Judy Collins
River of Gold
There was nothing back here in the old days
Nothing but a river of gold
There was nothing blocking out the sky
Nothing to be bought or sold

There were lakes of rainbows and cutthroats
You could walk for miles in the snow
Didn't know a thing about the climate
Watched the seasons come and go

There was always the sound of the night wind
Blowing through the old pine trees
The melody of birds in the willows
Flying so high and free

The silver moon on the lake at midnight
Looking back at me from the sky
And the walks we took in the summer
Till the light of the sun would die

I always dreamed of making us a home here
Now they've gone and done their very best
Cleared out the trees and the Queen Anne's lace
And the birds with their feathered nests

They've taken all the magic from the meadows
They plowed them up and threw away the green
Rough rock and stone and clear cut
Now they've gone ahead and dammed the stream
Forever I will think of the old days
The river that was made of gold
In winter and spring and summer
My memories will never grow old

I always dreamed of making us a home here
Now they've gone and done their very best
Cleared out the trees and the Queen Anne's lace
And the birds with their feathered nests

I always dreamed of making us a home here
Now they've gone and done their very best
Cleared out the trees and the Queen Anne's lace
And the birds with their feathered nests

There was nothing back here in the old days
Nothing but a river of gold
Nothing out here in the old days
Nothing but a river of gold