John Prine - Lake Marie Lyrics

We were standing
Standing by peaceful waters
Standing by peaceful waters
Whoa wah oh wha oh

Many years ago along the Illinois-Wisconsin border
There was this Indian tribe
They found two babies in the woods, white babies
One of them was named Elizabeth
She was the fairer of the two
While the smaller and more fragile one was named Marie
Having never seen white girls before
And living on the two lakes known as the Twin Lakes
They named the larger and more beautiful Lake, Lake Elizabeth
And thus the smaller lake that was hidden from the highway
Became known forever as Lake Marie

We were standing
Standing by peaceful waters
Standing by peaceful waters
Whoa wah oh wha oh

Many years later I found myself talking to this girl
Who was standing there with her back turned to Lake Marie
The wind was blowing especially through her hair
There was four Italian sausages cooking on the outdoor grill
And they was sssizzlin'
Many years later we found ourselves in Canada
Trying to save our marriage, and perhaps catch a few fish
Whatever came first
That night she fell asleep in my arms
Humming the tune to 'Louie Louie'
Aah baby, we gotta go now

We were standing
Standing by peaceful waters
Standing by peaceful waters
Whoa wah oh wha oh
Whoa wah oh wha oh

The dogs were barking as the cars were parking
The loan sharks were sharking the narcs were narcing
Practically everyone was there
In the parking lot by the forest preserve
The police had found two bodies
Nay, naked bodies
Their faces had been horribly disfigured by some sharp object
I saw it on the news
The TV news
In a black and white video
You know what blood looks like in a black and white video?
Shadows, shadows that's what it looks like
All the love we shared between her and me was slammed
Slammed up against the banks of old Lake Marie, Marie

We were standing
Standing by peaceful waters
Standing by peaceful waters
Whoa wah oh wha oh
Whoa wah oh wha oh
Whoa wah oh wha oh
Peaceful waters
Standing by peaceful waters
Ahh baby, we gotta go now