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

CHORUS 
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 too strong 

CHORUS 

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 

CHORUS 

The boat's steaming in 
I wat 
h 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 

CHORUS