Dar Williams - This Was Pompeii lyrics

rate me

I am thinking about the woman in a century of peace

On a bright mosaic she is washing on her knees

And she looks up at the black sky beyond the mountain tall

She says'oh goodthe rain is finally going to fall today.'

This was pompeii

And everyone has memories of the night that melted stone

The neighbor's nightgownthe screaming on the phone

And the tired man at the station says'we can't tell who's alive

All we ever know is that the tourists survive.'

'tra latra la' they saythey say

'let's go pompeii.'

And I think about pompeii when I feel an end is near

Just before the rain and eveyr time you disappear

And I think about a teacupsuspended and half served

And all the scholars know is that it's perfectly preserved.

'ohoh' that's allthey say

'this was pompeii.'

And as for my on kingdomnot a table leg was charred

I simply lost my kingdom'cause I held it much too hard

Once I had a sadnessthe sadness turned to trust

The trust turned into ashes and to lawyers and dust

A centurya day

This was pompeii.