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
C'mon
♪
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
C'mon
Let the night go on
Let the night go on
Let the night go
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
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Come watch, come watch
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
(Through the dark and then through the heat)
Thought someone was moving with a savage grace (hold back the dawn)
Got that main all over her face
She was movin' to the pagan beat (and hold back the dawn)
Through the dust and through the heat
(Hold) say hold back
(Hold) say hold back
(Hold) say hold back ol' friend
(Hold back) let the night go on, c'mon
♪
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah