The sun was going down
Over Echo Park
Wet raven hair
Glowing in the dark
And that's when the fever would rise
And lord what a look in her eyes
From the moment that she blows out the light
We'd be lost in the forever night

Hold back the dawn (yes)
Hold back the dawn
Won't you raise up your hand
And hold back the dawn

I dreamt if I could lay you upon this bed of straw
And we may break the rules but we don't break the law
Come across but the river's too wide
I'd come across but the river's too high
And over by the fountain where we meet
I will lay silver roses at your feet

Hold back the dawn
Hold back the dawn
Won't you raise up your hand
And hold back the dawn
Now I have seen a painting
Old and hanging in a frame
And that painting was of you
Now how can you explain
From another place in time
Done many years ago
Why I'm haunted by this vision
Guess we'll never know
And then she turned and whispered in my ear
Can you feel my heartbeat

Hold back the dawn
Hold back the dawn
Won't you raise up your hand
And hold back the dawn
(Let the night go on, let the night go on, let the night go on)

Won't you raise
Won't you raise up
Won't you raise up your hand
And hold back the dawn

Hold back the dawn
Won't you raise up your hand
And hold back the dawn
(Let the night go on and on and on)
(Through the dark and then through the heat)
Thought someone was moving with a savage grace
Got that main all over her face
She was movin to the pagan beat
Through the dust and through the heat