[Verse 1]
Mama lies on the couch
In her old wedding gown
She turned pale long before
The carnival had left town

She stares at the front porch
On the outlook for dad
"Don't worry, I'll be back in a week"
Is the last thing he said

We all knew he gambled
In the city, and lost
Money we didn't have
Must've been the line that he crossed

[Chorus 1]
It's been over a year
Instead of a week
Here in our house
Our house by the creek

[Verse 2]
Me and my family
Live in the Netherlands
In the house that daddy built
With his bare hands
My younger brother Jimmy
Is playing outside
With his cap gun he tries
To shoot planes from the sky

In his chair by the window
Sits uncle Fred
Since he's back from the war
There ain't a word he has said

And Freckles, my sister
She passed away, sir
Sometimes in my dreams
I catch up with dad and with her

[Chorus 2]
What we end up with
Is not what we seek
Here in our house
Our house by the creek

[Verse 3]
My name is Louie
It's Louie, all right
I play dad's old accordion
All day and all night
I just turned eleven
So I'm still a kid
But when I grow up
I wanna find out what daddy did

Mister believe me
I was taught not to cry
And that family should stay together
Till the day that you die

Yeah mister, believe me
I was taught boys don't cry
And that the town where you're born
Is the town where you'll die

That the town where you're born
Is where you'll probably die

[Outro]
What did God wanna show
When He created man weak?
We don't understand
In our house by the creek