Lyr Req: The Bottomless Lake (John Prine)

Subject: Endless Hole/John Prine
From:
Date: 19 Dec 96 - 10:03 PM

I am looking for a song I heard John Prine sing in concert. The subject is a family who goes on a car trip and falls into an endless hole...one line is "smoke em if ya got em"...any ideas? Would like to know if it is available on a CD or record.

Subject: RE: Endless Hole/John Prine
From:
Date: 23 Dec 96 - 11:44 PM

Hmmm, I think that it's actually called "the Bottomless Lake" I believe that it appeared in Sing Out back a ways. I'll dig through old issues and see what I come up with.

Subject: RE: Endless Hole/John Prine
From:
Date: 25 Dec 96 - 11:17 AM

"Bottomless" Lake is on John Prine's "Aimless Love" album.

Bob S.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE BOTTOMLESS LAKE (John Prine)
From:
Date: 26 Dec 96 - 08:50 PM

Also in fall 1986 sing out w music and lyrics. They also site "German Afternoons" album from Oh Boy Records.

THE BOTTOMLESS LAKE
Written by John Prine
As recorded by John Prine on “Aimless Love” (1984)

1. Here's the story of a man and his family
And a big trip that they took.
Well, I heard all about it in a restaurant
And I read it in a history book.
They rented a car at the Erie Canal
But the car didn't have no brake.
Said Ma to Pa: "My God! This car
Is gonna fall into the Bottomless Lake!"

2. Well, Mama turned to Daddy with a pale face,
Said: "I've done somethin’ horribly wrong.
Well, the water’s still runnin' in the bathtub,
And I think I left the kitchen light on.”
Then I heard a crash; the car went splash,
The compass rolled around and around.
Oh, for Heaven's sake! We fell in a lake
And I think we're all gonna drown.

CHORUS: We are fallin’ down,
Down to the bottom
Of a hole in the ground.
Smoke 'em if you got 'em!
I'm so scared I can hardly breathe.
I may never see my sweetheart again.

3. There was plenty o' food in the back seat,
And the windows was rolled up tight,
So we all nibbled on a chicken leg,
Told stories 'way through the night.
Well, Pa told one that he told before,
And the baby got a bellyache.
Said Ma to Pa: "My God! This car
Is fallin’ down a Bottomless Lake!" CHORUS

4. Papa played the music on the radio.
Mama rocked the baby to sleep.
He said he would've taken the other road
But he didn't think the lake was that deep.
Well, if the ferry’d been there at the end o' the pier,
We'd be half way to Uncle Jake's
‘Stead o' lookin’ at fish out the window, I wish
We'd hit the bottom o' the Bottomless Lake.
'Stead o' lookin’ at fish out the window, I wish
We'd hit the bottom o' the Bottomless Lake. CHORUS

5. So if you're ever goin' on a big trip,
You better be careful out there.
Start everything on your good foot.
Wear clean underwear.
Take along a Bible in the back seat.
Read of David and Solomon,
For if you make a mistake in the Bottomless Lake,
You may never see your sweetheart again.
If you should make a mistake in the Bottomless Lake,
You may never see your sweetheart again.
If you should make a mistake in the Bottomless Lake,
You may never see your sweetheart again.
That’s right!