The Ballad of Flaming George
[Narrator]
If you spend enough summers in Lucerne,
You’ll hear whispers on the breeze.
Passed from boat to boat at sunset,
Like the rustling through the trees.
Some folks swear they saw a crown rise.
Some a silver tail below.
Some blame one too many cocktails…
But everybody seems to know.
They call him Flaming George.
The legend’s traveled far.
The Lake Siren of Flaming Gorge…
Nobody knows just where you are.
⸻
[Narrator]
Saturday comes early here,
Coffee’s brewing down the dock.
Dogs are making morning rounds,
Looking for another snack to scrounge.
Jessica’s making laps again,
Keeping everyone in line.
Nobody questions Jessica…
She’s the queen of dockside time.
Jenna smiles and Bryan laugh.
They’ve watched the years roll by.
When someone asks,
“Is he real?”
They simply smile…
“You’ll know.”
⸻
[Narrator]
Somebody bought a taller flag.
Another bought a louder stereo.
By lunchtime half the marina
Is putting on a different show.
Half the boats stay tied all weekend.
Nobody thinks that’s strange.
The best adventures aren’t offshore…
They’re the friends you never change.
⸻
[Narrator]
Michael’s sharing boating wisdom,
If you need boat help, he’s your man.
Tiffany brought some more throw pillows…
Somehow there’s always room again.
The cooler’s full.
The drinks keep flowing.
Everybody pulls up a chair.
If that isn’t common law…
The dock declared it years ago.
⸻
[Narrator]
Tiffany’s teaching docking lessons,
“Double-check your lines,” she’d say.
Then one stayed tied on their own boat…
Later that very day.
The dock board jumped.
We had a laugh.
Nobody kept the score.
Because tomorrow it’ll happen
To someone else once more.
⸻
[Music becomes quiet]
⸻
[Narrator - softly]
The dogs stop barking.
The flags hang still.
The stereos fade away.
Jessica stops walking.
Jenna and Bryan look toward the water.
Every conversation ends.
The lake…
Becomes perfectly calm.
⸻
[Flaming George - rich, theatrical, elegant voice with a subtle lisp]
Tho…
You’ve been telling my thtory again.
Some of you think I’m a monster.
How terribly unimaginative.
I’m…
Flaming George.
The Lake Thiren.
I’ve watched every summer.
Every friendship.
Every flag competition.
Every burned burger.
Every boat that left…
With one rope still tied.
Thweetheartth…
The lake rememberth everything.
⸻
[Flaming George - singing]
I am Flaming George!
The Lake Thiren of Flaming Gorge!
Raithe your glatheth!
Raithe your flagth!
What a lovely audienth…
Thing with me!
Laugh with me!
Dance beneath the thtarry thky!
Every thummer…
Every thunthet…
I’ll be waiting…
By and by.
⸻
[Choir joins Flaming George]
I am Flaming George!
The Lake Thiren of Flaming Gorge!
Raithe your glatheth!
Raithe your flagth!
Thing with me!
Laugh with me!
Dance beneath the thtarry thky!
Every thummer…
Every thunthet…
We’ll remember…
By and by.
⸻
[Narrator]
The crown slips beneath the water.
The silver tail disappears.
The breeze returns
