Pete McDonald: Music

When the tornado hit at half past five
Ma was in the kitchen with a butcher’s knife
Pa was in the field planting the crops on time
And I was in bed with Evangeline

Well Pa came a running holdin’ his hat on tight
Uncle Jim up from the barn with the twister in sight
Ma was a-yellin’ in the pale orange light
When Evangeline let go and stared into the night

Evangeline why’d you leave?
Well, I know things got so hard
When your mama died and left you the kids
And your father at the bar

Evangeline why’d you leave?
It would have been all right in the end
By the sweet winding river
With my helping hand to lend

Well I jumped up from the bed, told Evangeline to run
Then I grabbed young Joey, our only son
We all headed for the storm cellar as the whole world spun
But it was too late when we turned and what she had done

Evangeline why’d you leave?
Well, I know things got so hard
Even the spring, the wind in your hair
And the kids playing in the yard

Couldn’t clear away those clouds
That had gathered in your head
Guess I was a fool to think that I could help
As a lover or a friend

She was walking and then running straight into its eye
She was swept up in that storm that climbed into the sky
Uncle Jim pulled me down as I let out a cry
And raised my eyes up to the wind to watch her one more time

Evangeline why’d you leave?
Well, I know things got so hard
When your mama died and left you the kids
And your father at the bar

Evangeline why’d you leave?
It would have been all right in the end
By the sweet winding river
With my helping hand to lend