Marc Cohn - Olana lyrics

They say my final masterpiece Was this house upon the hill High above the great and mighty river My hand could not hold the brushes Yes i guess i lost my will And you can't keep painting paradise forever Oh forever From the andes to niagara To where we stand today I drew the great creations of my master 'til the oil and the canvas Lord i threw them all away And traded them for stone and brick and plaster I traded them all for you (winter wind blows and the river lies frozen at my feet) I traded them all for you (springtime come and the river wanna run above the street) She came to me one night While i was tossing in my dreams She said she'd give my family protection I recall the night i died Beneath her arches and her beams I thanked her for the shelter and direction I was lost until olana (sun beat down on a summertime town -- he left me there) I was lost until olana (watching these hills turning gold for one more year) Oh i've been from jerusalem to rome Now i'm floating through these rooms tonight alone And looking back on everything All i ever wanted was a home I was lost until olana How sweet the sound How sweet the sound They say my final masterpiece Was this house upon the hill Chorus