Martin Sheen Or JFK

Album: Lights And Sounds (2005)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song was inspired by the 1985 movie The Goonies, starring young versions of Sean Astin, Josh Brolin and Corey Feldman. In the movie, Feldman's character finds a half-dollar coin at the bottom of a wishing well and thinks the person on the coin is Martin Sheen, but it is really John F. Kennedy (JFK).
  • The lyrics, "I'm taking them all, taking them all back for good," also come from Feldman's character. When the kids realize the coins that are thrown into the well don't really turn into wishes, Feldman takes his back and utters the lines.
  • The title doesn't appear in the lyrics, and the song has nothing to do with Martin Sheen or JFK. The singer is wishing he could take back the mistakes he made that led to a breakup. He doesn't want to go to sleep only to wake up again and realize his girl is gone.
  • "Martin Sheen Or JFK" is an album cut from Yellowcard's Lights And Sounds album, released in 2005 to follow their 2003 breakthrough Ocean Avenue. The album did well and the band remained a solid live draw, but their next album, Paper Walls in 2007, didn't go so well because their sound was falling out of favor and their record company was going through changes. They ended up taking a hiatus from 2008-2010. In 2017 they announced their breakup, but that didn't last - a new generation discovered their music and in 2022 they re-formed.

Comments: 4

  • Ben from Tampa, FlTheir song How I go is about the movie Big Fish.
  • Kenion from Santaquin, UtAnother song by Yellowcard that is inspired by a movie is "Gifts and Curses" (Spider-Man 2). That one is a good one, and one I'd like to see on the site. This whole album was pretty solid, regardless of inspirations from movies :P
  • Shannon Mulvany from Spokane, WaThis is really not one of the best songs on the album, but I decided to post the lyrics anyway. And no, not all of their songs are about movies.
  • Shong from Wausau, Wiwow...really...like on this cd lights and sounds...are all there songs about movies...or something...
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Al Jourgensen of Ministry

Al Jourgensen of MinistrySongwriter Interviews

In the name of song explanation, Al talks about scoring heroin for William Burroughs, and that's not even the most shocking story in this one.

Steve Cropper (Booker T & the MG's, Blues Brothers)

Steve Cropper (Booker T & the MG's, Blues Brothers)Songwriter Interviews

Steve Cropper on the making of "In the Midnight Hour," the chicken-wire scene in The Blues Brothers, and his 2021 album, Fire It Up.

Weezer

WeezerFact or Fiction

Did Rivers Cuomo grow up on a commune? Why did they name their albums after colors? See how well you know your Weezer in this Fact or Fiction.

Is That Song Public Domain?

Is That Song Public Domain?Fact or Fiction

Are classic songs like "Over The Rainbow" and "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" in the public domain?

John Waite

John WaiteSongwriter Interviews

"Missing You" was a spontaneous outpouring of emotion triggered by a phone call. John tells that story and explains what MTV meant to his career.

Chris Squire of Yes

Chris Squire of YesSongwriter Interviews

One of the most dynamic bass player/songwriters of his time, Chris is the only member of Yes who has been with the band since they formed in 1968.