He had a reason to get back to Lake Charles
He used to talk about it
He'd just go on and on
He always said Louisiana
Was where he felt at home
He was born in Nacogdoches
That's in East Texas
Not far from the border
But he liked to tell everybody
He was from Lake Charles
Did an angel whisper in your ear
And hold you close and take away your fear
In those long last moments

We used to drive
Through Lafayette and Baton Rouge
In a yellow Camino
Listening to Howling Wolf
He liked to stop in Lake Charles
Cause that's the place that he loved
Did you run about as far as you could go
Down the Louisiana highway
Across Lake Pontchartrain
Now your soul is in Lake Charles
No matter what they say
Did an angel whisper in your ear
And hold you close and take away your fear
In those long last moments

He had a reason to get back to Lake Charles
He used to talk about it
He'd just go on and on
He always said Louisiana
Was where he felt at home
Did an angel whisper in your ear
And hold you close and take away your fear
In those long last moments
Did an angel whisper in your ear
And hold you close and take away your fear
In those long last moments



Lyrics submitted by ang

Track duration: 05:27

"Lake Charles" as written by Lucinda Williams

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Lake Charles song meanings
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7 Comments

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  • +1
    Song Meaning:This beautiful and sad article explains it all: austinchronicle.com/music/1998-10-23/520480/
    Flag freakteton July 07, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:This is the best interpretation of the song I've ever read, and for as many times as I've listened to the song, it eluded me.
    Flag openroadon September 01, 2011   Link
  • +3
    My Interpretation:Good Lord do I love this song - such a beautiful melancholy groove. I love this song that I went out my way to visit Nacogdoches. I wish I were born in Nacogdoches - it sounds so badass.

    To me the meaning of this song is quite literal; it's about someone who crashed his car into/near Lake Charles.
    Down the Lousiana highway
    Across Lake Ponchatrain
    Now your soul is in Lake Charles
    No matter what they say
    Did an angel whisper in your ear
    And hold you close and take away your fear
    In those long last moments

    The line about the angel whispering in his ear the moment before the crash says it all. Such a lyrical song surely has different meanings for different people, but this literal interpretation works for me.
    Flag mike2on July 04, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is much sadder than I think the other posters have made it seem.
    Flag dittyddton February 04, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Beautiful and peaceful. I could listen to this song for days.
    Flag angon December 30, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:One of my favorite Lucinda songs. Havn't you ever been somewhere that you just felt at home? Lake Charles is not a place most people would pick for that feeling but it makes the song that much more poignant. A comfortable place to be - what a great thing!
    Flag BoyBlueon January 15, 2007   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:One of my favorite Lucinda songs. Havn't you ever been somewhere that you just felt at home? Lake Charles is not a place most people would pick for that feeling but it makes the song that much more poignant. A comfortable place to be - what a great thing!
    Flag BoyBlueon January 15, 2007   Link

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