It wasn't so long ago, under the willow trees My cousin Nany and me We took off our shoes and we waded the Chippawah There where the water goes running down to Redwing A rusty old rowboat, our kingdom of kingdoms Every August we went to the fairgrounds My cousin Nancy and me We were strapped on the poneys that walked in a circle And she fell in love with a carnival-cowboy
Who lifted her up on the raggedy poney Every summer in Western Wisconsin A thousand miles from the Sea Every summer in Western Wisconsin A thousand miles from the Sea Now we are living where there are no sidewalks My wife, my baby and me And every sunday we go to the ocean And sit in the sunshine with beautiful strangers And oh, how my heart is achin' for Nancy