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      Chorus:   Hold back the dawn   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   We may break the rules but we don't   break the law   Come across but the river's too wide   Come across but the river's too high   Over by the fountain where we meet   I will lay silver roses at your feet      Chorus      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   Then she turned and whispered in my ear   Can you feel my heart beat      Chorus      Won't you raise   Won't you raise up   Won't you raise up your hand   And hold back the dawn      Chorus