The Farewell Ball Lyrics - Mark Erelli

(Mark Erelli) 

The government man 

Started building his dam 

Then he told us it was all for the best 

'Cause they were tearing it down 

They were drowning our town 

In the name of progress I guess 

We held our heads proud 

'Til the state bought us out 

And there wasn't much else we could do 

But go down to Town Hall 

To the last firemen's ball 

It was decked out in red, white and blue 

Come, come take my hand 

Twirl to the band 'round the old Town Hall 

Come, come take my hand 

This is our last chance 

Down at the Farewell Ball 

The Downings and Gibsons 

Farleys and Dickinsons 

Everyone dressed to the nines 

They piled into town 

Came from miles around 

To pay their respects one last time 

A hush filled the room 

And the band stopped the tune 

As the midnight bell slowly chimed 

I saw grown men break down 

At the death of a town 

When the orchestra played "Auld Lang Syne" 

Come, come take my hand 

Twirl to the band 'round the old Town Hall 

Come, come take my hand 

They've called the last dance 

Down at the Farewell Ball 

Even now I recall 

How the waters claimed all 

And made islands of the tallest of hills 

And families and neighbors 

Now scattered like paper 

All etched in my memory still 

I walk down there sometimes 

Through the reservoir pines 

To listen to the wind on the waves 

It's like nothing has changed 

I can still hear the strains 

Of the last tune the orchestra played 

Come, come take my hand 

Twirl to the band 'round the old Town Hall 

Come, come take my hand 

They've called the last dance