Well, my child, that's quite a while ago, now
Let's see what I can recall
Might be a trip one January, when
Great-granddad had work up in Saint Paul
Tell me what it felt like
A story is worth a thousand pictures
Was it really, truly cold?
I remember staring out the hotel window
Mother saying, "Look my little one
The Winter Carnival's begun
And the Mississippi is frozen."
God, how I wish I'd been born before the warming
Left us only summer, spring, and fall
On those rare mornings when I see my breath
I say a prayer for winter's mortal soul
Teach me how that prayer goes
And we'll bow our heads together, child;
You never really know
I say, "Father up above if you can hear me
Consider this our lesson learned
Let Winter Carnivals return;
Let the Mississippi be frozen."
So, friends, take stock of what you got
No matter if you want it at the time
Take a picture only if it helps you
Tell a better story down the line
Someone's never heard it
Never felt the things you're feeling
And it's someone that you love
Once upon an evening on Exchange Street
After jokes were told, and songs were sung
The Winter Carnival was underway
And the Mississippi was frozen