The song came and went like the times that you and I were young
The times that we spent hiding out from the rain under the carnival tent
I'd laugh and he'd smile, it would last for a while
You don't know what you got till you lose it all again
Listen to the battling rain, listen to the music on the lake
Listen to my heart break every time he runs away
Listen to the banjo wind, the sad song drifting low
Listen to my tears roll down my face as he turns to go
A cold evening dance, listening to a bluegrass band
Takes the chill from the air till they play the last song
Oh, 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 battling rain, listen to the music on the lake
Listen to my heart break every time he runs away
Listen to the banjo wind, the sad song drifting low
Listen to my tears roll down my face as he turns to go
Running down by the lakeshore, he didn't know the sound of a summer storm
He played on the lake like a mandolin, now it's washing him away
Once again, again
The boat's steaming in, I watch the side wheels spin
And I think about him when I hear that whistle blow
Oh, I can't change my mind, I knew all the time that he'd go
But that's a choice I made long ago
Listen to the battling rain, listen to the music on the lake
Listen to my heart break every time that he runs away
Listen to the banjo wind, the sad song drifting low
Listen to my tears roll down my face as he turns to go
Oh, listen to the battling rain
Listen to the tears roll
Listen to my tears roll down my face as he turns to go
Listen to the tears roll
Oh, listen to the banjo wind
Oh, listen to the banjo wind
Listen to my tears roll
Oh, listen to the banjo wind