The Farewell Ball

(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