Olana Lyrics - Marc Cohn

They say my final masterpiece 

Was this house upon the hill 

High above the great and mighty river 

My hand could not hold the brushes 

Yes, I guess I lost my will 

And you can't keep painting paradise forever 

Whoa, forever 

From the Andes to Niagara 

To where we stand today 

I drew the great creations of my master 

'Til the oil and the canvas 

Lord, I threw them all away 

And traded them for stone and brick and plaster 

I traded them all for you 

(Winter wind blows and the river lies frozen at my feet) 

I traded them all for you 

(Springtime come and the river wanna run above the street) 

She came to me one night 

While I was tossing in my dreams 

She said she'd give my family, protection 

I recall the night I died 

Beneath her arches and her beams 

I thanked her for the shelter and direction 

I was lost until Olana 

(Sun beat down on a summertime town, he left me here) 

I was lost until Olana 

(Watching these hills turnin' gold for one more year) 

Oh, I've been from Jerusalem to Rome 

Now I'm floating through these rooms tonight alone 

And looking back on everything, all I ever wanted was a home 

I was lost until Olana 

How sweet the sound 

How sweet the sound 

How sweet the sound 

They say my final masterpiece 

Was this house upon the hill