard the roar of the crowd

He could picture the scene

Put his ear to the wall

Then like a distant scream

He heard one guitar

Just blew him away

Saw stars in his eyes

And the very next day

Bought a beat-up six-string

In a secondhand store

Didn’t know how to play it
 
But he knew for sure

That one guitar
 
Felt good in his hands

Didn’t take long
 
Ta understand

Just one guitar

Slung way down low

Was a one-way ticket

Only one way ta go

So he started rockin’
Ain’t never gonna stop

Gotta keep on rockin’
Someday gonna make it to the top

And be a juke box hero
(Got stars in his eyes)
He’s a juke box hero

He took one guitar (Juke box hero)
(Stars in his eyes)
Juke box hero (Stars in his eyes)
He’ll come alive tonight

In a town without a name

In a heavy downpour

Thought he passed his own shadow

By the backstage door

Like a trip through the past

That day in the rain

And that one guitar

Made his whole life change

Now he needs to keep a-rockin’
He just can’t stop

Gotta keep on rockin’
That boy has got to stay on top

And be a juke box hero (Got stars in his eyes)
He’s a juke box hero (Got stars in his eyes)
Yeah, juke box hero (Stars in his eyes)
With that one guitar (Stars in his eyes)
He’ll come alive
Come alive tonight

<awesome Juke Box Hero jam!>

Yeah
He’s gotta keep a-rockin’
He just can’t stop

Gotta keep on rockin’
That boy has got to stay on top

And be a juke box hero (Got stars in his eyes)
He’s a juke box hero (Aaa-aah!)

Juke box hero (Aaa-aah!)

Juke box hero!
He’s got stars in his eyes
Stars in his eyes