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