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All Luke Bryan ever wanted was to be Bill Dance
Two kids are on the couch watching Bill Dance talk about bait on his fishing show when someone knocks at the door. It is Bill Dance. more
"What are y'all watching that nut for?" he asks. "I'm the real thing." He tells them to put the cell phone up and get up, because they're going fishing. They're up fast. "That didn't take long," Bill says.
Then it is out the door. "Move it, move it, move it," Bill calls. "The boat's in the water." Luke Bryan has his guitar, and the song he sings is called "Bill Dance."
It's about a boy who saved all his birthday money for a rod and reel. Momma said watch for snakes. Daddy said shut the gate. Brother said they're biting on the Zoom black and red flake, and that night the boy could barely sleep, because all he ever wanted to be was Bill Dance.
The chorus spells out the dream. A Georgia boy watches Saturday morning television and learns to hook big bass "from a largemouth legend in a Tennessee hat." The legend teaches him to tie them on, take them off and catch them when people said they couldn't be caught.
By the clear water, Bill knows every word and sings right along. Then the boats head out to a fishing spot, and the kids start catching fish. They show off each catch, then put it back in the water.
SaveMore people show up during the day, and each of them breaks into a smile at the sight of Bill. Plenty of viewers know that feeling. They grew up watching him on Saturday mornings, often next to their dads, and the most-liked comment is simply glad to see Bill get his roses while he's here to enjoy them. One parent wrote to Bill years ago to say thanks, and he wrote back with signed Tennessee hats for the kids.
Near the end comes a line about the sun just starting to shine up over the treetops. "It's gonna be a beautiful day," goes the next one, "it's plain to see." With Bill Dance along for the day, nobody is going to argue.
