Touchdown Boy

Album: Cheshire Cat (1994)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • By the time blink-182 started working on their debut album, Cheshire Cat, the California skate-punk trio was already earning fans around their native San Diego - but they still weren't as lucky with the ladies as some other guys they knew. One in particular inspired "Touchdown Boy," a frenetic album cut sung by Tom DeLonge about a hometown hero who gets all the girls.

    According to Joe Shooman, author of Blink-182: The Bands, The Breakdown & The Return, the track originally included the guy's name, but the band decided against it and toned down the tune a bit.
  • Shooman also noted that the interlude, which features DeLonge and co-lead vocalist Mark Hoppus trading innuendo-laden barbs about their promiscuous friend, mirrored the outrageous banter that was becoming a staple of their live performances.
  • The band recorded the album with Canadian producer Steve Kravac at Westbeach Recorders in Los Angeles under a tight schedule that left little time for retakes or overdubs. They returned to San Diego and did additional recording at Doubletime Studios, where they'd cut their demo album, Buddha. The Doubletime sessions were led by producer Otis Barthoulameu (frontman of the punk act Fluf) - an early champion of the band who helped get them signed to the punk label Cargo Music.
  • Unlike this tune, both of the album's singles, "M+M's" and "Wasting Time," feature Hoppus on lead vocals.
  • Cheshire Cat was initially released under the band's original name, Blink, but an Irish pop-rock band of the same name insisted they change it. Under pressure from the label, who feared a lawsuit, the San Diego band chose a random number and attached it to their moniker. They've also claimed the 182 represents the number of times the F-word is used in the Al Pacino movie Scarface - but, according to the Family Media Guide, there are actually 207 F-bombs in the film.

Comments: 4

  • Jess from Brisbane, AustraliaI love this song. Great vocals by Tom.
  • Monica from Bogota, Canadai thought this song was about a gigolo...i don't know.. anyway.. the song it's great.. just like all blink's older music
  • Derek from Plaistow, Nhnot a big name song but yes very good
  • Chrissy from ManchesterOne of their best ever songs easily! So fabulously true, my friend said, because he too in envious of the guy who gets all the girls at our school. The best song on Cheshire Cat and one of my favourite songs.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Zakk Wylde

Zakk WyldeSongwriter Interviews

When he was playing Ozzfest with Black Label Society, a kid told Zakk he was the best Ozzy guitarist - Zakk had to correct him.

Emmylou Harris

Emmylou HarrisSongwriter Interviews

She thinks of herself as a "song interpreter," but back in the '80s another country star convinced Emmylou to take a crack at songwriting.

Eagles Lyrics Quiz

Eagles Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

Lots of life lessons in these Eagles lyrics - can you match them to the correct song?

Joe Elliott of Def Leppard

Joe Elliott of Def LeppardSongwriter Interviews

The Def Leppard frontman talks about their "lamentable" hit he never thought of as a single, and why he's juiced by his Mott The Hoople cover band.

Kiss

KissFact or Fiction

Kiss is the subject of many outlandish rumors - some of which happen to be true. See if you can spot the fakes.

Michael Franti

Michael FrantiSongwriter Interviews

Franti tells the story behind his hit "Say Hey (I Love You)" and explains why yoga is an integral part of his lifestyle and his Soulshine tour.