Rio Lindo

Lyrics: Robert Hunter
Music: Kurt Huget

I rode to Rio Lindo
One bright summer day
Sunshine in the meadow
Clouds like golden hay

Herons by the river
Jackdaws in the trees
I could hear a sage guitar
Sailing down the breeze

This could be just the place, I thought
To mend my broken heart
Find the life-long love I sought
Make a fresh new start

Down in Rio Lindo
Where the seeds of passion grow
Down in Rio Lindo
Where the sky blue waters flow

Fortune loves, fortune flies
[Same] for foolish man is wise
The wise let go, the fool hangs on
Till the will to love is gone

I looked out the window
A crowd was drawing round
There in lovely Rio Lindo
A man lay on the ground

A pistol lay beside him
An empty jug of wine
Maybe he's just sleeping off
Last night's raging tide

Quickly the crowd was gathered
To meet for Sunday prayer
Arrived to find the chapel locked
For some such strange affair

Down in Rio Lindo
Where the seeds of passion grow
Down in Rio Lindo
It's sometimes hard to know

Fortune lives, fortune dies
[Send] for foolish, man is wise
The wise give in, the fool gives up
Seeks for solace in the cup

When the cup is empty
He hurls it to the stone
Shatters it beneath his heels
And goes his way alone

All he ever lived for
Seems pathetic and untrue
Busted heart and shattered dreams
With nothing he can do

Then he sees her brown skin
Her dark, come-hither eyes
Can't help but fall in love again
And no more can the wise

Down in Rio Lindo
Where the seeds of passion grow
Down in Rio Lindo
Where the sky blue water flow

Love is magic, don't you know
The Jack of Diamonds told me so
Wrap your heart in bailing wire
Stir the coals and bag the fire

Dance like gypsies, fall like rain
Rise like ashes from the flame
Dance like gypsies, fall like rain
Rise like ashes from the flame

From the flame
From the flame
Rise from the flame
From the flame
Rise, rise, rise from the flame
Rise from the flame
Rise from the flame
From the flame