[verse1] Before the highways crossed these hills, Before the towns even had names, Men came running with their dreams And a pocket full of claims. With a pan and pick and shovel, They'd work from dawn till night, Chasing little flakes of gold By an old lantern light. [Chorus] They were looking for gold in that cold mountain stream, Working for a fortune that was bigger than a dream. With calloused hands and muddy boots, They'd never leave the ground, They'd shake that pan and watch the river Spin the dirt around. Some found gold, some found nothing, But they all believed they'd strike it rich— Just one more pan, one more sunrise, One more chance to find that golden wish. [Verse 2] They'd camp beneath the pine trees, With a blanket for a bed, A coffee pot beside the fire, And a hard day's work ahead. They'd listen to that mountain water Rolling over stone, Wondering if the next bright speck Would finally make them known. [Chorus] They were looking for gold in that cold mountain stream, Working for a fortune that was bigger than a dream. With calloused hands and muddy boots, They'd never leave the ground, They'd shake that pan and watch the river Spin the dirt around. Some found gold, some found nothing, But they all believed they'd strike it rich— Just one more pan, one more sunrise, One more chance to find that golden wish. [Bridge] Some left with pockets heavy, Some went home with empty hands, But every man who worked that river Thought he'd found his promised land. And the mountains kept their secrets Long after they were gone, While the river carried stories With its steady rolling song. [Final Chorus] They were looking for gold in that cold mountain stream, Chasing something more than money, more than any dream. With a pan beneath the sunlight And the whole world to be found, They'd kneel beside that mountain water And turn that river brown. Some found gold, some found nothing, But they never quit believing it— 'Cause sometimes it's not the gold you find, It's the life you find while looking for it. [Outro- spoken with fading music] So here's to those old gold miners And the rivers where they stood— Still chasing down a dream Like a country man always could.
