Emmylou Harris
O Evangeline
[Verse]
O Evangeline, you been gone so long
And for a time it seemed
Every road you took turned wrong
But a second chance would come
With each new bridge you burned
I know you squandered some
But then from some you learned

[Chorus]
And the point of rescue, well, you passed that long ago
O but to hear you tell it, 'twas just another part of the show
O Evangeline, your faith shone blind and true
We raise our glass and sing of you, Evangeline

[Verse]
O Evangeline, you with no kith or kin
The nights so hard and mean
You shed them like a skin
For you were always strong
When the bad slid down to worse
You still had that song
It was your blessing and your curse

[Chorus]
But in your tongue, there is no word for home
There'll be no one to roll away the stone
O Evangeline, you have been a prisoner here
Bread and roses, we shall bring to you Evangeline
[Verse]
O Evangeline, what are you fighting for?
You stayed out in that ring
When nobody's even keepin' score
But round by round, you earned
Your stumble into grace
Still with every turn
The world becomes a sadder place

[Chorus]
It swallows up the ones you have loved the most
So you sleep with none, you wake with ghosts
O Evangeline, you have salted with your tears
Every lonely mile you've seen through the years, Evangeline

[Chorus]
And it's a fatal shore you now wash upon
So weary of the war and no longer young
O Evangeline, your voice risin' sweet and clear
We close our eyes and dream of you, Evangeline