[Intro — spoken]

Walter had lived in the same nursing home for three years...

Sharp as a tack — crossword every morning...

Until the Tuesday he stopped eating and got confused...

[Verse 1]

Walter woke up Tuesday — didn't want his eggs,

Nurse noticed he was warmer — wobbly on his legs,

Breathing faster than usual — oxygen dropping low,

Confused about the day and time — something wrong below.

Daughter came at lunchtime — said this isn't dad,

Something in his eyes was off — she knew when it was bad,

Chest X-ray that afternoon — white shadow on the right,

Walter had a fever — fighting something in the night.

[Pre-Chorus]

Walter's lungs were filling up — fluid where air should be,

Crackles when the nurse listened — plain for all to see,

Coughing up some yellow stuff — chest hurt when he breathed,

Walter's body fighting hard — lungs were not relieved.

[Chorus]

Walter's fighting fever — lungs are filling in,

White shadow on the picture — battle from within,

Confusion in the elderly — that's how it shows first,

Not always cough and fever — sometimes just the worst.

[Verse 2]

Doctor scored the severity — number told the tale,

High enough to go to hospital — Walter's looking pale,

Blood tests showing markers — infection running high,

Oxygen through the nose — keeping Walter's levels by.

Two different antibiotics — covering all the ground,

Fluids through the arm — keeping Walter sound,

Three days in the hospital — fever finally broke,

Walter asked for crossword — that's when daughter spoke.

[Bridge]

Doctor sat them down and said — Walter needs his shots,

Flu vaccine every autumn — pneumonia — connect the dots,

This was Walter's second time — should have had them both,

Prevention is the best medicine — Walter took the oath.

Swallowing test before he ate — make sure it goes down right,

Aspiration is the risk — food going to the lung — the fright,

Thickened liquids for a while — head of bed raised up,

Walter learned his lesson — drank it from a cup.

[Outro]

Walter's back to crossword — Tuesday morning bright,

Flu shot every autumn now — Walter's doing right,

Two vaccines on his record — flu and pneumonia shots,

Walter's lungs are clear again — Walter passed the test.

“Walter’s Story”