In the fall of '85 I heard my calling
The heady lure of gold made the sound
And without so much as an evening's rest
I sold the farm and journeyed west
To seek my fame and fortune in the ground
In the spring of '86 I found my treasure
With golden hair and diamond eyes of blue
I humbly asked her for a dance
I didn't need a second glance
Before I swore my heart to one so true
And you know Matilda always loved the waltzes
She could dance a hundred stories with one song
And every eye in the room
Was like a dreamer 'neath the moon
Watching Matilda waltz into the night
My life within the mines left us wanting
Matilda tried to dance away the pain
I sometimes thought of forgetting gold
And giving her a proper home
I only wish I had that choice again
In the winter of '91 I lost her
It took an act of God to change my plans
And all the ore I could ever find
Could never hope to be as fine
As the precious gem I let slip through my hands
And you know Matilda always loved the waltzes
She could dance a thousand stories with one song
And every eye in the room
Was like a dreamer 'neath the moon
Watching Matilda waltz into the night
And in my dreams a magic scene appears before my eyes
An angel fair with shining hair spins in 3/4 time
And you know Matilda always loved the waltzes
She could dance a million stories with one song
And every eye in the room
Was like a dreamer 'neath the moon
Watching Matilda waltz into the night
