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