African drums are silent and the Wingos

are poets at last

Out on Dafuskie Island, the bulldozers

bury the past

And the low country sinks, she cannot swim

the dogwood feels the hurt

While the foursome plays on borrowed days in

their alligator shirts

Chorus

Now I realize who killed the Prince of Tides

How can you tell how it used to be

When there's nothing left to see

One night they put a price on the sunset and that

got the whole earth shakin'

Those rose from the grave both the weak and the brave

'cause history was there for the makin'

And the winos surrounded the condos forming

a frail human fence

And they shouted out loud to the roar of the crowd

"Same old story, more dollars than sense"

Chorus

Now I realize who killed the Prince of Tides

How can you tell how it used to be

When there's nothing left to see

Paperback novels make young girls dream and

Judy's spending quieter days in the stream

With Giovinno, Goodman, Phil and Mac D, they were

such good friends to me

Chorus

Now I realize who killed the Prince of Tides

How can you tell how it used to be

When there's nothing left to see

Heaven knows but God decides

When to kill the Prince of Tides

How can you tell how it used to be

When there's nothing left to see

Nothing left to see

And beach music beach music beach music

just plays on