Skates

When I was younger, a part-time job worker Department store center, I saw a man enter He was middle-aged, deep lines on his face Tight mouth and eyes glazed, eyelids just half-raised And I looked at him, he looked at me He looked so sad, I had to see What did he want, what could it be What had he been through before me Seeing him in the store I worked for that year, that year Ice skates he asked for in the middle of summer He wanted a good pair, the price he did not care I looked for his size, our best pair he tried Custom back and sides, excitement in his eyes And I looked at him, he looked at me He looked so sad, I had to see What did he want, what could it be What had he been through before me Seeing him in the store I worked for that year, that year I asked are you a pro, he looked sad and said no These skates are my last hope, without them I cannot cope And he said my wife, she drowned this summer Behind our house, the river took her, I cannot swim I need to find her, I will wait till it freezes over And then I will skate, as far as it take I will skate as far as it takes, to bring her back home To bring her back home, to bring her back home, back home