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
  
   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
  
  
   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 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
  
  
   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