Lost and Found at the Ballard Locks
(Song by: Alex Exarhos – Performance Notes below)
Alex Exarhos
LYRICS
The sun came rising, up over Mt. Rainier
Bringing blue skies to the Puget Sound
Birds were singing, I said “good morning dear”
Today’s the day we kayak the canal
You said “I’d love to”, we set out right away
Launching from a slip on Portage Bay
Got passed by one boat, passed on two sides of another
A frown began to creep upon my face
PRE-CHORUS
I should have known, when it’s this hot
Everyone gets out their yacht
Traffic snaking, waves they’re making
Matching your pace is backbreaking
Finally caught you, down by the Fremont troll
I’m breathing hard as we continue on
You were coasting, easy as it goes
But in Salmon Bay, I got turned around
PRE-CHORUS
Where’d you go, you on ahead?
Hiding behind that ship shed?
Are you down among the docks?
Wait, that’s you inside the locks!
CHORUS
I lost my bay-by at the Ballard locks
She’s too fast for me, left me on the dock
I hope she comes back around
Think I’ll search from solid ground
I lost my bay-ay-by at the Ballard Locks
I watched the water, drain out to the Sound
With lots of other folks out in the park
How did I miss you? Could you have run aground?
I guess I’ll just wait here ’till it gets dark
PRE-CHORUS
As time is growing later
My worry just gets greater
Watch the boats go passing through
But there’s still no sign of you
CHORUS
I lost my bay-by at the Ballard locks
She’s too fast for me, left me on the dock
I hope she comes back around
Think I’ll search from solid ground
I lost my bay-ay-by at the Ballard Locks
Sun started dropping, way out past the point
Worry turns my face into a frown
The gates swing open, I scrutinize the ships
Looking for your kayak colored brown
PRE-CHORUS
The bell sounds and I hang my head
For all I know you might be dead
But wait, the last one through the gate
It’s you, I caught up, I’m just late!
CHORUS
I found my bay-by at the Ballard locks
She came back to me, found me on the dock
I knew she’d come back around
I never thought she’d really drowned
I found my bay-ay-by at the Ballard Locks
I found my bay-ay-by at the Ballard Locks
I found my bay-ay-by at the Ballard Locks
PERFORMANCE NOTES
- Words and music by Alex Exarhos
- Performed by Alex Exarhos (guitar, vocals, and whistling)
- Recorded at Jack Straw Cultural Center