John McCutcheon Fiddler's Last Dance
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
