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 brake
Ev'ry 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
Listenin' to the bluegrass band
Takes the chill from the air
Until they play the last song
I'll do my time oh keeping you off my mind
But there's a moment 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 brake
Ev'ry 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 running down by the lake shore
She did love the sound of the summer storm
It played on the lake like a mandolin
Now it's washing her away once again

The boat's steaming in
Oh I watch the sidewheel spin
And I think about her when
I hear that whistle blow
I can't change my mind
Oh 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 brake
Ev'ry 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

Listen to the tears roll
Down my face as she turns to go
Listen to the tears roll
Down my face as she turns to go