Lake Placid Blues

Tony Joe White - Lake Placid Blues At the time I was too young for the meaning But it’s become much clearer through the years We gathered round the boy in his army clothes Said goodbye and his mother shed her tears Every day she watched for the postman But the long awaited letter was over due It’s not the silence that makes you crazy It’s the sound of a heart breaking in two Then it came across the ocean It was hard to understand the awful news I don’t know why I still remember I guess it’s just the Lake Placid Blues I turned 18 and left that part of the country Went down on the Padre Island coast       Of all the hard times I still remember The repossession of the guitar hurt the most The paupers stood in line outside the mission And I huddled there beside them in the rain A priest came to the door with empty eyes I could see he no longer felt their pain Some were searchin’ for forgiveness And others only wanted food          I needed more than I could ask for There is no comfort with the Lake Placid Blues It’s hard to find good friends in a lifetime You can usually count ’em on one hand     I shivered by the fire and the dawn was breakin’ And I scattered his ashes on the sand And the silver cranes came over in formation In a sacred manner they flew         And I will always remember   The sky the Lake Placid Blues