Father's Day morning, the sun starts to rise Coffee in our cups and sleep in our eyes Didn't know if Joyce and Gary would make it at all They closed down the Northern playing pool till last call We skipped pool night knowing how that story goes Joyce starts sinking shots and everybody owes She'll smile real sweet while she's taking all your cash Leave you broke and wondering how she kicked your ass
The day before at Nancy's sitting round her table We drank cold beers as long as we were able Late in the day those beers turned mean It went from party to nap time as fast as I've seen Another pizza from BJ's saved the day Funny YouTube videos carried us away One clip became ten more, then twenty-five or so We laughed at the stupid stuff then off to bed we'd go
Kats says, "It's not a competition," every time I yell the score But when you're out there fishing, there's bragging rights for sure Joyce is a pool shark, Gary's got a catfish tale Crossing a hay walkway where the plywood blew away We came for the walleyes, the laughter and cheer But if anybody asks… we're just here for the beer
Had to cross Gary's backyard just to reach the boat The grass is just starting we're holding out hope Last week's tornado took his plywood walk away We had to follow his yellow brick road made out of hay The new pontoon was shining under the morning sky Gary stood there grinning with a sparkle in his eye Coolers, rods, and tackle all loaded up with care Ready for the walleyes waiting somewhere out there
Gary ran to Frank's for a new fishing net A monster catfish ate the old one - do not forget Fishing with his grandkids just a couple days before That river beast hit the mesh and tore it to the core Every time he tells it that fish gains a pound By Labor Day it'll be the biggest catfish in town Fishing stories are like that, tall tales every day You need to talk bullshit on Saginaw Bay
Gary found the perfect spot at exactly 9:49 Pointed at the graph and said, "Trust me, this time" Six walleyes were kept at the end of the day Six more little fighters were tossed back in the bay The cooler stayed busy while the stories got tall Our jokes were legendary by the time we'd told them all The sun shone bright and laughter filled the air The fish were just a bonus… we were really there for the beer
I hooked a state-record shark, at least that's what I say That fish pulled harder than a Chevy Silverado that day The line snapped quick, the monster disappeared from view I think Gary's reel came from Fisher-Price, not Shimano, too We were fishing walleyes, not perch this time around So "One Perch" Kats couldn't wear her fishing crown I got up two to one and made sure everybody knew Announcing every fish I caught like fishermen all do Kats said, "You're a beginner," trying not to roll her eyes But nobody keeps score unless they're chasing bragging rights Everybody laughed and gave me plenty of grief That's the price you pay when you're trying to be the chief
Kats says, "It's not a competition," every time I yell the score But when you're out there fishing, there's bragging rights for sure Joyce is a pool shark, Gary's got a catfish tale Crossing a hay walkway where a plywood sidewalk failed We came for the walleyes, the laughter and good cheer But if anybody asks us… we're just here for the beer
The fish were pretty good, but the stories were the best Father's Day on the water — one of the best Good friends, cold beer, and memories every year And if anybody asks us… we're just here for the beer
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