Mandolin Rain Black Muddy River

The song came and went

Like the times that we spent

Hiding out from the rain under the carnival tent

I laughed and she'd smile

It would last for a while

You don't know what you got till you lose it all again

Listen to the mandolin rain

Listen to the music on the lake

Listen to my heart break

Every time she runs away

Listen to the banjo wind

A sad song drifting low

Listen to the tears roll

Down my face as she turns to go

A cool evening dance

Listening to the bluegrass band takes the chill

From the air till they play the last song

I'll do my time

Keeping you off my mind

But there's moments that I find

I'm not feeling so strong

Listen to the mandolin rain

Listen to the music on the lake

Listen to my heart break

Every time she runs away

Listen to the banjo wind

A sad song drifting low

Listen to the tears roll

Down my face as she turns to go

Running down by the lakeshore

She did love the sound of a summer storm

It played on the lake like a mandolin

Now it's washing her away once again

The boat's steaming in

I watch the sidewheel spin

And I think about her when

I hear that whistle blow

I can't change my mind

I knew all the time

That she'd go

But that's a choice I made long ago

Listen to the mandolin rain

Listen to the music on the lake

Listen to my heart break

Every time she runs away

Listen to the banjo wind

A sad song drifting low

Listen to the tears roll

Down my face as she turns to go

-----

When the last rose of summer pricks my finger

And the hot sun chills me to the bone

When I can't hear the song for the singer

And I can't tell my pillow from a stone

I will walk alone by the black muddy river

And sing me a song of my own

I will walk alone by the black muddy river

And sing me a song of my own

When the last bolt of sunshine hits the mountain

And the stars start to splatter in the sky

When the moon hits the southwest horizon

With the scream of an eagle on the fly

I will walk alone by the black muddy river

And listen to the ripples as they moan

I will walk alone by the black muddy river

And sing me a song of my own

Black muddy river, roll on forever

I don't care how deep or wide, if you've got another side

Roll muddy river, roll muddy river, black muddy river, roll

When it seems like the night will last forever

And there's nothing left to do but count the years

When the strings of my heart begin to sever

And stones fall from my eyes instead of tears

I will walk alone, by the black muddy river

And dream me a dream of my own

I will walk alone, by the black muddy river

And sing me a song of my own, sing me a song of my own