[The sound of a lonely harmonica.]     The dance hall is silent and empty  The banjos don't play anymore  The music is only a mem'ry  And the dancing is dust on the floor     Wild flowers cover the ground now  The timbers are streaking with gray  The palace is tumblin' down now  And the dancers have all gone away     [Chorus]  Once there was singing  And once there was song  And once there was silver and gold (silver and gold)     The tombstones are weathered and broken  But the last signs of life are still here  The labors of love have been stolen  But the gold was the last souvenir     [Chorus]  Once there was laughter  And once there was life  And once there was silver and gold (silver and gold)     The dance hall is silent and empty   The banjos don't play anymore...     [Fade out to the playing of "Oh, Susanna" on the banjo.]