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