When I was young and full of dreams My whole life in front of me But things are not always the way they seem Some things will always change My papa'd been a trapper living hand to mouth But when I made shop foreman, I had it all figured out I thanked god each and everyday When the industry came to town Chorus: Sunset on Louisianne The sun going down on the promised I've given you everything I can I've got nothing left to lose Married a girl from Pauché Briide Raised a family of Cajun kids Nobody did no better than we did But things can always change My sister lost her baby premature And my papa got the sickness that got no cure And what they told us about it at the plant We could not be sure Chorus Bridge: Smokestacks burning on the river From New Orleans to Baton Rouge How can I go on believing When the won't tell me the truth I take my grand son fishing down at Camanida Bay I hope some of this beauty will last But, lord, it's changing so damn fast Each and every day I love the river and I love the swamp The snowy egret and the old bull frog But they're harder to find one and all Since the industry came to town