This is a sarcastic song about "Rambo Type" movies that Cheryl made up while in Nashville around 1988. She went down there to co-write a song, but wasn't having a good experience. I get the impression that she really didn't like the idea of co-writing a song with somebody, which might have contributed to the situation. (She later co-wrote Orbiting Jupiter with Janis Ian, and seemed to enjoy that.)
One evening in her hotel room, she was watching one of those macho movies where the men don't want to fight but are always forced into it, and women who can't run more than a few steps without falling down. This song is about those kinds of movies.
- Nerves Of Steel
- Words and Music by
- Cheryl Wheeler
- Big guys, big guns, big mission-what fun
- I really love these movies
- Brave men out there with complicated hardware
- That's how I want to be
- Nerves of steel, hearts like jelly
- Busy blowin' holes in the bad guy's belly
- Odds are grim, hopes are slim
- And they're plagued by beautiful women
- They tramp and strain through tropical terrain
- Bent on a daring rescue
- They take their turns being cynical and stern
- I guess they know it's best to
- Tumbling into high tech choppers
- Jokin 'bout poontang and some girls knockers
- Sweaty men intent to win
- And they're plagued by beautiful women
- We all fiddle and fool and fuss
- But their lives are so serious
- They talk real slow, move real fast
- And every wound could be their last
- They're shot and stabbed and pummeled and grabbed
- But they ignore the damage
- Through the gruesome things their duty brings
- Somehow they always manage
- Nerves of steel, hearts like jelly
- Busy blowin' holes in the bad guy's belly
- Odds are grim, hopes are slim
- And they're plagued by beautiful women
- Their guns are hot, they bleed alot
- And they're plagued by beautiful women.
- 7/29/88
- (P) May 27, 2003
- Penrod And Higgins Music / Amachrist Music
- ACF Music Group
- International Copyright Reserved