• Song:

    Lake Marie

  • Artist:

    John Prine

  • Album:

    Sessions at West 54th S...

Intro: 
G      C     D    G      C     D 

           G
We were standing 
C 

D                      G
Standing by peaceful waters 
C 

D                      G
Standing by peaceful waters 
C           D   G
Whoa Wah Oh Wha Oh 
   C      D       G 
Play the following pattern throughout 
G      C     D    G 
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 

{Repeat Chorus} 

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 were ssssssssizzlin' 

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. 

{Repeat Chorus} 

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 

Saw it on the news  The tv news in a black and white video 

Do 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 
           G
We were standing 
C 

D                      G
Standing by peaceful waters 
D                      G
Standing by peaceful waters 
 C       D      G
Whoa Wah Oh Wha Oh 
 C       D      G
Whoa Wah Oh Wha Oh 
 C       D      G
Whoa Wah Oh Wha Oh 
  C
Peaceful waters 
D 

  G
Standing by peaceful waters 
 C       D 

     G     C
Aah baby, we gotta go now 
D 

G    C     D    G 

(Repeat and Fade....)
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