The dance hall is silent and empty The banjos don't play anymore The music is only a mem'ry And the dancing is dust on the floor
Wild flowers cover the ground now The timbers are streaking with gray The palace is tumblin' down now And the dancers have all gone away
[Chorus] Once there was singing And once there was song And once there was silver and gold (silver and gold)
The tombstones are weathered and broken But the last signs of life are still here The labors of love have been stolen But the gold was the last souvenir
[Chorus] Once there was laughter And once there was life And once there was silver and gold (silver and gold)
The dance hall is silent and empty The banjos don't play anymore...
[Fade out to the playing of 'Oh, Susanna' on the banjo.]