When Dave Boquist's lap steel guitar slices its way into this
song, chills never fail to shoot up my spine.  The slow-paced
drawl of Jay's voice along with the echoing of Dave's lap steel
in the background makes this one of my favorite songs on Trace.
Just anticipating the sound of the lap steel when it enters the
song at a live show sends those same chills, yet even 
stronger, down my spine.  This song is dealing with the story 
of Times Beach in Missouri.  Because of dioxin poisoning, the
beach was completely deserted.  Hence, the line, "There's a 
beach there known for cancer."  The "cough in the water"
that is "running into town" happens to be the big flood of 
1993.  Farrar certainly proves that he is a beautiful modern day
poet, as well as one of the finest musicians of our
time.      


When you find what matters is what you feel
It arrives, and it disappears
Driving down sunny 44 highway
There's a beach there known for cancer waiting to happen
When you're out across the county line
The news travels slower than a ten-second buzz

And only you'll ever know
'Cause day by day it disappears
Only you'll ever know

And it's hard enough soaking up billboard signs
Your scorch and drown alive
Never knowing why

The levee gates are open wide
There's a cough in the water, and it's running into town
Bright eyes, don't change, stay the same
There must be an answer for what keeps it going on

But only you'll ever know
'Cause day by day it disappears
Only you'll ever know