Mark Erelli - The Farewell Ball lyrics

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 d**h 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 Down at the Farewell Ball