John Mccutcheon - Fiddler's Last Dance lyrics

I knew all the tunes Before I could talk She knew how to dance them By the time she could walk Friday nights in the parlor With fiddle and bow Her father and mine A lifetime ago Each day in the school yard 'Neath the cool maple shade I'd saw on that fiddler My grandfather made "The Arkansas Traveler" "The Old Miner's Hymn" While she danced to my tunes Like a leaf on the wind He left me his music When his time had come Soon everyone told me That I was the one I took every trophy I claimed every prize While the one I could never win Danced for my eyes Now each Saturday night Down at Jack Hewitt's barn She comes through the door On Jack Hewitt's arm With me on the bandstand And her on the floor I take out my tunes And we make love once more Bow to your partner Balance and swing Waltz around gaily All in a ring The night wind's alive With laughter and chance Come give us your hand For the fiddler's last dance Now each week I know It's as close as I'll come 'Cause I know where she sleeps When the dancin' is done Alone in the night I'm the last one again I still see her dance Like a leaf on the wind And the words trip and stumble And die on my tongue These love songs I write That will never be sung The evening moon sets Like a stone in my breast As this page feeds the fire Like all of the rest Bow to your partner Balance and swing Waltz around gaily All in a ring The night wind's alive With laughter and chance Come give us your hand For the fiddler's last dance Give us your hand For the fiddler's last dance