Banks of the Chesapeake

I have always loved a song called "Banks of the Pontchartrain" by Nancy Griffith. One lonely night over a year ago I was laying in my bed in Notse, no electricity, listening to it on my ipod and the lyrics magically changed themselves into something much more personal. With permission, here is my adaptation of the song. It makes me weepy every time I hear it.

I'm goin' back where my garden blooms all year
Where the wintertime speaks softly in the fallin' rain

I'm goin' back to my friends and family there
and we will dance along the banks of the Chesapeake

Oh, I've grown dark beneath the skys of Africa
Where the voices ring like bells in French and Minah
And the heat melts the body all year long

I am alone at night and dream of my own Chesapeake

Chorus:
Take me to the airport...
I am late to catch my eastbound plane
Oh, I'm gonna call my sister Heidi
she will be waiting by the gate when I fly in
I'm gonna fly across the ocean
just to stand beside my Chesapeake again

These old rails shake like thunder through the night
Soon I'll have my family's arms to comfort me
Oh, I can see my sister Heidi by their side
her hair will flow in waves like on the Chesapeake

Take me to the airport...
I am late to catch my eastbound plane
Oh, I'm gonna call my sister Heidi
she will be waiting by the gate when I fly in
I'm gonna fly across the ocean
just to stand beside my Chesapeake again

I'm goin' back where my garden blooms all year
Where the wintertime speaks softly in the fallin' rain
I'm goin' back to my green eyed lover there
and we will dance along the banks of the Chesapeake
yes, we will dance along the banks of the Chesapeake
we will dance along the banks of the Chesapeake
and here comes the plane


I can't wait to be home for fall and winter. I miss you.