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 'til 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 lake shore
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 side wheel 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


Lyrics submitted by Ara Raven, edited by Bemurphed

Mandolin Rain Lyrics as written by John Hornsby Bruce Hornsby

Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing

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Mandolin Rain song meanings
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19 Comments

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  • +4
    General Comment

    beautiful song, can't believe no one has commented on it. This song means alot to me right now. As i just said goodbye to my ex g/f after a night of doing something we shouldn't have done, only to realize its not going to work out. So i put this song on, listened to it and realized how much of an idiot i am for doing this to myself. "Listen to my heart break every time she runs away Listen to the banjo wind a sad song drifting low Listen to the tears flow Down my face as she turns to go"

    LiveUrLifeon May 04, 2003   Link

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