streets are almost empty the 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 i swear to you i never meant you any harm but 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 and listen for your voice to tell me it s all right 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 cross 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