John Prine - Lake Marie

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