Streets are almost empty, shops are all closed down
There? s not a soul left in the bar to tell my troubles to
Think I? ll walk down to the river that runs just south of town
I hate like hell when there ain? t nothin? left to do
But stand beneath the river bridge and listen for the train
It? s been a long hot summer, not a drop of rain
Well, I broke down in December, I headed for the coast
I thought the wind and water would elevate my mind
I surfaced in the springtime feelin? like a ghost
Missin? more than ever the things I left behind
Now I? m standin? on this riverbank and still cannot explain
It? s been a long hot summer, not a drop of rain
My bag is full of letters, unopened and unread
I? m sure they? d tell the story of worry and of form
My heart is beating heavy with all we left unsaid
And I swear to you I never meant you any harm
This sacrifice and compromise could never stand the strain
It? s been a long hot summer, not a drop of rain
Tonight I? ll close my eyes again, try to see your face
Listen for your voice to tell me it? s alright to sleep
Convince myself I? ll wake up in another time and place
Knowin? all the while that it? s a promise I can? t keep
A string of broken promises, another link of chain
It? s been a long hot summer, not a drop of rain
The children on the playground, the lovers in the shade
Remind me of a life and time that feels more like a dream
When the sound of love and laughter was the music that we played
As we lay beside the waters of a never ending stream
Now the stream has gone to hiding, the dream lives on in vain
It? s been a long hot summer, not a drop of rain
The clouds are building slowly on the skyline to the east
The wind and dust are dancing like the devil across the lake
I could try to find a bottle or try to find a priest
Salvation won? t be traveling either road I take
So I turn my collar to the wind that echoes this refrain
It? s been a long hot summer, not a drop of rain