Blues for Whitefish Lake, 1975
Journey through Echoes: Charlie Parr's Northland Odyssey
Lyrics
Heading across the lake in my little boat
Embarking on a journey across the lake in a small boat.
A surface of glass
The lake's surface is calm and smooth like glass.
I am bound for a notch in the trees
Heading towards a specific point marked by a notch in the trees.
Rotting wooden steps
Describing the condition of the steps at the destination, which are decaying.
It's difficult to see in the waning light
Visibility is challenging as daylight diminishes in the October evening of the northern region.
Of northland's October evening
Setting the scene of the journey taking place in the fading light of a Northland October evening.
(concentrate on the pool of water that travels from bow to stern)
Focusing on observing the pool of water moving from the front to the back of the boat.
I have a small outboard, lent to me by my uncle
Using a small outboard motor borrowed from the uncle, which needs minor repairs.
In need of slight repair
Highlighting the need for slight repairs on the borrowed outboard motor.
It feels like it's taking forever
Expressing impatience as the journey feels prolonged.
To reach the farthest shore
Feeling like it's taking a long time to reach the farthest shore.
When I see a scrap of neon
Spotting a vivid, possibly unnatural, object in the surroundings.
Floating like a balloon caught in the trees
Describing a neon scrap resembling a balloon caught in the trees.
(concentrate on the darkening tree line, concentrate on the sinking dock)
Focusing on the darkening tree line and the sinking dock.
I can hear voices from above me
Hearing voices from above, likely from people on a steep bank.
On the steepest part of the bank
Listening for the father's voice amid the steep bank voices.
And listen for the voice of my father
Searching for the father's voice in the midst of pine trees.
In the midst of the pines
Portraying a scene where a bar is hidden at the top of a staircase amidst leaves.
There is a bar at the top of the staircase
Describing a bar located at the top of a staircase, concealed among leaves.
Hidden amongst the leaves
Encouraging concentration on the father's face and the last shirt seen on him.
(concentrate on the face of my father, concentrate on the last shirt I saw him wear)
Emphasizing attention to details related to the father.
There is an aging fishing boat at the dock
Depicting an aging fishing boat at the dock, mostly sunk into the mud.
Mostly sunk into the mud
Describing the deteriorating condition of the fishing boat at the dock.
The steps are all but gone now
Mentioning the nearly absent steps at the dock, deteriorated and unsafe.
Rotten to my tread
The steps are in a state of decay and pose a risk when stepped on.
I cling to branches to keep from slipping
Using branches to prevent slipping on the muddy and deteriorated steps.
The rain is coming on
The rain is beginning to fall, adding another element of challenge to the situation.
(concentrate on never falling, concentrate on never climbing back down)
Emphasizing the need to concentrate on maintaining balance and not descending.
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