When I was young and full of dreams
My whole life in front of me
But things are not always the way they seem
Some things will always change

My papa'd been a trapper living hand to mouth
But when I made shop foreman, I had it all figured out
I thanked god each and everyday
When the industry came to town

Chorus:
Sunset on Louisianne
The sun going down on the promised
I've given you everything I can
I've got nothing left to lose

Married a girl from Pauché Briide
Raised a family of Cajun kids
Nobody did no better than we did
But things can always change

My sister lost her baby premature
And my papa got the sickness that got no cure
And what they told us about it at the plant
We could not be sure
Chorus

Bridge:
Smokestacks burning on the river
From New Orleans to Baton Rouge
How can I go on believing
When the won't tell me the truth

I take my grand son fishing down at Camanida Bay
I hope some of this beauty will last
But, lord, it's changing so damn fast
Each and every day

I love the river and I love the swamp
The snowy egret and the old bull frog
But they're harder to find one and all
Since the industry came to town