Lyrics
[Verse 1] You were nine, the lake was glass Your red bobber drifted past You asked me why i let it go I said, “some things take their time, you know” The sun climbed up the cedar line You watched the water, watched my hands I showed you how to tie a knot You showed me how to wait a lot [Chorus] Those long days out on cedar lake Taught us more than what we’d take How to stay when nothing bites How to laugh at tangled lines And when the years pull us apart I still hear you from that boat “Dad, is this one big enough?” And i say, “son, you’re getting close” [Verse 2] One july, the motor quit A mile from where we’d launched it You took the oars and found the pace While i learned not to rush the day We drifted past the old stone dam You named the loons and counted clouds By the time we reached the shore You’d grown taller than before [Chorus] Those long days out on cedar lake Taught us more than what we’d take How to stay when nothing bites How to laugh at tangled lines And when the years pull us apart I still hear you from that boat “Dad, is this one big enough?” And i say, “son, you’re getting close” [Bridge] Now you bring your boy along He’s got your grin, your patient hands You tell him what i told you then And leave a little room for chance [Final chorus] Those long days out on cedar lake Still have more than we can name How to stay when plans go wrong How a quiet mile makes a bond And when the years pull us apart I still hear you from that boat “Dad, is this one big enough?” You smile and say, “let’s see, let’s go” [Outro] The lake keeps all our summers there In every cast we send out anywhere
